I’m taking a chemistry course in college right now and all I have to say is WTF are we doing teaching the standard system. Metric means precision and minimizing errors.
I think many would agree with you. My father is a renowned tailor, born in Italy. All tailoring here he did in standard, but he knows metric well, and prefers it.
I’m an old guy (61) Who has used both systems throughout his life… The metric system is better in every way. I’m always shocked when a TH-cam channel that I like, expresses outrage at the metric system.
@@ralphlivingston894 thanks for the comment. I'm just old enough to know enough of the imperial system and still say things like "that's about an inch" but you're metic is just better.
There are more of us Americans that think this way than you think. Coming from a fabrication/machining background, it’s so much easier to fabricate darn near anything using metric measurements. Other fabricators I’ve worked with always called me “weird”. I asked them all “is it easier to to count in 10’s or 12s/16s?” “Tens of course!”, they say... I just smile and remind them that the metric system is based off a system of 10s. Some have converted, some stay stuck in their ways.
I would add every scientist globally and practically every American engineer are either fully metric or SI or want to be! I very much prefer metric for its built in precision and ease of use.
In New York, Highway construction work plans, standard drawings, spec and pay items were changed to metric. Then a few years later changed back to "standard". Very annoying having to change estimate items and measuring tools.
I'm a french "maker"(its a hobby for me) and I don't understand why everyone don't use metric system.. its so simple and précise and simple for calculate
I totally agree. I started in woodwork and cabinet shops in the U.S. Then moved to Canada and went to trade school for cabinet making, all of the training was in metric. My accuracy improved dramatically, the math got faster, layout and everything became easier. I really wish that everyone would embrace the metric system, I hear plenty of reasons/excuses for why imperial is better, but it is really just a lack of exposure to metric. Thank you for taking a stand on this one Ron, I do everyday in my business. Metric only for us.
I hate measuring standard english! I've been in construction since 1981. Back in the late 70's and early 80's I remember there was a government push to convert but after several years the push back from industry and trade groups/unions effectively killed it. I'm not for more government and laws in my life but I wish this one had become a law at the time. We all have almost twice the number of measuring and mechanic tools that we need because of this. I too pushed back for a couple of decades till one day after doing some detailed fractional (1/32" +-}measuring for a complex cabinet I decided to use a metric tape to divide up a lot of spacing and it was gloriously easy. So much labor is lost with fractions even if you take out your construction calculator. I can't tell you how many board feet of wood or even finished goods I've messed up.
Hi Ron I am into my 77th year and so I was brought up on Imperial here in UK. Now some 40+ years ago I became involved in manufacturing electronic enclosures. Now that meant going metric back then because that was the time the UK went metric, however, the electronic enclosure rack standard was 19". So now I visualise in Imperial but when I work I use metric measurement as it is much simpler and easier to use. Now whilst we went metric back then we never changed our road signs and speed restrictions to metric. I guess back then we knew that at some time we would leave the European Union but I think we will keep measuring in metric.
I used both and if I am using a tape measure I tend to use the easiest one to read, whidepends on which side the measuring from. Here in the Uk its normal to have a tape measure that has both Metric and Imperial. It's not easy to pick up a metric only tape. they are avaible online if you search.
It's a minefield nuts and bolts UNC UNF ANF ANF AF METRIC WHITWORTH and in UK you get galvanised sheets measured 3ft by2 metres at the end of the day, how long is a piece of string. Happy New Year all.
