Help with Common Metric Sizes?

[wow]

Prompted by another thread I responded to...

US doors are typically multiples of 2" - 2 foot 6, 2 foot 8, ...3 foot 0, etc. - expressed as 2/6, 2/8 ...3/0 .

What are common metric door sizes?

Are metric doors multiples of something? 32mm perhaps?

 

[Wooden Skye]

As Tom pointed out, 19 mm is closer to 3/4.  When buying plywood, we all know that in the US, that is usually 23/32 (.71875") or closer to 18 mm.  This is what seems to be my stumbling block when trying to go metric.  Especially when planning a project.

 

[jonny round boy]

US doors are typically multiples of 2" - 2 foot 6, 2 foot 8, ...3 foot 0, etc. - expressed as 2/6, 2/8 ...3/0 .

UK door sizes are based on old imperial measurements too, but the most commonly available sizes are in multiples of 3" not 2". So 24" (not very common), 27", and 30". Usually 78" high.

What are common metric door sizes?
Are metric doors multiples of something? 32mm perhaps?

Metric doors are available in the UK - they're in multiples of 100mm, but not as straightforward as you might think:

626mm, 726mm, 826mm. All by 2040 high. If I had to offer a reason for the extra 26mm, I'd guess that it's because door stops are 13mm, so with the doorstops on the width of the opening would be 600, 700, or 800mm clear. But that is just a guess, and that logic falls apart if it's a fire door 'cos the stops are bigger!

Jonathan

 

[jonny round boy]

As Tom pointed out, 19 mm is closer to 3/4.  When buying plywood, we all know that in the US, that is usually 23/32 (.71875") or closer to 18 mm.  This is what seems to be my stumbling block when trying to go metric.  Especially when planning a project.

True, 3/4" is closer to 19mm, but sheet material is usually slightly undersize anyway, so if you order 1/2" it'll be 12mm, not 13mm, and 3/4" will be 18mm not 19mm.

 

[tjbnwi]

As Tom pointed out, 19 mm is closer to 3/4.  When buying plywood, we all know that in the US, that is usually 23/32 (.71875") or closer to 18 mm.  This is what seems to be my stumbling block when trying to go metric.  Especially when planning a project.

True, 3/4" is closer to 19mm, but sheet material is usually slightly undersize anyway, so if you order 1/2" it'll be 12mm, not 13mm, and 3/4" will be 18mm not 19mm.

If you order true 3/4" it will come out 0.734", 23/32 will be closer to the 18 at 0.703".

Tom

 

[BMH]

When it comes to sheet good thickness,  I measure them every time. 3/4 inch will vary from 18 mm to 20 mm in some of the high density melamine sheets. Plus or minus 1-2 mm is ok for one cabinet but you if you have 5 of them you are now plus minus one cm and that can mess up a project.

 

[jaguar36]

How do folks across the pond get those 2440 x 1220 sheet goods home?  It didn't seem like anyone had a car big enough to hold one, and even most of the trades people didn't either.

 

[Stone Message]

How do folks across the pond get those 2440 x 1220 sheet goods home?  It didn't seem like anyone had a car big enough to hold one, and even most of the trades people didn't either.

I just put mine on the roof of my Toyota Yaris - I can get 3 sheets of 3/4 inch MDF on without any worries.

Peter

 

[Guido_de]

It's actually quite simple - you don't.

Trucks in the NA sense (to me these are pickups) are not particularly common in Germany (our OEMs don't produce them, they are deemed impractical as they are too large for our streets and cities). Your average car doesn't have the capacity to carry full sized sheet as you have pointed out quite clearly.

Tradepeople either have matching vehicles or have the goods delivered to their workshops by the vendors. Buying a single sheet of ply for diy needs is somehow unsual. Most diy stores don't even carry them. Instead, they offer you to cut pieces from their stock to accomodate your needs (paid by sqm). Enough for most DIY applications but a nightmare in terms of €/sqm. Sticking with sheet goods: If you want full sheets you can always go to a lumber/sheet good supplier. Most of them will sell you individual sheets (but only full sheets; a bit too much for many applications). If you cannot transport them yourself they will roughly chop them down for a small fee (1€/cut) or deliver it to your door (usually a more substantial fee). It is worth to point out that the quality at the dedicated suppliers is significantly higher at a smaller or equal price per sqm. DIY centers will carry construction material in large quantities, but they can hardly compete with special suppliers. Since we tend to build our houses from more substantial material (SCNR) construction lumber is not that common and usually fairly pricy at home centers.  Getting a 1x12 pine board (or poplar for that matter) is virtually impossible. I know of about 10 DIY stores in my area (50km). Most have no idea something like yellow poplar exists.

