I bought a new tape rule a while back, and it was imperial on top, and metric across the bottom. It so offended me, I threw it out.

That's what I think of that communist metric crap.

 

You would love it here in Canada. All Metric and everything in French and English

 

That's what I think of that communist metric crap.

Yeah, those dang communists with their 10 fingers and 10 toes. What a goofy system.

 

Yeah, those dang communists with their 10 fingers and 10 toes. What a goofy system.

That's my Dad coming out of me. Anything that is "un-American" is automatically communist.

 

Too funny, ron. I've been to Toronto and Montreal in the past 2 years. They sell gas by the liter, measure distance in kilometers and the Real Estate ads tell how many square feet a house has. I went to Home Cheapo and saw half inch copper supply lines. Then there is the dual language thing. Talk about confusing!

 

What's curious here is that the code is written in metric but all building materials and all carpenters work in imperial. It's a real pita when you're doing codework or anything for the govt. all of which is in metric. :furious:

 

I use milimeters for very precise measurements. Fractional imperial stuff is just a pain for that.

But yes, most building materials here are in imperial.. Blame it on our largest trading partner who buys more than we can consume.

But I like knowing that 1L of water weighs 1 kilogram and that it freezes at 0C and boils at 100C. Easy to remember and easy to do the math.

 

Dad taught me how to mark to the inside or outside of the line on any measuring tool. I was exposed to metrics in the 60's. Why we didn't go that way TOTALLY defeats me! It's so much more accurate, easy and international.

I still use Imperial only because that's the way that it's always been done. Any complaints about fractions being a biach? I convert to decimals for most work, another headache.

 

I use metric tapes for doing all of my trim work. I find it easier to read and more accurate as well...good luck finding a metric only tape here though. I actually had to buy a case of Stanleys on the bay.

 

Have you thought about selling half that case right here, or are you using them all? I have no idea how many tape measures come to a case. How many did you get for how much?

 

I keep a few long and short tapes around that measure tenths of a foot and tenths of tenth for working off of surveyor's maps. Tenth's look close enough to inches that i keep all the tenth tapes in one box so i don't grab one by accident.

Would have been nice to get on one system 300 years ago. I think it's too late now.

 

I keep a few long and short tapes around that measure tenths of a foot and tenths of tenth for working off of surveyor's maps. Tenth's look close enough to inches that i keep all the tenth tapes in one box so i don't grab one by accident.

Did you know that there are grade rods out there that have feet and tenths on one side and feet and inches on the other? Years ago I was laying out a job and was working with a carpenter that I hadn't worked with before. We were way along on a days work when I read something through the grade level like 4' 11 tenths.....???....wow what's up with that? Carpenter says "oh, do want the other side? We always work in feet and inches"

The "hybrid" system that has been developed for surveying and site work is ridiculous. Go metric and get it over with! It will only be mass confusion for a few months (or years):w00t:

 

www.fastcap.com tapes in Imperial, or metric only or metric and Imperial :}:}:} :thumbup::laughing: I have both combo and Imps, build everything in Imp cept I use 32mm for shelf pin drilling and hardware installation. 32mm system holes and 5 mm screws.
JackM

 

I do the same thing. Euro system custom closets though. Everything is metric on them. The guy i work with is a genius. He can convert any metric measurement straight over to emperial in his head in less than a second.

 

Why work in metric or imperial, Whitworth is the way to go...

 

I used to be a surveyor and always wondered why everyone didn't go the the 10ths/100ths thing long ago? Anyone know the history of the fractional system?
Having said all this, though, multi million dollar homes are popping up right and left around me and guess what everyonr uses? Yep.........
Must work!

 

Anyone know the history of the fractional system?

Same guy that invented the UK monetary system; 1 Pound = 20 shillings, 1 shilling = 12 pence and then you have quids, crowns, half crowns, 6 pence, thrupence and haypennies.:laughing:

 

You forgot the florins (one tenth of a pound, or"2 bob") and guinea (one pound and a shilling, or "21 bob"). Hope that clears it up a bit !

