Inch vs metric

Mith · Apr 9, 2006

Oddly here we use millimeters (metric) for steelwork and inches (imperial) for wood.
I mostly use imperial as I work on machines from the USA, but I would say metric is alot more logical.
Isnt it more logical to have freezing as 0oC? Have 1000ml to the litre? And so on.
Its also alot easier to work out 2500mm+1050mm than 4,7/8''+2,15/16'' isnt it?

Then again, we still use miles and pints.
So some things are better in imperial but most in metric. I wish you guys would start making you mowers and tractors metric though! Its hard fabricating with metric steel on an imperial machine!

Joe, as to drills, we have 0.1mm drills, so inbetween 5mm and 6mm you have 5.1, 5.2 ,....... You dont have any more variation as you have more numbers

JoeR · Apr 9, 2006

I can never seem to find 0.1mm increment drills here in the U.S. It could be due to lack of popularity too. I don't disagree that metric is easier to use, just pointing out some differences. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I can say this: when companies think metric is in their best interest then they start using it. Look as Coca Cola. We used to buy it in 2 or 1 gallon bottles. Now it is in Liters. So we think we are getting 2 something, but we are actually getting less. Although, the Coca Cola can is 12 ounces, so why are the bottles in Metric? They get a bigger number to print on it! hahahaa! The Marketing power of a company is more powerful than anything out there!

Cliff_Johns · Apr 9, 2006

( Isnt it more logical to have freezing as 0oC? )

Well, no. Seems more logical to me to have 0 be really cold and 100 be really hot when I'm outside walking about. Who cares about boiling water? Like I said, metric is more based on sort of random things and English measures are more based on human scale things.

Cliff

_RaT_ · Apr 9, 2006

Take one course in chemistry and your love of the english or standard system is guaranteed to diminish. It did for me. Many countries have delt with the transition to the metric system. For many reasons, it is far superior then our standard system. I for one have a difficult time adding up 15/32" + 1 1/2" + 11 9/16" + 1 1/8" + 9 5/8", all measurements of dimensional lumber and plywood. Throw in 1/4" for good measure and your bound to make a mistake. I have my construction calculator handy for this very reason. Metric, the rest of the world caught on, I think we're just lazy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Cliff_Johns · Apr 9, 2006

( Take one course in chemistry and your love of the english or standard system is guaranteed to diminish. )

Oh dear, I never said I loved the english system. And yes, took a bunch of chemistry in college. Actually, I'm ambivalent about the whole thing. There are drawbacks to each.

( I for one have a difficult time adding up 15/32" + 1 1/2" + 11 9/16" + 1 1/8" + 9 5/8)

You know, in all my years, I've never had to do that. Still, if you measure in a partiicular increment for a given problem, say 32nds in this case, at least you're adding all whole numbers.

( Metric, the rest of the world caught on, I think we're just lazy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Nah, we're rebels and non-conformists! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The US is changing. Gas will be sold in liters when the price of a gallon doesn't fit in 3 digits. Gas will seem so much cheaper when it's only $2 per liter. Milk too.

Cliff

inveresk · Apr 9, 2006

I was weaned on the imperial system of feet and inches which changed to metric in the UK construction industry around 1970. I was at school of architecture at the time and I've used metric since but still get a better visual of size when I think in feet and inches.

I came to Canada in 2003 and metric is the official measure here. The building codes are all in metric but no-one submits their drawings that way or orders material. Everything is done in feet and inches except for the codes.

Of the two, metric is easier to add, subtract and divide and using it in CAD programmes simplifies data entry.

_RaT_ · Apr 9, 2006

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I understand! Having been in construction since 1972, I've often wondered about this 7/32nd + 12 5/8 divided by 3 1/4" stuff. I figured either I was slow or this stuff is wacko. Come to find out a little of both are true. I'm batting 50/100ths or 25/50ths or 16/32nds or 8/16ths or 4/8ths or 8/16ths...... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

slowrev · Apr 10, 2006

Then there are those fractions like 1/3 which don't seem to work our just right in any current number system.

Ben

Gomez · Apr 10, 2006

I know when I was working at a tool & die shop, when working in English, everything was converted to decimal.

Even more confusing is the practice in my current location (Puerto Rico) where distance is in KM, but speed limits are MPH. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

PitbullMidwest · Apr 10, 2006

Even those who use the metric system don't use it as designed. According to my 1970's public education, 200mm is like an improper fraction, it should be expressed as either 20cm or 2 decimeters. But then again, I've never heard anyone express distances in dekameters, hectometers or megameters.

I'm comfortable with both but prefer standard to metric. As far as using unlike fractions, it's easy enough to convert them all to a common denominator before adding them up.