So I saw this reply to someone that was touting how wonderful the metric system is. I thought that it might be fun to post here. It just imagine Andy Rooney saying it and thought it was pretty good. I have no idea who Sean D. Serrentino is but I liked his response. If its so natural then how do you cut a pizza into even slices with the metric system ? 😂 Also this guy makes some pretty good points here " The metric system is based upon two arbitrary things. #1. The number of fingers normally present in humans. #2. The distance from the equator to the North Pole at sea level divided by 10,000,000. It’s now defined as “the length of the path traveled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.” Or, basically the length of the agreed upon metal bar in a museum in France. Riddle me this. Who actually measured that distance and divided it up into meters? So basically, we’ve got a system that’s exactly as arbitrary as the old “foot” meaning “Ehh, about that much” as the person holds their hands a random distance apart. In this case that random distance is about three times the random distance of the guy showing you the foot. Now, please divide the meter by 2, 3, 4, & 6 and give me rational number usable by normal humans. Base 10 happens to be how our number system is designed, and it’s based upon the arbitrary use of the number of fingers the average human is born with. It’s no better and no worse than any other number base. The advantage to using base 12, as the foot uses is that it is easily divisible by 2, 3, 4, & 6. Half a foot? 6 inches. 1/3rd of a foot? 4 inches. All helpfully marked on your handy measuring stick. Please pull out your measuring stick and measure me 1/3rd of a meter. Be precise. So if the metric system is so awesome, how come we don’t have metric clocks? 10 hours in a day? 100 minutes per hour? Nope, we use 24 hours, which is, as you might be aware, 2 x 12 hour half days. Which is really helpful when working out longitude. All you need to know is what time it is in England when the sun is at it’s apogee Then there’s the silly attempt by non North Americans at using some “rational” base for electricity. We use 60Hz. The quick among you will recognize that 60 is merely 12 times 5. That means it can be easily divided by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, & 30. This is important when you wish to use some speed on your electric motor other than 60 revolutions per second. Simply wire the motor in a different way and you can have a motor that turns at any of those fractions of 60 revs per second. This doesn’t work in Europe because they got all metric with it and specified 50Hz. Because? I don’t know why. Perhaps they were just being obstinate. Then there’s the fact that it’s French. That’s enough to doom it as far as most of us are concerned. " By Sean D Serrentino
Kenny Seymour - very nice! one foot is 30 cm or 1/3 of a meter... sounds complicated seeing how useful a foot is. the best arguement people use is the superiority of metric for long distances. as if anyone really can look down the road with a pair of binoculars and more accurately gauge a mile over a kilometer. or a cup of water being 250 ml or a 1/4 of a litre? it sounds so scientific and sterile and like you posted, their base ten measurement system still relies on 4's and 8's to make measurements convenient. metric proponents remind me of electric vehicle proponents. they drive down the road making fun of people that drive cars that consume "dino juice" but get on a plane to travel 2000 miles to go on vacation, or to see the unveiling of the new musk model y. honestly, metric, imo, makes minds lazy. i can put away and organize my metric wrenches in 20 seconds but putting away my imperial ones forces my mind to work with fractions. oh no! reducing fractions? oh no! also i have more than a few rulers that break the inch down into 10 parts instead of eight so its not like metric has 10 on copyright. and have you ever seen a metric construction worker taking measurements? 3 meters, 45 centimeters... wtf?! thats a joke right? much easier as 10 foot, 6 inches... honestly, metric shines in laboratory liquid and weight measurements. thats it. including it in real life just makes everything complicated and stupid. i'm actually surprised imperial isn't more popular seeing as how infatuated the world seems to be with star wars.
@@michael-dm2bv Naw, not the long distances. It's WAY easier math in most situations, and worst case you can use an ordinary calculator without having to convert a bunch of fractions. Hardly ever is ANYTHING exactly 1 foot (or an exact multiple) and I need to divide it into some nice even split. Usually it's something like 7' 11 13/16" / 5. Or I'm having to add up a several values, some are measured to the 1/2", some to the 1/8", some to the 1/16". Metric kicks butt in those situations. I even have a construction calculator that handles the fractions directly, and imperial is still a pain as they're still annoying to enter. For temperatures tho? Celsius can suck eggs.
@@EddieSheffield u bore me. is a mechanic that works out his fractional wrenches lazier than one that understands fractions? u bore me. i asked the metric community a youtube a question STUPID. a seven foot ten inch ANYTHING. Translate to metric please. exactly. u bore me. and u explain how stupid u are every time you try to sound smart. test me. lets play some chess.
@@EddieSheffield - lets cook! oh shit! metric needs to weight to cook..... a cup of flour? a cup of water? the desert and the dessert are only one "s" away. Does ur soul mate understand u are visiting las vegas without her permission?
