Isn't it time we just went metric?

[911 Rod]

Even though Canada is metric we have industries that stick with imperial because of the costs and efforts for retooling.
I'm in the printing industry and everything is imperial. Another is the lumber industry.

[Bill Douglas]

In New Zealand we have been metric since I was a little kid. But certain things are still in imperial. Such as "He was a six feet tall guy." If you said "He was a 1.83 meter tall guy." No one would have any idea what you are talking about.

"How was the surf?" "It was huge, I had to take my 6'10" out."

Metric is sure great when doing building. "A bit of wood cut to 1.265m thanks"

[GH85Carrera]

My 1986 El Camino is a confusing mix of metric and SAE. The engine is SAE for the most part. The chassis is mostly metric. There are times like removing the accessories like the AC compressor, I have to use SAE and metric too get all the bolts off, and it is the only time I ever need to use a 16 or a 18 mm socket. The Power steering high pressure side requires a 18mm crow foot line wrench. Try finding that at a local store. I had to chase down a Snap On truck to get one.

The world uses inch size wheel, 15, 16, 17 inch and on up. The entire world uses the same size of SAE seat belt anchor bolt as it is specified by the US DOT. Virtually all the world uses the same size valve stem threads for tires and the caps.

[cockerpunk]

we have gone metric. at least the entire technical world has.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

Like when they crashed that Mars probe due to a conversion error ? ;-)

Or the France to Britain/EU/Whatever Chunnel, which was off a few hundred meters.

Base-10 is easier to convert than Base-16.
The nomenclature is still very bad....
Meter whut?
Are we talking astronomic or microbiology?????

There is no distinction between "big" and "small", relative to basic human thinking.

Do they drill this conversion shyte into every student in every school?
Simple answer.

Originally Posted by island911

And none of those metric countries went to the moon, and back, a few times.

The imperial system weeds out the weak engineers.

Any answer I would give automatically diverts to parf.
Biting the hand.

There was a small argument...probably fake..that the Earth's atmosphere would not be conducive to penetrating it.
And going into the layers of 'space' surrounding the Earth would be fatal due to radiation or other factors.
(Especially with 1960s tech.)

[john70t]

For the record: I could not edit this last post.

-PP hit me with a popup "Not https. blah blah. Third parties could see".
WTF. Never saw that before. My browser should block these.
(but PP is on the trusted exception list i think)

-And then an "entry is too short" error. Fatal error.


So basically editing and submitting any further user information from this node was blocked.
Two fatal error messages with only one post.
I never saw this before.
20 years on Pelican Parts.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by island911

And none of those metric countries went to the moon, and back, a few times.

The imperial system weeds out the weak engineers.

LOL!

Look into garage tool chests...pretty easy to spot the one owned by an old guy...it will have both SAE and metric tools. The young guy will be metric..

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Next thing would be Mericans using Robertson screws. Never gonna happen!

LOL! Cindy bought a Canandian made propane BBQ I had to assemble...sure glad I had that crazy tip among my 1/4" hex bits...Damn...now remembering the hassles. Terrible set of assembly instructions. Lots of cussing on that one.

[BK911]

Who created the metric system?
What defines a meter?

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by BK911

Who created the metric system?
What defines a meter?

one of my favorite tucker carlson's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cPeZLCVWTw

its very funny to me because of course, all imperial units are actually defined by the metric units now.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

LOL!

Look into garage tool chests...pretty easy to spot the one owned by an old guy...it will have both SAE and metric tools. The young guy will be metric..

That's all of us old farts on PP!

[BK911]

That was funny.
Hope it wasn't supposed to be serious!

[dentist90]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The world uses inch size wheel, 15, 16, 17 inch and on up. The entire world uses the same size of SAE seat belt anchor bolt as it is specified by the US DOT. Virtually all the world uses the same size valve stem threads for tires and the caps.

Tires/wheels are an interesting mish mash of both….. 265/50/R 18 (265mm section width on 18” wheels). No idea why. 🤷*♂️

[CurtEgerer]

[rwest]

If my memory from childhood is any good, I think they took a good run at teaching the metric system to us grade schoolers- I think it might have been a Jimmy Carter deal? I was probably in third grade, so don’t trust my recollection!

I use both, but splitting small measurements in half is easier in imperial.

[p911dad]

At some point back in the 1980's the Fed DOT tried to get all the state DOT's to change all the highway signs to the metric system. NY as I recall started but the whole thing landed with a thud. Those signs quickly disappeared when the idea died from too much public resistance and pointless cost.

[CurtEgerer]

In engineering school in the early 80s we had to deal with both systems simultaneously They'd give us an exam and one problem would be metric, the next would be Imperial, etc. What a PITA that was.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by BK911

What defines a meter?

A very good morning and measuring stick.

[aschen]

This is 'merica, we can use whatever we want including mixing them up for no reason at all


Gonna fill my tires with 1e23 k Newton/(Mile)^2 and let the eagles soar

[rattlsnak]

i certainly dont need/want to learn a whole measuring system at this point in my life!