If you go to the Smithsonian Museum in D.C. they disassembled then moved an entire shop from New England --- because it was where a Swede instituted most what later became the S.A.E. Standards. Water wheels in a stream powered spinning shafts overhead, linked by leather belts to machines of every kind. And of course the Swede based his written tables on the Imperial System. That is the bedrock of our American industrial standards. What happened in England shaped more localized trades.
I must admit that I recently switched to Metric when I assembled my shop equipment and started woodworking. Largely prompted by the measure used by my WoodRat joint-making machine. The acquisition of Festool gear, accelerated the process. I wouldn't say I "Went Cold-Turkey". I just took a Cold Shower with Plucked Fowl. Making furniture doesn't require a lot of formulas. So there's not much advantage there. Carpentry and finish carpentry abound in forumulas, however, so Festool may win the day with those folk.
By the "Cold Shower with Plucked Fowl" approach, I mean that I simply hid from view any dual-reading tapes and rules in my shop. The only exception is my Cabinet Saw with its stick-down rule on the Rip Fence. The Metrics are kind of nice when slicing and dicing items. No fractions.
Gary Curtis
I must admit that I recently switched to Metric when I assembled my shop equipment and started woodworking. Largely prompted by the measure used by my WoodRat joint-making machine. The acquisition of Festool gear, accelerated the process. I wouldn't say I "Went Cold-Turkey". I just took a Cold Shower with Plucked Fowl. Making furniture doesn't require a lot of formulas. So there's not much advantage there. Carpentry and finish carpentry abound in forumulas, however, so Festool may win the day with those folk.
By the "Cold Shower with Plucked Fowl" approach, I mean that I simply hid from view any dual-reading tapes and rules in my shop. The only exception is my Cabinet Saw with its stick-down rule on the Rip Fence. The Metrics are kind of nice when slicing and dicing items. No fractions.
Gary Curtis