@@EddieSheffield - loose. how we talk about wives like urs. the titanic. loose lips. how many kids do u have? i am trying to work out ur soul mates loose lips.
Chemistry and physics starting in high school, 1958 for me, we worked in metric. All my darkroom stuff is metric. Cookbooks drive me nuts. What the heck is a tablespoon? My scales are grams. My 2004 Buick has a spedo that works in metric and English at the push of a button. I no longer have to remember 100 kilometers is 60 MPH and convert every speed limit sign. The USA was supposed to be all metric 25 years ago by law. Never happened. We have to get with the rest of the world.
Metric all the way... Based off a factor of 10 and no silly fractions. The biggest issue for people going from feet and inches to metric is visualizing what 100mm, 1000mm 10mm looks like, decimal feet works but there rulers and tapes are to the 1/8ths usually. Im a surveyor by trade and I loved working in metric but I always had to convert back to feet and inches for the workers to understand.
USA signed a Metric weights and measures convention on May 20, 1875 The inch became officially 25.4 mm in 1976 According to NIST the system of measure that includes the inch is called US Customary I've been in the industrial design business long enough to have relaxed about my desire to change others about this topic. Metric is better in almost all regards, but there are visceral, tribal behaviors that are virtualy impossible to get past. For me, I design using the system that the circumstance and materials call for.
I recently bought three Sawstop OEM scales for my CTS table saw (they're cheap and I have to order them from Australia to the U.S., so I wanted more than one just in case I mess one up or waver on going back and forth between American standard and metric. Anyway, I'm new to carpentry and woodworking, so I haven't converted to metric yet (I just want the option). Do you convert your Sawstop CTS to metric? If not, is that something you would consider? It just seems to me metric is the way to go, but like you pointed out, for framing you're still using imperial. I just wish we'd pick the metric lane for everything. Even though I don't think in metric, I could learn and it would be so much easier. I'm also getting the new Festool TS 60 which is both metric and imperial.
I bought a Dewalt job site saw years ago and one of the things I like most about it is the dual rip scales. When I need to take a “hair” off, a 1/16 is too much but a mm is about right. Not sure about the newer generation, but this saw is a beast!
Bravo. I worked in Enzed one year(94/95) and it took me 5 minutes to learn. Since then, i tried to make my shop all metric, but that didn't work out due to material sizes, so what i do now, is convert all fractions to 100's. I know i know, but that's the idiocy that we deal with here. However, were i to build something with metric plans(most of us don't need plans)that would just not be a problem, i have plenty of metric only measuring devices. Good choice Ron.
I live in Ireland and we went decimal years ago but if you go to the builder providers they still sell timber in imperial . Ron I’ve spent my Christmas building my I-smart, yes i smart , its the Irish version of smart 😂. Best Christmas present to myself ever
Ron Paulk Ya we all like to think we are the boss but when it comes down to it, we realize we just replaced our mothers with our wives.Could be worse doe , you could have married an Irish red head , no controlling them at all at all, firry women 😂. I’m not finished my van yet but when I’m done I’ll sent you a video walk through. I changed the drawer stop a bit from what you have done , looks a little nicer from the front and also works as a backstop now as well . I really enjoy your Chanel Ron , you should do a video about how you started out in business and some of the worries and fears you experienced as a self employed person ( money , work , bills ect!!!) Also how work picked up year on year due to good quality work. I’ve a window business here and I started it in 2010 in the middle of the recession , left it for 3 year when my daughters came along for a factory job but hated it. I’m back again working for myself for the last 2.5 year and love my job , I love your business tips . Can I ask why you don’t have signage on your trailers , your older versions had ?
I have found myself working a bit in both, metric and imperial, as some measures seems to me easier in imperial as they are related to human body and so from ergonomics point of view I'm working in imperial. But for precision things I go back to metric. Back? Well yes, I'm from continental Europe. Those are nice tapes, like the clip. Surprisingly there is not much of the imperial rulers or tapemeasures around, but surprisingly found a cheap one tape with imperial and metric is sold i IKEA. It was a little surprise when kids talked me to buy them a tape to later find out it's with both scales, so I bought one for my hobby shop :-).
