Folks Hate The Metric System

[Ken Nagrod]

I can't think of a reason to do so. Can someone please describe a reason why one would need to define any aspect of a project in smaller increments than 1mm?

I'm not asking for shims, foil, or other such stuff either.

Thanks in advance,

Tom

Furniture for the space shuttle, like some Adirondack chairs for the pilot and co-pilot.

 

[VictorL]

I can't think of a reason to do so. Can someone please describe a reason why one would need to define any aspect of a project in smaller increments than 1mm?

I'm not asking for shims, foil, or other such stuff either.

Thanks in advance,

Tom

Furniture for the space shuttle, like some Adirondack chairs for the pilot and co-pilot.

got to the moon with standard....

Space shuttle program is closed. There is no more MANNED non-metric space vehicles.  ISS is only metric  now.

 

[Deansocial]

so who here uses the mm as the smallest unit and if so how do you accurately measure and mark a smaller unit. in your shop,repeatably.

Could you please give example? How do you mark with 1/64 and 1/128 accuracy in your shop?

it makes me laugh when people talk of how accurate they measure and mark on here, Really is laughable. Also festool talk of precision etc yet the guide bush on a of1400 clearly moves 1/2mm or so(no i havent measured i just guessed because i dont really give a rats) Really this is wood we are working with not metal

 

[tbellemare]

I can't think of a reason to do so. Can someone please describe a reason why one would need to define any aspect of a project in smaller increments than 1mm?

I'm not asking for shims, foil, or other such stuff either.

Thanks in advance,

Tom

Furniture for the space shuttle, like some Adirondack chairs for the pilot and co-pilot.

Future Manned Space furniture will likely come from Rent-A-Center, as Victor suggested.

Tom

 

[tallgrass]

yes you can easily get finer resolution scales if you like, or you can use caliper to get there.1/2 a mm???i like that should you not be using micro meters at that pint... [embarassed].....i mean it is a better system right????? you should not be defiling it with fractions....do you not get sick if you want a 1/3 of a mm?? [tongue]

 

[VictorL]

yes you can easily get finer resolution scales if you like, or you can use caliper to get there.1/2 a mm???i like that should you not be using micro meters at that pint... [embarassed].....i mean it is a better system right????? you should not be defiling it with fractions....do you not get sick if you want a 1/3 of a mm?? [tongue]

I can't get your question. We are talking about woodworking, correct?
What are you trying to build? Table, apron, cabinet, wardrobe? 1:200 scale ship?
Where do you need precision better than 1/32" (1mm is 1/25")

Regular caliper has scale up to 0.1mm, Better caliper has 0.05mm marks.

Metric system don't use fractions, only whole numbers

it would be 0.3 mm, if it still not enough, 0.33 mm, 0.333 mm and so on.  If I need divide 1 meter into 3 equal pieces I'll divide it 333mm 333mm and 334 mm  (assume that I have to drill holes). But If I have to cut it with Festool TS-55 saw I have to pay attention to kerf width. So it will be 1000 - 2*(2.2) or 995.6mm or 996mm divide by 3 I'll get three planks 332mm each. I did it without calculator.  Try to do the same for 40" board.

Please note:
Thickness of human hair Varies from 50 (0.05mm)  to 120  microns (0.12 mm). On average a human hair is usually around 100 microns or 0.1 mm

 

[AlexThePalex]

yes you can easily get finer resolution scales if you like, or you can use caliper to get there.1/2 a mm???i like that should you not be using micro meters at that pint... [embarassed].....i mean it is a better system right????? you should not be defiling it with fractions....do you not get sick if you want a 1/3 of a mm?? [tongue]

tallgrass, why is it either the one thing or the other? That's a pretty dumb way of thinking. Fractions are a normal part of our general maths capabilities and we can use them wherever we want and/or need. Stop acting silly. You'd think a mechanical engeneer is somewhat of an educated person but your objections to the metric system are the silliest of all.

Btw, ever heard of the shift key?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I've had enough of this.  My fractional/metric/decimalized head is spinning.  From now on, on measuring everything in hexadecimal.  I need that board cut to E3BC please!  Chop Chop!

