I've been doing both for many years here in Canada. I prefer metric due to the simple math and less chance for mistakes but am comfortable with both and can visualize the size of something in either. I've been in industrial construction for many years and the majority but not all dimensions on prints and models are in metric. Most of my tapes are dual measurements along with most of my rulers.
Metric Swap Over?
Hope this is the correct forum…. Anyway…
My son and I build cabinets and furniture for a living. We recently did some shop upgrades, including some Festool purchases. After watching a [ile of Youtube videos on using some of these Festool tools, the metric thing has been popping up.
It's been something I consider every few years… But, this is really the first time I've tried it. I actually bought a few tapes measures that show both. I mean this is REALLY the first time I've done anything about even looking at metric, other than it being an annoyance and something I have to convert… I realized when I got these tapes that a millimeter is smaller than 1/16"... Duh. Smaller always means more accurate. Been using nothing but .5mm pencils or knives for the majority of our work for a while now.
Yesterday, I was on the job site doing some installation.. There were a few complicated bits I was working on (the entertainment cabinet style pocket doors for the appliance garage being the main culprit) and decided to do as much s I could in metric.
Othe than my perception of sizes, and not being able to imagine what size each thing was… things like what would normally be 1/4" and something I can just see, I have to now measure. I know I'll get used to it, and I kinda want to keep trying this system out.
The math is SOOOOOO much easier. The mm being smaller and more accurate…. I dunno, the only downside is that living in the US, I will have to keep converting. But, I have to do some conversion the other way now (especially when buying cabinet hardware).
Anybody else made the move?
My son and I build cabinets and furniture for a living. We recently did some shop upgrades, including some Festool purchases. After watching a [ile of Youtube videos on using some of these Festool tools, the metric thing has been popping up.
It's been something I consider every few years… But, this is really the first time I've tried it. I actually bought a few tapes measures that show both. I mean this is REALLY the first time I've done anything about even looking at metric, other than it being an annoyance and something I have to convert… I realized when I got these tapes that a millimeter is smaller than 1/16"... Duh. Smaller always means more accurate. Been using nothing but .5mm pencils or knives for the majority of our work for a while now.
Yesterday, I was on the job site doing some installation.. There were a few complicated bits I was working on (the entertainment cabinet style pocket doors for the appliance garage being the main culprit) and decided to do as much s I could in metric.
Othe than my perception of sizes, and not being able to imagine what size each thing was… things like what would normally be 1/4" and something I can just see, I have to now measure. I know I'll get used to it, and I kinda want to keep trying this system out.
The math is SOOOOOO much easier. The mm being smaller and more accurate…. I dunno, the only downside is that living in the US, I will have to keep converting. But, I have to do some conversion the other way now (especially when buying cabinet hardware).
Anybody else made the move?
1 - 20 of 69 Posts
In 3D printing and laser graving and cutting I use the metric system, it sure does make math MUCH easier. The hardest part for me is estimating still. Having used inches and feet for over 50 years those measurements pop right off. When it comes to the metric system I have to get out a tape or a ruler for anything over 1 mm. My brain just can't grasp it.
I'd really like to swap over, but it would be a big change since all my stuff is imperial. I do enough stuff with it that I keep myself pretty fluent in both, and go out of my way to try to think of the conversions so I keep up on it. My retirement plan takes us overseas and it'll be a requirement there, so I'm trying to learn it. It's like learning a language, you gotta practice.
While I haven't switched completely to metric, I use it often for the simplicity. It appears the US will never switch which is too bad, but resistance to change is pretty stuiff. I have the same issue as you, I can't visualize dimensions in metric….but making measurements and working the math with it is a piece of cake.
I spent 60 years working with imperial, and then moved to a metric country! Been here 14 years now. I made a definite effort to convert, and stuff less than a foot (300mm) is now much easier with metric. Larger numbers take a lot more effort. The doctors here always ask my height, and saying 1.85 metres is way more difficult than saying 6ft.
I still cant convert 8ft x 4 ft boards accurately.
I still cant convert 8ft x 4 ft boards accurately.
As I have been going down this road the only real obstacle is things like mortice chisels. And me not thinking bought a set of metric chisels to start with. Because I mostly set the mortice off the chisel it never bothered me. So that said, other than terms like 4'x8' sheet or 2"x4" (which we all know isn't) I may need to try to see how going all metric feels.
There are only 3 countries left that havent converted, Metric is easier but the old die hards cant seem to take the plunge.
English units excel at halving, quartering, etc. without the decimals becoming unrealistically long. This helps when figuring centers of circles converting from dia to radius, finding half measures, etc. To me a two place decimal, correctly implying the desired accuracy, mis-specifies the dimension. 1/8" is .125" not .12 or .13 +- .01". As a CAD operator I've rasslled with this for years.
Half of a fraction simply doubles the denominator. Easy and fast to do in your head. Half of 1/16 is 1/32, Half of .0625 is … QUICK! LOL And the five place decimal sets an unrealistic tolerance (and thereby, cost) specification.
Half of a fraction simply doubles the denominator. Easy and fast to do in your head. Half of 1/16 is 1/32, Half of .0625 is … QUICK! LOL And the five place decimal sets an unrealistic tolerance (and thereby, cost) specification.
If I remember correctly, the USA was going metric soo, so in the late 60's, early 70's, there was a big push in school to learn it. Then,. NOTHING. Metric sure is easier, but if no one wants to learn and use it, it will not happen here. Sad…
Sorry, not on THIS lifetime.
After I'm dead people can use centipedes and whatever they like.
For now, millimeters are gor FIREARMS, not for the woodshop….