As far as weird sheet dimensiosn are concerned I can only offer a guess. Looking at the average height for a large clothing cabinet (240cm, as limited by your average ceiling height) sort of explains 2400mm+a bit. It allows you to freshly cut your goods to get a good, clean and square edge.

Cheers

Guido
(uneducated guess; not a trade person, just some diy bloke you enjoys playing with festools)

 

[mordellio]

Prompted by another thread I responded to...

Are metric doors multiples of something? 32mm perhaps?

In Sweden a door could be 10*21, that is 1000mm wide* 2100mm high with the doorframe. Actually its a little smaller but you make the hole in the wall that size and the door will fit and have some room for adjustment and isolation around the frame.

You have to stop thinking about 32mm, it is only useful with kitchen cabinets mm.

 

[Lombert]

How do folks across the pond get those 2440 x 1220 sheet goods home?  It didn't seem like anyone had a car big enough to hold one, and even most of the trades people didn't either.

We use a trailer. A normal sized trailer in central Europe/Scandinavia is just over that size.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Trades people always have vans and they are big enough to get the sheets home. Non-trades people can get them home by using a roof rack or a trailer.

I myself don't have a car, but four DIY centers at 5-10 minutes walking. I just borrow a sheets cart from them to get my material at home when I need to.

As for the strange sizes 2440 x 1220, that's because of international trade which traditionally works with feet and inches.   

 

[Zacharytanner]

Turn your name upside down and remove the "o". Done [wink]

That was funny

 

[Sparktrician]

Wayne, you've been getting inside my head again!!!  Your chart is eerily like one I've been using.  Just converted it to a PDF.

I believe the saying is "Great minds think alike!"

[not worthy] [thumbs up]

 

Due to recent interest, I've updated my spreadsheet to include inch decimal equivalents.  Enjoy!!!

[smile]

[Edited 01/20/15 to clarify the 96mm increments] 

 

[adcolor]

It gets even more fun when you try to standardize metric threaded fasteners.
You have US, Euro, Jap standards.
The Jap/JIS standards are simpler and work well.  They are a refined version of the rest (simplified).
Similar to the fractional US standards (at least at the3/16"- 3/4" level). There used to be a fine/standard/coarse thread per inch preferred standard, that got dropped to coarse/fine.  The JIS standard does away with 11, 13, 16 MM (I think 18 too) wrench sizes. The Euro standard requires all of the above (as does the US).  There are less JIS threads as well, versus the Euro/US standards.
My Triumph and KTM motorcycles and Fiat tractor have plenty of 11 and 13 wrenches from the various wrench sets over the years (for mostly JIS oriented/influenced products; many  Asian products are JIS influenced).
No that makes it perfect -- try to find a JIS cross head screwdriver on a store shelf (similar to a Phillips; it can be used on a Phillips head screw, but not vice-verse).

 

[mike_aa]

adcolor,

Now you really are confusing me!  [scared]

I heard about the JIS screwdrivers since I have an interest in photography and it seems all those tiny screws on the cameras and lenses require them.  But I had no idea that the standard extended to larger sized fasteners.  I thought I was getting a bit more comfortable with the metric fasteners and I just got one of these from Hartville Tool to help figure out the sizes. 

Mike A.

 

[Brent Taylor]

When I went to college they told us that the Metric system would be in place in the USA within 5 years (still waiting 30 years plus now), screwed up my workflow for years, built homes in inches, cabinets and drawing in mm.  ???
Just get a tape that has both, bought my son one to help him keep track of thing and to make it easier for him to add up ( learning disabled and no short term memory, but trying to make his own way in the world). Bottom line is that it is just numbers and I learned a long time ago that if you want to get in trouble fast, overthink . Most of the small scale pieces (4'x8') I do, I draw them up full scale first, than refer to that with a storystick, less waste & mistakes. A large amount of the cabinets I just wing it, I guess after this many years it's just programmed in. Long story short grab a Fastcap dual tape & have at it, I would think that the numberless, mark on tape would be a help, but I like storysticks.