 

[tallgrass]

Quote from: tallgrass on Today at 05:12 PM
yes you can easily get finer resolution scales if you like, or you can use caliper to get there.1/2 a mm???i like that should you not be using micro meters at that pint... Embarassed.....i mean it is a better system right?Huh?? you should not be defiling it with fractions....do you not get sick if you want a 1/3 of a mm?? Tongue Out

tallgrass, why is it either the one thing or the other? That's a pretty dumb way of thinking. Fractions are a normal part of our general maths capabilities and we can use them wherever we want and/or need. Stop acting silly. You'd think a mechanical engeneer is somewhat of an educated person but your objections to the metric system are the silliest of all.

Btw, ever heard of the shift key?

nothing like the high minded thinking of the personal attack.

the whole point of the metric system is to get rid of fractions, of this i am sure you know.

as for the shift key, i am responding to these post on my phone "shift key is a pain" , i would think that a person who can't spell engineer would let the the lack of shift key slide. [embarassed]

If you think that i am arguing this seriously ,you are sadly mistaken. I assume you read my earlier posts in which i said i use both, my only real objection is the combination of the systems,using both is not a smart idea. I think i said pick one.

As for the educated crack, grad school at a place we call CAL TECH and am currently at a place called JPL. I hope you find the use of SHIFT key enjoyable and that it makes all the difference.

I find the ad homonym  stuff just sandbox B.S.

I would rather just talk about the topics and hear what people have to say.....i love the metric - standard debates that crop up every so often. I find them fun and lighthearted debates, unfortunately sometimes people get emotionally bent.

On occasion using both systems i find that i ask for advice on a problem that crops up and i am surprised by the answers. For example i do find the mm a little course. so i have asked how all of you guys handle it. The responses range from you do not need to measure anything finer than that to why would you ever need anything smaller than a mm. I find this confusing considering that i find that most people that are working in wood are actually dealing with much smaller tolerances  mm using their eyes and hands.

 

[tallgrass]

hexadecimal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes sir.

I would never stop laughing to see a ruler with a,b,c ect ...it would also make me scared....have you decided what the unit size will be ?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

hexadecimal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes sir.

I would never stop laughing to see a ruler with a,b,c ect ...it would also make me scared....have you decided what the unit size will be ?

In honor of one of our members, how about the "Kreg"?  Then there's minikreg and microkreg and megakreg...too many Kreg's.  Let's just open it up for debate in a new thread.

 

[Mavrik]

I played with telescopes for a while.
They are in the middle of the mixup.
An eyepiece will be described as having a 1.25" barrel and a 40mm focal length  [big grin]

 

[tallgrass]

do you know why that it. i deal with that in the world of cameras.

 

[GaryB]

Nearly everyone in the world uses a metric system everyday, it's called currency.

Metric measurements are no different and no harder, whether it's speed, weight, distance, temperature or volume. Most things in photography are metric, Watts are metric as are many everyday things that most don't seem to even realize are metric. Everyone knows about and recognizes things like super 8, 16mm and 35mm film, any lens you can find and the power rating of tools without even thinking about it. People are already very familiar, and comfortable, with the system unconsciously, it's not that big a jump.

 

[MrMac]

Well I do work in imperial, as that's what I have used from when I was a kid. I am now slowly converting to being able to use metric- where I can. It's a bit disorienting to not be able to eyeball a 1/2", or 8' in metric, but what the heck, it's fun to learn new stuff.

My son was taught metric is school, and he's now on a (7 month) waiting list at the local technical college to go into welding. While he's waiting, he's attending a couple of classes to learn how to use imperial! LOL it's the way of the world, I think that imperial will die out with our generation. In Canada here all the "official" measurements are in metric, speed signs, weights etc. You get used to it, no big deal.

In generations to come they will probably use the length of a light sabre as a standard! or a martians big toe, who cares as long as we get it close and the check clears

 

[waynelang2001]

I don't use metric or imperial, I use english to measure. Like, just a smidge or a little bit more or ohhhh just a hair off...............

 

[GaryB]

I don't use metric or imperial, I use english to measure. Like, just a smidge or a little bit more or ohhhh just a hair off...............

Hehe, it is the most versatile system in the world  [big grin]

 

[Alan m]

that is the system  my father uses. especially when a neighbour (frank thinks 400 mm is exactly 400 not 399.9 or 400.1) thats ok when its needed but not when stodding a wall. we drive him mad(he usually cuts while we fit) we call out 14 and 1/2 inchs and a touch , or a slack 14, hair over, strong 14 etc. it drives him mad [tongue]

 

[tallgrass]

yea but what colored hair?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

That's why carpenters go bald.  They should just stick with the tape measure.