You got me thinking now, how about a Chain (22 yards, or the length of a cricket pitch) which is made up of a 100 Links or 4 Poles. Now, 10 Chains equals a Furlong and 8 Furlongs equals 1 Mile, so, 22 x 10 x 8 = 1760 yards in a mile.

or 80 chains
or 320 poles
or 8000 links

Now what about Hands.

 

then bobs your uncle

And what about stones?

 

Nick, I regret mentioning them. I left your system in '67. Wasn't a chain also known as a pitch? Terribly forgetful of me old boy, it has been many years. TTFN.

 

Old post, and some interesting numbers. I just started to try the metric side of the ruler, and it is much easier to remember, and more accurate.

 

commie

 

Half of NASA. Unfortunately: http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/30/mars.metric/

 

No offense to you guys, but it will be a very cold day in hell before I use that damn metric system. Drives me nuts when the engineers, dirt & asphalt guys start talking all that tenths stuff.:laughing:

 

Yeah but if everybody was on the same system, nobody would be going nuts!

 

The OP who bragged about buying that metric tape has not posted in 4 years. Maybe just maybe............his eyes went cross eyed from that useless measuring system and can't see the posts anymore.

 

:whistling:clap::laughing:

 

Metric is way easier.

 

Metric is the best measuring system.
The easiest and makes the most sense out there.

Unfortunately, I have no choice but to use imperial for now (even though our BUILDING CODE IS ONLY WRITTEN IN METRIC! :blink

 

Guys, I fancy myself a patriotic guy as well. By denying the metric thing is just doing us a disservice. It's simpler, more accurate, and in essence more efficient. Other than it being a Euro thing, it's really a foolish fight.

Hey, if you want to stick with the imperial measurements, it's a free world. But, it does minimize measurement errors....$.

 

Guys, I fancy myself a patriotic guy as well. By denying the metric thing is just doing us a disservice. It's simpler, more accurate, and in essence more efficient. Other than it being a Euro thing, it's really a foolish fight.

Hey, if you want to stick with the imperial measurements, it's a free world. But, it does minimize measurement errors....$.

You are wrong with the "MORE ACCURATE" part.

It's not more accurate.....it's just DIFFERENT.

More accurate would imply it can more accurately measure something than standard. That is just a factually inaccurate statement.

If your mind needs to stay in tenths of a thing...super duper. I tend to use whatever works. Most of my materials are manufactured in multiples of a standard dimension. Use what works for you. But don't tell me it's "better" otherwise America would be all over it.

Not better.....just different.

 

I don't intend to convert others. It's just that for running gas pipe, Metal, & copper, it's a handy trick. If the standard is imperial, it's foolish force a change.... But, it really would beehoove the younger generation to be fluent in both types of measurement.

 

I have a metric tape I use for installing European material that is manufactured to metric dimensions. If you try to use inches, the cumulative error will show up pretty quick.

 

When I say more accurate, I mean that when you call out for example, a measurement that is 23 &5/8". That measurement is takes more time to find on the tape than say 23 centimeters. Then you have to deal with the inadvertent mistake of measuring an inch off... The difference is less noticed if one is a centimeter off.

I think metric is better. Doesn't mean I can't use the imperial system. Doesn't mean I refuse to recognize the imperial system. But, if metric can help eliminate measurement mistakes...why not.

 

When I say more accurate, I mean that when you call out for example, a measurement that is 23 &5/8". That measurement is takes more time to find on the tape than say 23 centimeters.

Irrelevant. In the real world, you're going to have to find millimeter marks in between the CM marks, so it equates to the same thing.

The only advantage to metric is that it makes the math more convenient, and therefore yes, less prone to error. But forcing those who've spent a lifetime thinking in inches to switch to metric would create errors for years. :laughing:

 

Don't try and convert, just measure in metric.

Using a metric tape for trim work is more simple then your imperial tape measure.

 

Using a metric tape for trim work is more simple then your imperial tape measure.

Only if you're doing more than just measuring. :no:

They still have RCHs in either system.