Metric Measuring

[tiralie]

I would love it if everything in my world was metric. Just when you think you can finally just work in metric, someone says, we only stock imperial or "I don't understand what 25 cm is?"
So I am forced to work in both centimeters and inches, unfortunately.
I can't however blame any of my errors on this, although I would like to.

I really like the look of those Hultafors folding rules and tape measures. Maybe Shane from Atlas in Toronto and one of the US retailers can get together and distribute them here in NA. I would definitely be up for one each of those tape measures and the folding rule.

As it is, I use a cheap Lufkin16'/5m (HV1035CME) HI-VIZ tape measure on site and or the Stabilia 5m/16' BM 40 tape measure. I have the Fast Cap True32, but I just wish the (metric) numbers were larger. I am not that crazy about the form factor either but the Stabilia is at least as bulky (fat) but somehow I like it better.
I have the metric version of the Festool/Protool folding rule which is really good but, (surprisingly good actually) it would be nice to have the extension on it like my old Starrett.

Tim

 

[Ari]

There is a new brand on the market that makes very good tapes!!



[big grin] [big grin]

I also like very much the Hultafors Talmeter tapes.

Best from

Ari

 

[Massemannen]

I´m coming to the US in a couple of months... I always bring an empty bag with me so I can buy cool tools but I guess I could fill it with Hultafors talmeters if there is a demand for it  [wink]

 

[Custard]

+1 for the Hultafors, the best tape measure I've ever used and 100% metric so no confusion or compromise. But you need to treat them carefully, I go through about one a year as they're quite delicate and the tape gets chewed up and bent.

 

[sheeschen]

For those in the US interested in the Talmeter, check eBay, bigredtoolboxusa has them and ships to the US for about $24. Also available on Amazon for a little more from the same seller.

I ordered the Rhino metric folding measure about a year ago, but it didn't have the slider thing, so it doesn't help for inside measuring.  Maybe they've added it lately. I went through a big search back then and couldn't find any metric folding ruler with the slide thing. It seemed like some weird conspiracy.

    Scott

 

[Acrobat]

When I have US or UK plans I've gotten from magazines or internet in Imperial measures I find it handy having a chart on the wall that compares drill sizes from imperial to metric very good, as for the life of me I can never figure what a 5/32 or whatever..., is, being used to metric only here, so referring to the chart is great. Have a hunt on the net I'm sure there are plenty of charts available with the most useful sizes. Helps also to round up the fraction if you find something is any size less than a whole mm when converted e.g..say 276.65mm's make it 277 mm then you can shave it to fit.
Double check before you cut is always good advice too. And lastly stick to one system rather than going back and forth whenever possible. 1 inch is 25.4mm I think so 4 inches is 101.6mm, but depending on the project, keeping it simple I'd simply round it down to 100mm and ensure every other part is done accordingly to match. I'm sure after you've passed the initial break in period it will begin to be easier, I reckon it'll be hard though living in a country where everyone else is still in imperial so you'll be still in-between worlds so to speak.
Good luck.
BTW, Metric speak: a "mil" is short for millimetre, we get lazy here and don't bother saying millimetre any more just "mil" or mill's as the case may be. e.g. 37mm's spoken is 37 mils. I assume europeans do the same but I'm not sure. [smile]

 

[Stephen B]

[size=11pt]

Yes it is 'mils' here across the ditch *  too. But I think that would be too 'posh' a term for our friends in the UK if not Europe!  [big grin]

[size=9pt]

* Tasman Sea between continental Australia and New Zealand.

 

[woodguy7]

Not too posh for me, mills here also  ;D

 

[Rob Z]

Mils here is thousandths of an inch .  [big grin]

 

[Rob Z]

For some reason, I've found it hard to find folding rules with the slider for inside measurements in metric.

Maybe it's just that they aren't imported and sold here or something else.

Maybe someone from Europe knows of something?

Please help!

Tom

Tom, I've searched far and wide for a metric rule with extension. If we could locate one I would buy five of them immediately.

 

[Paul G]

Mils here is thousandths of an inch .  [big grin]

Exactly.

 

[semenza]

Mils here is thousandths of an inch .  [big grin]

Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.

Seth

 

[Rob Z]

Speaking of Mils, that reminds me of Land Nav in the Army.  I don't recall exactly, but there are something like 15 mils per degree on the compass? I never thought to ask "why" thirty years ago when I was only 18 and just trying to get by.

 

[Paul G]

Speaking of Mils, that reminds me of Land Nav in the Army.   I don't recall exactly, but there are something like 15 mils per degree on the compass? I never thought to ask "why" thirty years ago when I was only 18 and just trying to get by.

Oh my, that mil changes depending who you ask. Interesting wikipedia page on that http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_mil

 

[epicxt]

For some reason, I've found it hard to find folding rules with the slider for inside measurements in metric.

Maybe it's just that they aren't imported and sold here or something else.

Maybe someone from Europe knows of something?

Please help!

Tom

Tom, I've searched far and wide for a metric rule with extension. If we could locate one I would buy five of them immediately.

I'd take one as well.

 

[Oso Rojo]

For some reason, I've found it hard to find folding rules with the slider for inside measurements in metric.

Maybe it's just that they aren't imported and sold here or something else.

Maybe someone from Europe knows of something?

Please help!

Tom

Tom, I've searched far and wide for a metric rule with extension. If we could locate one I would buy five of them immediately.

Rob, I just got an email from Lufkin saying they were going to pass my request to a product specialist. Send me a private message and I'll give you the email of the customer service person at Apex. This goes for anyone, let's flood them with requests for a metric folding ruler with an extender. Maybe that will get them working to make one.

Bernie

 

[land_kel]

What then is a  "blonde one" vrs a "red one" vs a "black one"?

Hmmmmmm

 

[Stephen B]

Mils here is thousandths of an inch .  [big grin]

Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.

Seth

[size=11pt]

Mils as a slang for MM has been around for along time, probably since we went Metric down here in the early 70s. So it would not surprise me if some carpenters etc., just transferred an imperial term, particularly as it is linguistically close to milli as in millimetre. Just thinking, and joining the dots.

 

[Rob Z]

What then is a  "blonde one" vrs a "red one" vs a "black one"?

Hmmmmmm

Those are fundamental, dimensionless constants.

 

[Rob Z]

[size=11pt]

Mils as a slang for MM has been around for along time, probably since we went Metric down here in the early 70s. So it would not surprise me if some carpenters etc., just transferred an imperial term, particularly as it is linguistically close to milli as in millimetre. Just thinking, and joining the dots.

[/quote]

I first learned about Mils for mm several years ago when I was talking to someone about a product that is specified and sold with units of Mils ( thousandths of an inch).  The other person was thinking Mils in metric , so when I said 30 Mils he was thinking 30 mm.  Big difference between 0.030" and 30 mm !  We had a moment of confusion.  ???