[Nick H]

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.

 

[King of Crown]

then bobs your uncle

And what about stones?

 

[Teetorbilt]

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.

 

[flashheatingand]

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.

 

[JT Wood]

commie

 

[mudpad]

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:

 

[Mellison]

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

 

[griz]

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:

 

[mudpad]

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!

 

[griz]

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

I've heard all the hype and benefits. It's just I am too stubborn and don't want it shoved down my throat.

 

[Jimmy Cabinet]

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.

 

[griz]

:whistling:clap::laughing:

 

[WarnerConstInc.]

Metric is way easier.

 

[Winchester]

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

 

[flashheatingand]

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....$.

 

[flashheatingand]

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.

 

[wallmaxx]

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.

 

[gallerytungsten]

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.

 

[flashheatingand]

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.

 

[Tinstaafl]

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: