> > I now make parts for different people who e-mail/fax me drawings so I
> > can quote on them.
> > Some parts are such that I can't tell what they are or what they're
> > the purpose of them are.
> > Sometimes I see dimensions as obviously imperial ones, sometime it is
> > hard to tell, especially when I have NO clue what these parts are.
> > Personally, I don't give a rat's ass what system is used as I work in
> > both metric and imperial.
> > But what seems to be the reason for the US hold-out to stay with an
> > archaic system?
>
> Here are the main arguments for both sides of the debate:
>
> PRO IMPERIAL:
> There is absolutely no question; traditional imperial measurements are
> far superior for woodworking. Most wreckers use it for very good > reasons:
>
> PRO METRIC:
> There is absolutely no question; metric measurements are far superior
> for woodworking. Most woodworkers in the world use it for very good > reasons:
>
> Intuitiveness:
> 1. Imperial is much more intuitive and natural. Feet and inches
> (thumbs) have been used throughout human history as they are related
> to human body parts (fingers and feet). As Michelangelo said: man is
> the measure of all things.
> 1. Metric is much more intuitive and natural. Humans always use a base
> 10 system as it is related to human body parts (number of fingers &
> toes). As Michelangelo said: man is the measure of all things.
>
> Communicating measurements:
> 2. Imperial is easier to hear and leads to less confusion. Someone
> calls out a measurement for a piece of wood, & before you notice it,
> you cut 10mm instead of 10cm.
> 2. Metric is easier to hear and leads to less confusion. Quickly now,
> is 19/32" bigger or smaller than 5/8"? On the other hand, it is
> immediately obvious that 15mm is smaller than 16mm.
>
> Ease of learning:
> 3. Imperial measurements are easier to learn. You don't have to
> memorize all those crazy prefixes: femto, nano, micro, milli, centi,
> deci, deka, hecto, kilo, mega, myria, giga, etc.
> 3. Metric measurements are easier to learn. You don't have to remember
> all those crazy measures like inches, hands, feet, cubits, yards,
> fathoms, rods, cones, chains, furlongs, cables, miles, etc.
>
> Arithmetic:
> 4. Imperial uses simple fractional arithmetic which we all learned in
> grade school. Not like metric where you need to know all those
> prefixes and can easily make a mistake on your calculator & cut
> something 10 times too big or 10 times too small.
> 4. Metric uses simple decimal arithmetic where you can use your
> calculator directly without springing big bucks for one that
> calculates inches and fractions.
>
> Division:
> 5. It's a lot easier to divide stuff in imperial measurements. What do
> you call half a millimeter? Ever try to divide 304.8mm by four? A foot
> is real easy - 12" divided by four is 3".
> 5. It's a lot easier to divide stuff in metric measurements. Ever try
> to divide 39 9/16 inches by four? While 1000mm divided by four readily > gives 250mm.
>
> Accuracy:
> 6. Imperial is more accurate. You can easily go to 1/32 which is more
> precise than 1mm.
> 6. Metric is more accurate. You can easily go to 0.5mm which is more
> precise than 1/32"
>
> The REAL Reason:
> 7. Metric is a stupid cowardly French system. You don't want to
> support those smelly unwashed arrogant ingrates, do you? GOD BLESS > AMERICA!
> 7. Inches and feet are a stupid warmongering American imperialist
> system. The rest of the world and all scientists use the much more
> rational metric system. It's about time the US gets into the 19th
> century, never mind the 21st! VIVE LA FRANCE!
That is an explanation I can live with.