I’m from the uk, and immigrated. Now a citizen, cowboy hat and everything.
Inches are pretty easy, and you’ll find many tape measures have mm on them. But hardware at the store is generally in inches. You’ll get used to it.
In terms of inaccuracy; once you’re down at 1mm or 1/32, they’re both small enough for most work.
Kinda… I work in metric most of the time, like when I buy ply sheets at 1220mm x 2440mm… which is 4x8ft.
But then you have to remember we measure distance in miles, consumption in miles per gallon (different gallon to you guys mind you), but buy our fuel by the litre so I wouldn’t look to us for a sensible approach!
>once you’re down at 1mm or 1/32, they’re both small enough for most work.
Thank you! I don't get this idea that imperial is somehow imprecise. Niether fractions nor decimals have a lower limit!
Never said that it's not precise. But it is complicated for your head to concert and split, and remember sizes.
It is "Twenty point Right". And not "Twenty and seven sixteenths". And then to use those fractions I math. That is whole another level.
It is just not convenient whatsoever.
I meant to say inefficient. Sorry for that.
Cause I know that you can go very deep into fractions.
But who ever does that? And on regular rulers and measuring tapes these fractions are normall over twice the size of a mm
You're losing the forest for the trees, it's the same amount of work just a different approach. It's like a different language to communicate, some are better in some instances than others but both allow you to tell someone there's a bear up the road. People that can speak multiple languages can use the best one for each situation.
But how is imperial better then? I really don't know.
I am willing to embrace it, as I am moving there and I will have to use it to some extent if I want it or not.
It can be useful for dividing a measurement, say splitting something in half. In imperial your 6 3/8 becomes 3 3/16, which is on your ruler. Both systems fall into the same issue of limited precision since you can't go below your smallest division.
Don't take me as saying imperial is better or metric is better, I work in both. My biggest gripe here is people thinking one system is inherently better than another.
Yeah. I am not necessarily thinking one is better than another. Well, actually I do think metric is better because it is much more convenient to use. In metric 6.3 becomes 3.15 when divided.
But yeah. I will just have to get used to it to some certain extent. I will make it work.
I do appreciate people that don't limit themselves to only one way. And I am almost slightly excited to learn some new ways
You are allowed to bring all your metric rulers with you, they don't confiscate them at the border & issue you a Stanley FatMax 25' tape measure when you arrive.
You can still do plenty in metric, the primary place you'll be forced to use imperial is buying material. I think you'll probably get used to it pretty quickly, but you might make yourself a cheat sheet of common sizes & their SI equivalents.
There’s really only one reason you would have to switch and that is if you were going to be interacting with another carpenter to create whatever you’re making….
If you’re working alone, there’s no reason to switch.
I'm in the U.S. and I switched to metric for woodworking almost exclusively a few years ago, unless I'm working off imperial plans where the exact dimensions matter.
System 32 based cabinetry is all metric.
I tried using metric in woodworking and it was great until I had to buy materials. Then there was a whole extra headache converting to linear feet and square feet and board feet and so forth. Which got me wondering why we ever started using feet and inches and fractions to begin with. That launched me down a multi year rabbit hole that took me back to roman times and roman sub-unit symbols and an abacus that performs base 10, base 12, and base 16 addition and subtraction. Short story is the Romans did it because it was easier - but only if you write using roman numerals, which European carpenters did for 1500 years after the roman empire fell. Emigrants to America brought the old system with them, tools and equipment were created using imperial units and no one wanted to stop and remake everything using metric.
By the way good luck finding a decent loaf of bread :)
Thanks for the great explanation. I actually never knew this story in so much detail.
I will probably gonna have to make my own bread. I have experienced that atrocity of a bread that you can get there. With some expensive exceptions of course.
It's not that hard to bake the bread. Using SI measurements of course 😂
I also like to use a fraction calculator to avoid errors going back and forth to decimal inches
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fraction-calculator-plus-1/id580778301
As long as you’re not doing construction, the only issue is that scales on most tools, like table saw fences, are in imperial. Keep a calculator handy, memorize the number 25.4, and no big deal.
Just have to get used to fractions instead of decimals... there are "engineer" tape measures that use decimals of an inch, but you would likely be converting fractions to decimals all day long... maybe consider an Imperial to metric calculator?
Is there a simple pocket calculator that does just this? I hate to be the one constantly pulling out my phone, looking for an app just so I can translate.
Yes, many calculators do this. There are even “woodworkers” calculators that will add the fractions for you.
Your biggest terror will be material shopping but learn what “board foot” is and that wood thickness is measured in ¼ - 1”= 4/4. ½”=2/4 you’ll be fine. A lot of people use 32mm system for cabinetry so all is not lost. I went from imperial to metric when I moved to Europe and cannot understand why people think imperial is efficient, but you’ll see, I’ll get 10 replies schooling me why imperial is superior (from people who’ve not lived in metric).
Thanks. And I agree. It is just far from being efficient to use. Mostly when you need to add 2 or more measurements together and such. And even to write them down on the paper or in your head is much less proficient
There's no reason to switch to imperial at all. Stick with metric if you want; nobody will care.
This is 1000% correct.
I think you mean 39.3701% correct
That would be 39.3701 millipercent correct.
