What's in a "foot"? (Surveying)

[RandyT]

^^^^^^
And that's a big frustration in itself. I don't know if it's that way now, as I don't do much more than oil changes and brake work. There was a time however, when it took both standard and metric wrenches to get a job done... meaning that you had to have twice as many tools to paw through as you laid underneath the truck.

Most have transitioned to metric fasteners. But did a lot of repairs with partial imperial and part metric. It got real interesting when you needed a new bolt because one got messed up or got lost, and you discovered that your imperial headed bolt had metric threads. As far as the US going to metric it would be tough. No so much as just making everything metric, but the fact there is so much stuff that is imperial and would take forever to get that stuff out of the system.

 

[k0ua]

Most have transitioned to metric fasteners. But did a lot of repairs with partial imperial and part metric. It got real interesting when you needed a new bolt because one got messed up or got lost, and you discovered that your imperial headed bolt had metric threads. As far as the US going to metric it would be tough. No so much as just making everything metric, but the fact there is so much stuff that is imperial and would take forever to get that stuff out of the system.

And the sooner we start the sooner we will be finished. Remember it will only hurt for a little while. Short pain, long term gain.. Do it for the children.

 

[Oldpath05]

:laughing: Mate, you (US), and two other small countries, are the last 3 in the entire world still using Imperial.

I realise that it's an embuggerance to switch to Metric as I was originally taught Imperial and got caught up when we swapped over. At times, I still think and express myself in Imperial... the 'youth of today' <shakes fist at clouds in a curmudgeonly way> just look at me wide eyed and with their head slightly tilted.

I also see your side of the coin as the majority of the world drives on the 'other side' of the road... perhaps some time in the future only 2 or 3 countries will be left on 'the left' and we'll have to re-mark our roads. But that's the point, eh? If 'everyone else' is driving left-hand-drive vehicles, then the availability AND cost of a right-hand-drive vehicle will become prohibitive.

You're already experiencing this as, I'd wager, you are using your SAE tools less (on new equipment) and using your metric ones more. Supply and demand, Mate.

That's because we're still waiting for The New World Order to set in....... Metric or not we better not change the steering wheel.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Not so much as just making everything metric, but the fact there is so much stuff that is imperial and would take forever to get that stuff out of the system.

In Canada here we've been metric since 1976. That's almost 44 years and there is still sae stuff around. Some of the blame for that can be attributed to the USA for not switching over. But tell me how are you going to switch dimensional lumber? Yes you can round off to metric measurements but the parentage is still in inches. Same with the width of railway tracks. It's just to impractical to get some of that stuff out of the system.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mind metric at all. In fact I don't mend either system. I'm fluent in both. What I do mind is working in both on the same vehicle.

 

[KennyG]

:laughing: Mate, you (US), and two other small countries, are the last 3 in the entire world still using Imperial.

There is officially using and actually using. A certain number of large investment facilities are still Imperial/SAE if they are sourced from the US or use existing designs. Power plants of all kinds are a typical example. And there are is a large manufacturing base in China and other countries putting out products based on US standards. And, of course, US companies, especially those that source parts or sell products internationally, are converting to metric. The reality is we have two systems and while we are transitioning to metric, both will be around for quite a while. And, as noted, for some things, like auto wheel sizes, there will probably never be a reason to go metric.

 

[Oaktree]

The reality is we have two systems and while we are transitioning to metric, both will be around for quite a while. And, as noted, for some things, like auto wheel sizes, there will probably never be a reason to go metric.

What about distance and acreage measurements? What would the U.S. gain by going metric in those areas? I don't see how the U.S. is at any disadvantage vs the rest of the world because we measure distance in miles as opposed to km, lot sizes in acres as opposed to hectares or gasoline sales in gallons, not liters. The cost and inconvenience would be huge, and the benefits few.

We can either keep up with the times or become a has been nation.

While I don't disagree that we're on a path towards being a has-been, I really doubt the Imperial vs metric battle has much if any impact on that. Maybe we ought to look at our work ethic (or increasing lack thereof).

 

[RandyT]

I was just thinking about how many trillions of dollars that it would cost to change all the road signs to metric.

 

[ruffdog]

As a machinist, you learn to adapt to keep your sanity. First there are the standard american prints that use inches and are 3rd angle view. Then there are goofy metric prints that have the dims converted that many are still 3rd angle. Then we have true metric prints that came from across the pond (europe) that are 100% metric, including the tolerancing methods and they are 1st angle view. The ones I disliked the most were the in between converted ones drawn by people that didn't know the metric system. Mechanics/machinists that deal with both worlds just do the job. It means owning more tools, more converting and math, an open mind, and more thinking. Hey, it makes the job more interesting too.

Also, CNC controlled machining has made it easier making the transition. If a print is all metric, it might be easier to program in metric instead of converting. You just adapt to what works best for you.

 

[Chris616]

I was just thinking about how many trillions of dollars that it would cost to change all the road signs to metric.

It wouldn't be that expensive. The only way for it to happen simultaneously across the country would be as was done on the Labour Day weekend in 1977 in Canada. Labels were pasted over every speed limit sign in the country to make the conversion. The signs were gradually replaced later as they aged.

What was a bit of a pain, since the analog speedometers of the day didn't typically have KPH scales, was marking up the speedo with a crayon or sticking a conversion label of some sort on it. Today in the USA most vehicles have dual MPH/KPH analog speedometers or digital speedometers that can change between systems.

Interesting NY Times archives story from that weekend:
METRIC ROAD SIGNS DUE IN CANADA TODAY - The New York Times

Chris

 

[k0ua]

I was just thinking about how many trillions of dollars that it would cost to change all the road signs to metric.

They changed them in the 70's here in Missouri. They listed both distances in KM and Mi. I think most have changed back.