New to metric but not to Festool - need advice for measuring

Coen said:
FestitaMakool said:
Exactly Crazyraceguy, I remember this was a part of transition to metric (48x98mm)
Then I thought, why on earth not 50x100? so much easier - then someone said it’s about adding with other dimensions and drying of lumber.. slippery slope - I think that’s why 2x4 stayed.. easy to remember and speak out - and visualise.

Isn't Metal Stud nice eh... 50mm actually being 50mm.

Makes me wonder... the USA being the country of litigation... has anyone sued yet over these timber sizes?

False advertising, ala the Subway foot-long?  [popcorn]

RMW
 
....And yes there has been a lawsuit about lumber sizes here in the US.

But rather than going down that rabbit hole, how about some more thoughts about how to help the OP with his question?

Peter
 
Richard/RMW said:
Coen said:
FestitaMakool said:
Exactly Crazyraceguy, I remember this was a part of transition to metric (48x98mm)
Then I thought, why on earth not 50x100? so much easier - then someone said it’s about adding with other dimensions and drying of lumber.. slippery slope - I think that’s why 2x4 stayed.. easy to remember and speak out - and visualise.

Isn't Metal Stud nice eh... 50mm actually being 50mm.

Makes me wonder... the USA being the country of litigation... has anyone sued yet over these timber sizes?

False advertising, ala the Subway foot-long?  [popcorn]

RMW

Even in Europe they call it a footlong. Because if they had called it "30 cm long" everyone would have known they got duped  [tongue]. Not getting the marked size is common with imperial after all. Plumbing 1/2" threads are 21.3mm instead of 12.7  [tongue]
 
The first thing I do when working with a helper on any kind of install, is compare tapes. I have seen them off by over 1/8" in just 8 feet. "Which one is right?" is not all that important, it's about being relative to each other. These things need to be cut "to fit", the number that it takes is kind of irrelevant.

mino, agreed completely. The 32mm system is as good as a "system" can get. It just works.
 
We have a pile of tapes here in the shop.  We keep them on every big power tool, in a couple of drawers, and in our aprons...  Oh, plus the two I keep in the truck, the ones in the Pack Out....  Well, you get the idea.  The second they hit the outside of the package they got delivered in, they get calibrated.  We make sure they read the same inside as outside, and that they read the same as the existing tapes in the shop.  We also check them somewhat regularly.

But, back on topic...  I like the idea of measuring items around the house to gain a reference for metric sizes.  I have begun doing that.  We are also trying to spend more days using nothing but metric.  I think we're making a little progress.
 
Easy peasy...I have a Kapex with UG stand and extensions that is scaled in metric.  I do most of my work in inches.  I keep a few cheapo calculators scattered around the shop and each has 25.4 stored in the memory.  When I take a measurement that will be cut on the Kapex I enter the inch value in a calculator, hit multiply and memory, and hit equals.  That value is set into the scale on the Kapex extension and I cut.  Works every time!
 
It has been so long since my intro to metric happened I can't remember what it was like. In those days there were no machines or at least I did not have one, just a hand held circular saw or a handsaw to cut with and I guess I measured in metric and cut to the mark so I was not directly thinking in imperial at all. I  am so used to using metric I don't even look at dual reading tapes and I had a project in imperial a while ago and did not know how I was going to cut it out on my saw until I realised it had dual reading tapes and I had only owned it for about six years!  :-[

I will repeat my advice to the OP, buy some good quality European metric tapes and measure in metric. Totally ignoring imperial is ideal but maybe not practical but I most probably did exactly that. I never built off project plans that were imperial apart from my workshop which was along drawn out multi year project. 
 
kevinculle said:
Easy peasy...I have a Kapex with UG stand and extensions that is scaled in metric.  I do most of my work in inches.  I keep a few cheapo calculators scattered around the shop and each has 25.4 stored in the memory.  When I take a measurement that will be cut on the Kapex I enter the inch value in a calculator, hit multiply and memory, and hit equals.  That value is set into the scale on the Kapex extension and I cut.  Works every time!

Black and Decker used to sell a version if their workmate with a conversion table on it that was full of rounding errors.  [big grin]
 
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