Your talking about the HUGE difference between a cabinet maker and a carpenter ( finish or framing ), so in the USA we have to convert. Hasn't be a big deal for me except, buying more tools
Yes, I frame in standard/imperial and finish in metric. I have to thank Festool for pushing me to metric and I prefer their tools and all of their scales have historically been metric.
hi have been in the building industry all my life worked with my father in the imperil system and my apprenticeship . The metric system is the only true international method when is America going to enter the twenty first century.
I still like miles and pounds, but for cabinet making, trim work and measuring woodworking, despite my loathing all (or at least most) things Froggy, the metric system is pretty handy and so easy to use. I got my metric rulers and won't go back to English.
I've wanted to go to metric but where, oh where, can I get a set of metric twist-drills that won't cost me my first-born? I'm slowly collecting metric forstner bits but really need a set of twist-drills.
Hi, Bill! If you let me know exactly what you want, I can check around here in Tallinn, Estonia to see what's available. (Hmm, this might be an idea for a business. Ha, ha!) Likewise, you can try Amazon UK. Or, other Amazon sites: I often look up a tool's name in German or Italian, and then try Amazon.de or Amazon.it. Of course, there are specialist retailers similar to Rockler or whoever, like Axminster in the United Kingdom: www.axminster.co.uk/search/?q=twist%20drill&nR[visibility_search][=][0]=1& Yes, postage has gone up, and sometimes you'll get hit with customs charges.
The underlying REASON that the Metric system is excellent for carpentry & cabinet making is that 1 mm is a comfortable tolerance for every woodworking tool. Personally I use Metric exclusively for cabinet making, but architects, framing & finish carpenters (and window & door makers) think it's stupid.
Often Metric cabinet making measurements are based off of imperial ( aka American standard / British imperial) to start with. I live i a country that has never used inches, all my manufactured wood, even locally made, is in reality sized to inch fractions, but sold as mm.
Wishing everyone the best for the New Year. Absolutely go all in metric. Get rid of standard. You will waste so much time converting back and forth. Save yourself about two years of confusion and slow progress. DO NOT go Standard/Metric. Throw out anything that has standard measurement on it. You’ll be up to metric in no time and will never look back. Fastcap sells metric only. Go all in metric. Don’t waste your time converting back and forth. Only download plans that are in metric. Don’t convert from standard. There will be a metric plan available somewhere.
Eventually you can think in metric, the trick is get used to the lengths and not try to convert them all the time; it is easy really. Learn what 100mm looks like, 500mm then 1,000mm or 1 meter and what 5meters and 10meters looks like. DON'T BOTHER LEARNING 10mm equals 1 centimeter. Forget Centimeters. Only do millimeters. If it says 2.4meters, tell your boss 2.4meters. If your tape measure says it is 1m.650mm It is 1650mm say, "sixteen fifty" not 165centimeters. Don't communicate it in centimeters only meters and millimeters. That is the secret. If your tape measure says 4m.605mm, it is 4605mm, say Forty Six 0 five mm
lol That tape measure is 16 feet. No difference between Imperial and Metric. Some non-Americans delight in bashing Americans over it it and vice-versa. The real problem some people have is fraction math. I think it is less likely to make an error if you are only working in whole numbers. If you (like me) use Festool, it is better to try and use metric. Some of their tools are only in metric. But you have to work hard to find some of their tools in the USthat are in metric. Usually, you have to remove an imperial scale and add a metric one. But that being said, all Americans and Brits daily use both measurement standards. No brit walks into a pub and orders 437 milli-litres of beer for example.
Metric master race, cheers Ron, still using the bench I built from your original plans love it, I slimmed it down to 6' , it's my main shop bench bit heavy to lug about so made a tiny version that clamps on top of my work mate, best of both worlds all best Will
I knew this day was coming, so I just bought the Fastcap standard/metric tape measure with the pencil sharpener. I also bought another brand MulWark, just to try out, with its own unique features. However, my DeWalt 7491RS table saw, and Hitachi C12RSH Double Bevel Slider, is standard ruler.
