Mils... mils... mils... Better than 1/4 1/2 11/16??

1555 Views 8 Replies 7 Participants Last post by BrianS, Sep 19, 2006

Joe Lyddon

Discussion Starter · Sep 16, 2006 (Edited)

This has been gradually getting to me...

In the beginning, it was Inches, fractions, etc. NO PROBLEM... I know it and I like it!

Sure, we all learn all of the decimal equivalents, etc. so we can add them all up... then convert back to some common denominator... 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2... etc.

Yes... once you get the hang of it, it's not too bad... but, you still have to do a lot of mental arobics to get the job done...

The WoodWorking Channel makes the scene... The British Woodshop guy, Free, gets on and just talks "MILS"... so many 'mils' here... mils there, etc.

It doesn't take very long and one realizes that his "MILS" are tremendously easier than our INCHES, etc.!!

Yes, we just HAD to be different... if anyone was going to copy us, they would have to really "work" at it... We just HAD to do it OUR way...

Once upon a time, it probably served a purpose... but now...??

Computers, which are used extensively now-a-days, really don't care what Base they work in, etc. They can be programmed to handle anything!

Why do WE have to continue to jump through all of the fractional, conversional hoops, etc. in Inches, etc. just so we can prove we WERE different??

IMHO, we are a HAVE BEEN... and we don't need to stay where we were just to prove that we can still do it...

IMHO, we should change to the Metric System and abolish our current system.

It is obviously better... easier... etc... What could be better than that?!

Go Metric Go Metric!!

Has anyone else thought about this glaring situation besides me?

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bobj3

· #2 · Sep 16, 2006 (Edited)

Hi Joe

It would be nice BUT it comes down to the buck ...bottom line thing.

If they did it 150 years ago it would go but now days forget.

The US gov. don't have the money to make the switch..
One thought ,every gas pump in the states would need to be reworked.
And the guys with the money make the rules ...

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Mike

· #3 · Sep 16, 2006

First off, the units of measure we use were common place in England and europe. Is the metric system easier? Yes in a word. Will we change over? Yes, given time. The automotive industry is well on it's way, try working on any car without metric sockets! You are drinking 1/2 liter bottles of Coke or Pepsi. The industrial revolution made the US the worlds supplier for a long time. We had no reason to change. Now that most everything is manufactured elsewhere the standards will change more rapidly. The last things to change will be items still manufactured here, such as housing and woodworking supplies. But it is coming.

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AxlMyk

· #4 · Sep 16, 2006

I spent 20 years, off and on, repairing precision tools, and learned the metric system.. I like it.. Our government started to switch us over to metric, (Nixon?) but gave it up.. What a bunch of idiots for stopping..

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Joe Lyddon

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 16, 2006

aniceone2hold said:
... Now that most everything is manufactured elsewhere the standards will change more rapidly. The last things to change will be items still manufactured here, such as housing and woodworking supplies. But it is coming.

Just for kicks, I grabbed a few pieces of scrap plywood and measured them three different ways...
1. Digital Micrometer in mm (mils)
2. Digital Micrometer in Inches
3. Ruler (Inches)

Here are the results...

mm . . . . Inches Dec. . . Ruler Inches (by Eye)
15 . . . . . ..592" . . . . . 5/8
17 . . . . . ..682" . . . . . 11/16
18.5 . . . . . .73" . . . . . 3/4
15 . . . . . . .6" . . . . . .5/8
18.4 . . . . . .722" . . . . .23/32

I guess none of it was made in the USA... (??)

Perhaps the Woodworking area should be attacked a little more aggressively to convert?

I think that it would simplify it for everyone... Those not interested (like the end user) probably don't care and would be happy in an approximate measurement in Inches.

To me, it would make Plans much easier to draw, study, and use.

I find that most of my recent rulers have both inches & CM (mils) on them, which is nice and subtly asking us "why not convert?".

Tape measures can be had various ways...

In the woodworking field, the change would be simple, IMHO.

Let's see... the first thing we would have to do is change things around a little like:

1" . = 25mm
3/4" = 19mm
5/8" = 16mm
1/2" = 12.5mm
3/8" = 9.4mm
1/4" = 6.3mm
1/8" = 3.1mm

Having a digital micrometer makes it easier... set it to the Inch Decimal, push a button to read MM and be done with it! (that's the way I derived at the figures above)

Just think... No more fractions to decipher or convert to decimal, etc.!!

Work with Only ONE simple number... period... no hassles... no messes... no drips, runs, or errors!

Yes, it would take awhile to get into the new groove... but when done, over time, it would be so much easier and less frustrating... Yes?!

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Bob N

· #6 · Sep 17, 2006

Joe,

Let's take it one step further just for fun. Why use any measuring system in wood working?

Things like story sticks and brass bars take away the need for the tape measure

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Joe Lyddon

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 17, 2006

But Bob...

We still need plans... to give us a general idea of what it is we want to build... we still need the recipe... from which we make Story Sticks, etc.

Yes?

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Hamlin

· #8 · Sep 17, 2006

Does anyone remember the satelite that the U.S. and U.S.S.R. sent to one of the outer planets? Failed because someone simply "misplaced" the decimal point. Easy huh? Those guys/gals ARE rocket scientists too.

As Mike has stated, here in the U.S., that change is already being made. Is it simpler, I'm not one to say except it makes things more difficult for those "do-it-yourselfers" out there. Also, tape measures, you can get them in any increment(s) you want, metric, standard, etc.

To me, "if it works" don't fix it! Besides, there are charts with the conversion.
Just my thoughts.

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BrianS

· #9 · Sep 19, 2006

Hamlin said:
To me, "if it works" don't fix it! Besides, there are charts with the conversion.
Just my thoughts.

Mine as well, and I'm a Canadian. We went Metric, (well, the country did, I refused) a long time ago, and I still reach for an old fashioned inch measure ruler, or tape measure, when I want to measure something. I don't have a metre stick or metric tape measure in my shop.

Brian

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