Metric?

[David Lang]

As we all know, we didn't really go metric, just token metric.

e.g. what was an 8' x 4' of plywood is now a 122cm x 244cm. If we had gone metric it would be 120 x 240. Or even 200 x 100.

But I still think "I need an 8 x 4 sheet of 18mm ply" or conversely "2.4 metres of 2 x 1.

But how are sheet materials sold in Europe? In 122 x 244 converted from the old Imperial system, or 100 x 200?

I'm guessing Europe uses 122 x 244 because the USA probably dominated the sheet materials market?

Must go. Nipping down the pub for a couple of 568mls.

[David Lang]

Interesting read

[Andy Burns]

Like plasterboard ...

[Huge]

Is that an ironic site, because it just sits there indefinitely on my machine?

[Andy Burns]

How high up on your list of features for the next house is "decent broadband"? :-P

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Many things like that are made in a size arrived at over the years.

Not much point in changing say plasterboard to a nice round metric figure if it no longer fits existing stud centres.

Imperial measurements were based on the human body - so no surprise building materials are in a convenient size relative to that.

Metric is more of a scientific or theoretical measurement. There are pros and cons for both. My guess is the change to metric made it easier for early computer systems to calculate. But not for humans.

[Malcolm Race]

IIRC in the early 70s I was forced to buy timber by the 'metric foot' or 300mm, just under the Imperial foot. 300mm now persists asthe measure & pricing unit

Malcolm

[Huge]

Chance would be a fine thing, but I suspect the usual triumvirate of location, location & location come ahead of decent broadband. That being said, I don't think I've seen anywhere with *slower*!

[Thomas Prufer]

In metric. Some seem to be something-hundred-and-a-bit, i.e. 207 cm. This may be to allow some of the edge to break in transport, or have some othe rreason.

Chipboard white melamine:

280x205 cm, 280x207 cm

Multiplex russian birch I/II: 250x125, 152,50x152,50

Multiplex ii/ii: 125 or 150 by 250 or 300

Chipboard raw: v20: 207 or 210 by 250/280/285/411/561 v100: mostly 207 by 280

Thomas Prufer

[Tim w]

[...]

Actually in France it's very normal to go to a bar for a 'demi' eg literally a 'half'. What you get is 250ml, but it's always been a 'demi', I presume since before Napoleon introduced the metric system.

Tim W

[tony sayer]

The railways are very olde world when it comes to measurements they've managed to hang onto miles and chains and Yards quite well tho;!...

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Since they have used metric for rather longer than the UK, I'd guess fixing centres are based around those sort of sizes. But a large amount of work in the UK is still refurbishment, so changing to 'pure' metric sizes would be a nightmare.

[tabbypurr]

From Barlow's New Mathematical Tables of 1814 - the column is headed 'Number of each equal to 100 Engish feet:'

Aix la Chapelle... Feet................ 105.18 Amsterdam......... ditto............... 107.62 Anspach........... ditto............... 102.38 Ancona............ ditto............... 78.02 Antwerp........... ditto............... 106.76 Aquileia.......... ditto............... 88.69 Augsburg.......... ditto............... 103. Basil............. ditto............... 102.22 Bavaria........... ditto............... 105.08 Bergamo........... ditto............... 69.89 Berlin............ ditto............... 98.44 Bern.............. ditto............... 103.98 Bologna........... ditto............... 80.05 Bremen............ ditto............... 105.45 Brescia........... Bracci.............. 64.10 Breslaw........... Feet................ 107.24 Brunswick......... ditto............... 106.85 Brussels.......... ditto............... 104.80 Cagliari.......... Palmi............... 150.52 Calemberg......... Feet................ 104.34 Carrara........... Palmi............... 125 Chamberry......... Feet................ 90.36 China............. Mathematical feet... 91.46 Cleves............ Feet................ 103.18 Cologne........... ditto............... 110.80 Copenhagen........ Legal feet.......... 97.17 Dantzic........... Feet................ 106.28 Ruthes.............. 7.08

NT

[Unbeliever]

Only in the halfwit handyman's brain.

Thank common sense that it didn't - it still fits the 16" centres on studding and noggins,

Handyprat brain in first gear - as always.

ROTFLMAO - but I suppose that always happened when the Medway Handprat was posting.

Bloody hell, I dislike the Yanks, but they cannot be blamed for your ineptness surely in you not being able to avoid worrying about such simple issues?

What, 0.9995403 of a pint? Now that's the sign of an incurable alcoholic! Or you should have said "568.261mils" if you are such a pedant about trifling and long-standing issues.

BTW, your business gone bust then handyprat - or did you fight a trademark battle and lost? Or more than likely, you found the paperwork of a Limited Company too onerous to handle.

Time to put David Lang in the spare prats bin with his Medway Handyman alter ego.

[David Lang]

I was going to reply and make you look like a bitter, twisted idiot. But you've done such a good job yourself.

[Brian-Gaff]

and don't even mention wire gauges. that nearly sent me over the edge when buying equivalents around the world. Brian

[Brian-Gaff]

Yes, home goal comes to mind. While talking about Metric, and the lack thereof, I overheard a conversation from a chap who now lives in France, and he does the odd plumbing job over there. He was saying that there are a surprising number of installations using Imperial sized pipes unions and taps over there. This seems odd to me, is there some reason for this? Maybe our chaps fixing plumbing after the war? Brian

[John Rumm]

I have had sheet goods in 1200 x 2400 before - i.e. just short of a full

8x4.

Floor boarding is often 2400 x 600 as well.

Much like those 500 ml cans and bottles - not quite the full pint!

[ARW]

0.9995403 of a pint does not leave much room for the head - the head being an integral and important part of any decent pint of beer.

Such facts are well known by us Northerners:-)

[Dave Plowman (News)]

'Have you got room for a whisky in there?'

'Yes'

'Fill it up, then.'