@@whoDatBeDare It's probably just a stick on tape I could get. I wouldn't want to change it over, I would want both rules. However, I don't think the tape is tall enough to let it be well seen with both rules.
I use both depending on what I'm doing. Trained as a zoologist, everything was in metric. Working in my shop or on a Habitat for Humanity job site, everything is in imperial. Want to disagree with me or tell me I'm wrong . . . . . I don't care. I do what I want.
Woo-hoo finally an American who realises the benefits of metric. It's multiples of 10. It's so much better. In the UK we stopped using imperial/standard measurements in the early 70's Learn metric and the vocabulary. BTW, get a double sided metric. I. France It's just metric tapes in the UK they have metric and imperial on the same tape which hurts my head as its really annoying when measuring from the opposite side of the tape. GO METRIC!!!!
Any chance you guys in the US can get your date format aligned too? Those of us in the first world have been using day/month/year for ever. I think you're the only ones which uses month/day/year.
Hey Rob, I wasn't aware I needed permits to build my workbench or even for cabinets and trim. I would still design my houses using "Standard aka Imperial."😎🤙
I know you don’t need a permit for your bench. I go back and forth between metric and “standard “ and i hate it. Ben Franklin was right we should adopt an international standard. Tradition has me building steel string guitars in inches and classical guitars in metric. All my building is inch. Most mechanical i do is metric. Metalwork has a gauge measurement that i buy steel in and i buy sheet aluminum in metric. Ahhhhh!
Rob Eggers uh that was exactly the point of metric- an ‘international standard’ that literally everyone else in the world uses except for 3 countries (the US, Liberia and Myanmar)
@@flashdaz05 And when I build "euro" cabinets to US spec kitchen drawings. Our US system is still too ingrained for me to use both. In remodeling kitchens, cabinetry and trim I only use inches to prevent mistakes. Last time I used feet in a kitchen was over 40 years ago and counters were made incorrectly after someone confused 11'3" with 113". I am a proponent of metric system but as a builder have not been able to fully transition and going back and forth just leaves one more area for mistakes. I have gone all metric in my Lutherie but it is still challenging with many vintage instrument dimensions in inch. All CNC for me is now metric. I still have not been given shop drawings to build something in metric they are either fraction or decimal of inches. I won't turn down the work or quit building because of 16 or 24" center layout. My construction stuff is still all inch and shop is a mix. My point is forward thinking Americans wanted metric in the late 1700's and we even had a metric conversion act in 1975 which Regan promptly killed.
This is a topic for debate. In the US, standard vs metric is the common nomenclature used and is slightly different than UK Imperial for some things. In an earlier video, I referred to it as Imperial and was beat up for mistaking American Standard for Imperial. I don't have a dog in the fight and will call it whatever you want.
Ron, Looks like you poked the hornet nest on this one, people don't like change, Metric is becoming more the norm, I have to have both tools to work on my cars ,bikes, power equipment, electric equipment, because they are all not made in the USA ,I do find it had to find certain router bits and drill bits , certain saw blades but it is getting easier
Why do you refer to the Imperial system as "standard"? It is standard in only one country in the entire world (USA). It was a British invention, so it makes no sense to me to call it "American standard". The fact that even the country that invented it has abandoned it in place of the logical, easy metric system should tell us something. Other than terminology, I agree with you 100%, and applaud your decision to publish plans in metric. A small step for mankind! :)
"SAE is a reference to the American standard sizes for parts and tools. USCS is the American system of units in which SAE standard sizes are measured. Imperial is another system of units formerly used in the UK. (And still occasionally used there.) Like USCS, it is also based on ancient English measures. However, UK automotive standards, such as thread pitch, were different, and not “SAE” standard. Metric refers both to the SI system of units and also to the current set of standard sizes used worldwide."