After I'm dead people can use centipedes and whatever they like.
For now, millimeters are gor FIREARMS, not for the woodshop….
Use'ta work for Florida DOT. Metrification has HUGE impacts. EVERY sign with a distance on it needs to be replaced and/or moved. The entire length of the interstate currently has mile markers on both sides every .1 mile. Going to makers every 200m is a CHORE. The exits all need to be renumbered since most are based on miles. Think of the impacts on all the local vendors with signs and adverts that say "just off exit 109" that have to be reprinted.
Speed limits need to be tweaked by the legislature since, say, 30MPH is 48KPH, but would have to be rounded up to 50KPH so the law would would have to be changed accordingly.
It's a HUGE investment in time and effort.
And for what? If we need to sell metric parts, we design metric parts. But changing over all the roads and highways makes little sense economically since it's all cost and little measurable benefit.
Speed limits need to be tweaked by the legislature since, say, 30MPH is 48KPH, but would have to be rounded up to 50KPH so the law would would have to be changed accordingly.
It's a HUGE investment in time and effort.
And for what? If we need to sell metric parts, we design metric parts. But changing over all the roads and highways makes little sense economically since it's all cost and little measurable benefit.
I-19 from Tucson to Nogales is signed in metric. It's the only stretch of interstate in the country that is metric.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/i19-americas-only-metric-interstate
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/i19-americas-only-metric-interstate
I've considering switching to Metric since Carter was president. Maybe I'll try it which will mean buying a few new measuring tapes and steel rules. Should I buy combo rules or just take the leap. If any of you smell smoke please call my wife.
Yeah, I'm building a Roubo workbench using Bench crafted hardware and plans. I'm also following a set of bench plans from Matt Estlea, a brit in the UK. His plans are in Metric.
It's been a bit of an adventure. I've printed off a 3 page conversion chart and constantly refer to it.
I have agree Metric in much more precise. I think that most measurement here in the use is for construction not fine woodworking. The delve into woodworking the more I appreciate my German woodworking heritage.
It's been a bit of an adventure. I've printed off a 3 page conversion chart and constantly refer to it.
I have agree Metric in much more precise. I think that most measurement here in the use is for construction not fine woodworking. The delve into woodworking the more I appreciate my German woodworking heritage.
The UK went metric many years ago, due to being so closely entertwined with europe. But the government kept miles, rather than kilometers (because of the cost of road signage), and they kept pints (because beer comes in pints, not 560ml's)
But there are many crossover measurements still in use. You can buy 25 metres of 1/2" hose pipe for example. Its also very common for people to still talk of things like "half a litre".
But there are many crossover measurements still in use. You can buy 25 metres of 1/2" hose pipe for example. Its also very common for people to still talk of things like "half a litre".
If I remember correctly, the USA was going metric soo, so in the late 60 s, early 70 s, [...]
- ibewjon
In fact USA is metric since 1866. See:There are only 3 countries left that havent converted, [...]
- Richard Lee
https://usma.org/laws-and-bills/metric-act-of-1866#history
The "US customary system" is a secondary system which has, since the 5th of April 1893, been legally defined by reference to the metric system. See:
https://usma.org/laws-and-bills/mendenhall-order#locale-notification
I guess the politicians then did not had the courage to make the metric system mandatory.
The US NIST has been a very important contributor to the refinement of the standards of what is now called the SI (International System of Units).
Major changes tend to necessitate 60 years to be fully implemented. In 4 years USA will reach the 120 years mark!
Pro tip: half of 6mm is 3mm (did that calculation in my head in a split second)English units excel at halving, quartering, etc. without the decimals becoming unrealistically long. This helps when figuring centers of circles converting from dia to radius, finding half measures, etc. To me a two place decimal, correctly implying the desired accuracy, mis-specifies the dimension. 1/8" is .125" not .12 or .13 +- .01". As a CAD operator I ve rasslled with this for years.
Half of a fraction simply doubles the denominator. Easy and fast to do in your head. Half of 1/16 is 1/32, Half of .0625 is … QUICK! LOL And the five place decimal sets an unrealistic tolerance (and thereby, cost) specification.
- Madmark2
Sure. And half of 9mm is 4.5mm, but you won't find a 4.5mm on your metric ruler. And bisecting 4.5? Pfft… Good luck.English units excel at halving, quartering, etc. without the decimals becoming unrealistically long. This helps when figuring centers of circles converting from dia to radius, finding half measures, etc. To me a two place decimal, correctly implying the desired accuracy, mis-specifies the dimension. 1/8" is .125" not .12 or .13 +- .01". As a CAD operator I ve rasslled with this for years.
Half of a fraction simply doubles the denominator. Easy and fast to do in your head. Half of 1/16 is 1/32, Half of .0625 is … QUICK! LOL And the five place decimal sets an unrealistic tolerance (and thereby, cost) specification.
- Madmark2
Pro tip: half of 6mm is 3mm (did that calculation in my head in a split second)
- SMP
I agree with the rest of the world that the metric system is superior to the imperial in many cases, but here is where it falls short.
I use metric for 3D printing and unless you specifically design something so the measurements are evenly divisible by two for as many divisions as you need, the decimal places get crazy. It's easy enough to do in CAD when you can just grab the center point between two points, but if you try to replicate that piece in the shop with rulers, you're always rounding.
For instance, a holder for a colored pencil set to fit in a certain width. Multiple tiers with all of the holes evenly spaced. If you're talking 6 or 7 holes per tier, it's a lot easier to lay out with fractions of an inch than mm.
1 - 20 of 69 Posts
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