harrysin

I just took a peek at the Oak Park template guides and was impressed by the range of sizes but was very surprised that they didn't go up that extra 1/8th to make a 1.5". The second point that I will make is re-adjust the machine that makes them and turn them out in metric! I'm not kidding, with a comprehensive set like that in metric the ease of designing female templates would quickly catch on with other manufacturers and given enough complaints, would start supplying the USA with routers like we have down under that take large guides, I go up to 50mm (2") and I think Tom goes up to 100mm (4"). I'm not attempting to tell you how to run you're country, only the dinkum routing community.

Translation: Dinkum= genuine in Aussietalk

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Harry

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mftha

Although I have lived almost all my life in the United States, I remain mystified that the router community uses Imperial measurements rather than metric. Canada is metric, and I noted from the beginning of my viewing that the Router Workshop uses Imperial measurements. I happen to work in a field in which metric is standard and I can fairly easily switche between the two.

While I am at it, I bought a set of Amana plunge straight bits only to discover that the y were imprinted with the correct catalog number they were also imprinted with Imperial fractions, not metric measurements! I have Freud metric bits but in spite of the web site description do not appear to be plunge bits

harrysin

mftha, what do you think the chances are of you, Template Tom and myself convincing routologists in the USA that routing in metric is the way to go? I'm not attempting to make everyone start driving on the opposite side of the road or to ask Bj to say he is 1.930.4metres tall (1930.4mm or 6'4"). I wonder if Bill Gates would start the ball rolling by handing out free metric template guides and cutters, just a thought!

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Harry

Mike

Ok, all the guides in the basic set plus the extended set plus the .308 special undersized guide comes to 18 guide bushings. The Lee Valley 7 piece set has 6 guide bushings. Harry, the 1.5" guide is part of the basic set, not duplicated in the extended set. While both brands have the same wall thickness on the 3/8" and 1-1/2" guides, the in between sizes are thinner from Lee Valley. 1" OD: 7/8" ID from Lee, 3/4" ID from Oak Park. One has a 1/16" wall thickness and the other a 1/8" wall thickness. This is why I suggested they should be stronger, is there something wrong with my math or logic?

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Mike
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harrysin

As I have come to expect from you Mike, there is nothing wrong with you're maths or logic, but consider, there is no real stress on a template guide whilst being used so strength I don't think is of any real consequence and by making the wall thickness greater than necessary simply reduces the clearance for the collet/cutter. The question now Mike is simply do the majority of American routers not have the ability to take the 1 3/8" and 1 1/2" and if the answer is NO, then surely it's a simple matter to make an adaptor, it's even been suggested that Bj has made and posted such a thing. It may appear to some that I'm making a big deal here but once a few projects have been completed using the larger guides word will travel and it will become the norm. as will metric cutters!

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Harry

Joe Lyddon

Harry, I recommended that just the woodworking industry go metric a long time ago... It would make things a lot easier... no more fractions to mess with... etc. I don't have to tell you...

BUT, most people wanted it left alone... while some wanted change.

cbsjoez1935

Hi Guys both here and abroad,

My humble opinion on why the good old USA did not go metric was because of the big four (at that time GM, Ford, Chrysler & AMC) did not want to re-tool and they carried a lot of weight with their lobbying. They presented the old "if it isn't broke, don't fix it". At least that's my thinking.

Joe

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JoeZ If you never made a mistake, you never tried anything

AxlMyk

I did precision tool repair for 25 years and learned to like metric.. Much more accurate, and less confusing..

When we tried going metric in the states, many Interstate highways were marked with mile and kilometer signs.. Last time I went through Alabama, they had removed them.. I don't know of any that are left..

The auto companies are all metric now..

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Mike - Retired FoMoCo Tradesman
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mftha

Harry, I would very much like to do that. I see from more recent comments that there is support for the idea. I am not certain Bill Gates is the right conduit; I use his products only when I have no alternative. Seriously, the points made by Joe Lyddon and AxyMyk a very good and deserve to be taken seriously. Maybe the five of us could start the effort. I see the real roadblock at this point the companies who manufacture and sell router bits, etc.

My understanding is that President Reagan stopped the metrification of the U.S. because he thought it would be too costly. (penny-wise pound-foolish?) He also appointed a commission charged with terminating the requirement for unleaded gasoline, and that commission did something the President did not expect: they studied the issue. They came back with strong recommendations to greatly strengthen the requirements as quickly as possible.

mftha

I realize my comments on why the United States does not use the metric system may seem political. While I do hold strong political opinions, the Router Forum is not the place to express those views. I should point out that while President Reagan put a halt to the process, President Bush did not resume it, President Clinton did not resume it, the current President Bush has not resumed it, and I have heard absolutely no mention of it by any of the current crop of candidates.

In the meantime, let us start using metric measurements here. As several have pointed out, it is much easier than using fractions. Who knows, we might even have the lumber industry express lumber sizes in true measurements, not the size plus blade kerf.