The size of an imperial inch is exactly the same size as an American standard inch both are based on exactly 25.4 mm Not the other way around. Where it would be easy to deduce that 25.4 just happened to measure an exact inch. No, the inch was resized to exactly 25.4 mm. And NOT rounded. In the early 60s starting in the late 50s if I recall correctly. For both American and English. The American standard monicker, I believe, comes from any other measurement then inches and feet and yards like weight and volume and land measuring units etc. when the units standards are different between the two country’s. The actual word standard is from the American Customary Units. I think the word standard has become more popular over the years since it’s easier to say and recognise the word standard over the word customary. My opinion. Where literally customs very between countries. Where American standard should not be confused as a different length measurement than English imperial. They are exactly the same. It’s my opinion the ijits in charge of resizing the inch should have gone with 25mm. They had their chance and missed the opportunity.
@@whoDatBeDare True, but if I call the measuring system "imperial" I will be whipped in the public square. Then again, If I refer to it as "Standard" I am called out as an idiot. Either way, it is a no win on YT, but it is fun to poke the bear🤙
Ron Paulk So coving up as an intentional jibe instead of a misinformed error. Ok. The only permanent solution is to move to metric completely and never refer to the previous system again.
@@TheSmartWoodshop LOL!!! You are so welcome Ron!!! Your reply was much better than mine. I guess you either didn't see my comment or forgot about it on a different video you posted. I post that "sucking" comment every time I see a comparison of the metric persuasion. It is interesting and funny the comments I get from it. Mostly it gets the comment count higher on any particular video I post it to. I truly think metric is no better or worse to use than American standard. Both can get you to a final goal. I will give a background of my experience just to show that I really don't understand why there is such a fuss over either. I have two engineering degrees and have done projects all over the globe. I have owned a machine shop, a welding business, have built numerous houses, and have used metric probably more than standard. Here in America, most all raw material comes in standard sizes so it is easier to use standard measures as far as I am concerned.... Sorry for the long exhortation! Hope this was more insightful!!!
@@TheSmartWoodshop Mr Ron, It's your channel, but I don't think that is a good idea. I can get by with it because I'm not vested in the content. I was trying to be funny but I guess my humor is not appreciated as much as I enjoy playing with people. You keep doing things your way because it is working for you and I will bow out of jacking with people on your channel. I have been watching your channel for quite a while and I do enjoy watching and learning from you. Sorry if I caused any harm, keep on keeping on!!!
I’m taking a chemistry course in college right now and all I have to say is WTF are we doing teaching the standard system. Metric means precision and minimizing errors.
Finally an American who actually agrees metric is better. :)
I think many would agree with you.
My father is a renowned tailor, born in Italy.
All tailoring here he did in standard, but he knows metric well, and prefers it.
I’m an old guy (61) Who has used both systems throughout his life… The metric system is better in every way. I’m always shocked when a TH-cam channel that I like, expresses outrage at the metric system.
@@ralphlivingston894 thanks for the comment. I'm just old enough to know enough of the imperial system and still say things like "that's about an inch" but you're metic is just better.
There are more of us Americans that think this way than you think. Coming from a fabrication/machining background, it’s so much easier to fabricate darn near anything using metric measurements. Other fabricators I’ve worked with always called me “weird”. I asked them all “is it easier to to count in 10’s or 12s/16s?” “Tens of course!”, they say... I just smile and remind them that the metric system is based off a system of 10s. Some have converted, some stay stuck in their ways.
I would add every scientist globally and practically every American engineer are either fully metric or SI or want to be! I very much prefer metric for its built in precision and ease of use.
If you are gonna do a project make sure to use the same tape measure, start to finish.
I can work and visualise with both systems. I prefer to use metric.
In New York, Highway construction work plans, standard drawings, spec and pay items were changed to metric. Then a few years later changed back to "standard". Very annoying having to change estimate items and measuring tools.
I'm a french "maker"(its a hobby for me) and I don't understand why everyone don't use metric system.. its so simple and précise and simple for calculate
I totally agree. I started in woodwork and cabinet shops in the U.S. Then moved to Canada and went to trade school for cabinet making, all of the training was in metric. My accuracy improved dramatically, the math got faster, layout and everything became easier. I really wish that everyone would embrace the metric system, I hear plenty of reasons/excuses for why imperial is better, but it is really just a lack of exposure to metric. Thank you for taking a stand on this one Ron, I do everyday in my business. Metric only for us.