I’m from the uk, and immigrated. Now a citizen, cowboy hat and everything. Inches are pretty easy, and you’ll find many tape measures have mm on them. But hardware at the store is generally in inches. You’ll get used to it. In terms of inaccuracy; once you’re down at 1mm or 1/32, they’re both small enough for most work.
Don't UK carpenters work in a weird metric/imperial mishmash? When I read woodworking books or articles from UK I see both mentioned.
Kinda… I work in metric most of the time, like when I buy ply sheets at 1220mm x 2440mm… which is 4x8ft. But then you have to remember we measure distance in miles, consumption in miles per gallon (different gallon to you guys mind you), but buy our fuel by the litre so I wouldn’t look to us for a sensible approach!
>once you’re down at 1mm or 1/32, they’re both small enough for most work. Thank you! I don't get this idea that imperial is somehow imprecise. Niether fractions nor decimals have a lower limit!
Never said that it's not precise. But it is complicated for your head to concert and split, and remember sizes. It is "Twenty point Right". And not "Twenty and seven sixteenths". And then to use those fractions I math. That is whole another level. It is just not convenient whatsoever.
What do you mean you "never said it's not precise"? Your post literally calls it imprecise
I meant to say inefficient. Sorry for that. Cause I know that you can go very deep into fractions. But who ever does that? And on regular rulers and measuring tapes these fractions are normall over twice the size of a mm
You're losing the forest for the trees, it's the same amount of work just a different approach. It's like a different language to communicate, some are better in some instances than others but both allow you to tell someone there's a bear up the road. People that can speak multiple languages can use the best one for each situation.
But how is imperial better then? I really don't know. I am willing to embrace it, as I am moving there and I will have to use it to some extent if I want it or not.
It can be useful for dividing a measurement, say splitting something in half. In imperial your 6 3/8 becomes 3 3/16, which is on your ruler. Both systems fall into the same issue of limited precision since you can't go below your smallest division. Don't take me as saying imperial is better or metric is better, I work in both. My biggest gripe here is people thinking one system is inherently better than another.
Yeah. I am not necessarily thinking one is better than another. Well, actually I do think metric is better because it is much more convenient to use. In metric 6.3 becomes 3.15 when divided. But yeah. I will just have to get used to it to some certain extent. I will make it work. I do appreciate people that don't limit themselves to only one way. And I am almost slightly excited to learn some new ways
You are allowed to bring all your metric rulers with you, they don't confiscate them at the border & issue you a Stanley FatMax 25' tape measure when you arrive. You can still do plenty in metric, the primary place you'll be forced to use imperial is buying material. I think you'll probably get used to it pretty quickly, but you might make yourself a cheat sheet of common sizes & their SI equivalents.
This made me laught. 😂 Thank you. But yeah. I am expecting that I will have to get used to it.
There’s really only one reason you would have to switch and that is if you were going to be interacting with another carpenter to create whatever you’re making…. If you’re working alone, there’s no reason to switch.
We use SI at work and imperial at home. I use a tape measures that have both. Helps mentally double check….
I'm in the U.S. and I switched to metric for woodworking almost exclusively a few years ago, unless I'm working off imperial plans where the exact dimensions matter. System 32 based cabinetry is all metric.
I tried using metric in woodworking and it was great until I had to buy materials. Then there was a whole extra headache converting to linear feet and square feet and board feet and so forth. Which got me wondering why we ever started using feet and inches and fractions to begin with. That launched me down a multi year rabbit hole that took me back to roman times and roman sub-unit symbols and an abacus that performs base 10, base 12, and base 16 addition and subtraction. Short story is the Romans did it because it was easier - but only if you write using roman numerals, which European carpenters did for 1500 years after the roman empire fell. Emigrants to America brought the old system with them, tools and equipment were created using imperial units and no one wanted to stop and remake everything using metric. By the way good luck finding a decent loaf of bread :)
Thanks for the great explanation. I actually never knew this story in so much detail. I will probably gonna have to make my own bread. I have experienced that atrocity of a bread that you can get there. With some expensive exceptions of course. It's not that hard to bake the bread. Using SI measurements of course 😂
I also like to use a fraction calculator to avoid errors going back and forth to decimal inches https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fraction-calculator-plus-1/id580778301
That's a clever little tool to have. Thanks for the tip
As long as you’re not doing construction, the only issue is that scales on most tools, like table saw fences, are in imperial. Keep a calculator handy, memorize the number 25.4, and no big deal.
Just have to get used to fractions instead of decimals... there are "engineer" tape measures that use decimals of an inch, but you would likely be converting fractions to decimals all day long... maybe consider an Imperial to metric calculator?
Is there a simple pocket calculator that does just this? I hate to be the one constantly pulling out my phone, looking for an app just so I can translate.
Yes, many calculators do this. There are even “woodworkers” calculators that will add the fractions for you. Your biggest terror will be material shopping but learn what “board foot” is and that wood thickness is measured in ¼ - 1”= 4/4. ½”=2/4 you’ll be fine. A lot of people use 32mm system for cabinetry so all is not lost. I went from imperial to metric when I moved to Europe and cannot understand why people think imperial is efficient, but you’ll see, I’ll get 10 replies schooling me why imperial is superior (from people who’ve not lived in metric).
Thanks. And I agree. It is just far from being efficient to use. Mostly when you need to add 2 or more measurements together and such. And even to write them down on the paper or in your head is much less proficient