I hate measuring standard english! I've been in construction since 1981. Back in the late 70's and early 80's I remember there was a government push to convert but after several years the push back from industry and trade groups/unions effectively killed it.
I'm not for more government and laws in my life but I wish this one had become a law at the time. We all have almost twice the number of measuring and mechanic tools that we need because of this. I too pushed back for a couple of decades till one day after doing some detailed fractional (1/32" +-}measuring for a complex cabinet I decided to use a metric tape to divide up a lot of spacing and it was gloriously easy. So much labor is lost with fractions even if you take out your construction calculator. I can't tell you how many board feet of wood or even finished goods I've messed up.
I prefer to dimension everything based on proportions of the distance from the tip of my pinky finger to my elbow which is exactly 18"
Kyle, I actually do a lot of building and cutting without measuring😎
Hi Ron
I am into my 77th year and so I was brought up on Imperial here in UK. Now some 40+ years ago I became involved in manufacturing electronic enclosures. Now that meant going metric back then because that was the time the UK went metric, however, the electronic enclosure rack standard was 19".
So now I visualise in Imperial but when I work I use metric measurement as it is much simpler and easier to use.
Now whilst we went metric back then we never changed our road signs and speed restrictions to metric. I guess back then we knew that at some time we would leave the European Union but I think we will keep measuring in metric.
I used both and if I am using a tape measure I tend to use the easiest one to read, whidepends on which side the measuring from. Here in the Uk its normal to have a tape measure that has both Metric and Imperial. It's not easy to pick up a metric only tape. they are avaible online if you search.
I use my thumb width for most measuring. If I cut something long or short I use another finger or my fatter thumb and everything stays on track.
It's a minefield nuts and bolts UNC UNF ANF ANF AF METRIC WHITWORTH and in UK you get galvanised sheets measured 3ft by2 metres at the end of the day, how long is a piece of string. Happy New Year all.
A piece of string is double the length of half of it😉
So I saw this reply to someone that was touting how wonderful the metric system is. I thought that it might be fun to post here. It just imagine Andy Rooney saying it and thought it was pretty good. I have no idea who Sean D. Serrentino is but I liked his response. If its so natural then how do you cut a pizza into even slices with the metric system ? 😂 Also this guy makes some pretty good points here " The metric system is based upon two arbitrary things. #1. The number of fingers normally present in humans. #2. The distance from the equator to the North Pole at sea level divided by 10,000,000. It’s now defined as “the length of the path traveled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.” Or, basically the length of the agreed upon metal bar in a museum in France.
Riddle me this. Who actually measured that distance and divided it up into meters? So basically, we’ve got a system that’s exactly as arbitrary as the old “foot” meaning “Ehh, about that much” as the person holds their hands a random distance apart. In this case that random distance is about three times the random distance of the guy showing you the foot.
Now, please divide the meter by 2, 3, 4, & 6 and give me rational number usable by normal humans. Base 10 happens to be how our number system is designed, and it’s based upon the arbitrary use of the number of fingers the average human is born with. It’s no better and no worse than any other number base. The advantage to using base 12, as the foot uses is that it is easily divisible by 2, 3, 4, & 6. Half a foot? 6 inches. 1/3rd of a foot? 4 inches. All helpfully marked on your handy measuring stick. Please pull out your measuring stick and measure me 1/3rd of a meter. Be precise.
So if the metric system is so awesome, how come we don’t have metric clocks? 10 hours in a day? 100 minutes per hour? Nope, we use 24 hours, which is, as you might be aware, 2 x 12 hour half days. Which is really helpful when working out longitude. All you need to know is what time it is in England when the sun is at it’s apogee
Then there’s the silly attempt by non North Americans at using some “rational” base for electricity. We use 60Hz. The quick among you will recognize that 60 is merely 12 times 5. That means it can be easily divided by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, & 30. This is important when you wish to use some speed on your electric motor other than 60 revolutions per second. Simply wire the motor in a different way and you can have a motor that turns at any of those fractions of 60 revs per second. This doesn’t work in Europe because they got all metric with it and specified 50Hz. Because? I don’t know why. Perhaps they were just being obstinate.
Then there’s the fact that it’s French. That’s enough to doom it as far as most of us are concerned. " By Sean D Serrentino
Kenny Seymour - very nice! one foot is 30 cm or 1/3 of a meter... sounds complicated seeing how useful a foot is. the best arguement people use is the superiority of metric for long distances. as if anyone really can look down the road with a pair of binoculars and more accurately gauge a mile over a kilometer. or a cup of water being 250 ml or a 1/4 of a litre? it sounds so scientific and sterile and like you posted, their base ten measurement system still relies on 4's and 8's to make measurements convenient. metric proponents remind me of electric vehicle proponents. they drive down the road making fun of people that drive cars that consume "dino juice" but get on a plane to travel 2000 miles to go on vacation, or to see the unveiling of the new musk model y. honestly, metric, imo, makes minds lazy. i can put away and organize my metric wrenches in 20 seconds but putting away my imperial ones forces my mind to work with fractions. oh no! reducing fractions? oh no! also i have more than a few rulers that break the inch down into 10 parts instead of eight so its not like metric has 10 on copyright. and have you ever seen a metric construction worker taking measurements? 3 meters, 45 centimeters... wtf?! thats a joke right? much easier as 10 foot, 6 inches... honestly, metric shines in laboratory liquid and weight measurements. thats it. including it in real life just makes everything complicated and stupid. i'm actually surprised imperial isn't more popular seeing as how infatuated the world seems to be with star wars.
@@michael-dm2bv Naw, not the long distances. It's WAY easier math in most situations, and worst case you can use an ordinary calculator without having to convert a bunch of fractions. Hardly ever is ANYTHING exactly 1 foot (or an exact multiple) and I need to divide it into some nice even split. Usually it's something like 7' 11 13/16" / 5. Or I'm having to add up a several values, some are measured to the 1/2", some to the 1/8", some to the 1/16". Metric kicks butt in those situations. I even have a construction calculator that handles the fractions directly, and imperial is still a pain as they're still annoying to enter.
For temperatures tho? Celsius can suck eggs.
@@EddieSheffield u bore me. is a mechanic that works out his fractional wrenches lazier than one that understands fractions? u bore me. i asked the metric community a youtube a question STUPID. a seven foot ten inch ANYTHING. Translate to metric please. exactly. u bore me. and u explain how stupid u are every time you try to sound smart.
test me. lets play some chess.
@@EddieSheffield - lets cook! oh shit! metric needs to weight to cook..... a cup of flour? a cup of water? the desert and the dessert are only one "s" away. Does ur soul mate understand u are visiting las vegas without her permission?
@@EddieSheffield - loose. how we talk about wives like urs. the titanic. loose lips. how many kids do u have? i am trying to work out ur soul mates loose lips.
Chemistry and physics starting in high school, 1958 for me, we worked in metric. All my darkroom stuff is metric. Cookbooks drive me nuts. What the heck is a tablespoon? My scales are grams.
My 2004 Buick has a spedo that works in metric and English at the push of a button. I no longer have to remember 100 kilometers is 60 MPH and convert every speed limit sign.
The USA was supposed to be all metric 25 years ago by law. Never happened. We have to get with the rest of the world.
Metric all the way... Based off a factor of 10 and no silly fractions. The biggest issue for people going from feet and inches to metric is visualizing what 100mm, 1000mm 10mm looks like, decimal feet works but there rulers and tapes are to the 1/8ths usually. Im a surveyor by trade and I loved working in metric but I always had to convert back to feet and inches for the workers to understand.
USA signed a Metric weights and measures convention on May 20, 1875
The inch became officially 25.4 mm in 1976
According to NIST the system of measure that includes the inch is called US Customary
I've been in the industrial design business long enough to have relaxed about my desire to change others about this topic. Metric is better in almost all regards, but there are visceral, tribal behaviors that are virtualy impossible to get past. For me, I design using the system that the circumstance and materials call for.
I imagine most average craftsman can deal in both as need arises.
I recently bought three Sawstop OEM scales for my CTS table saw (they're cheap and I have to order them from Australia to the U.S., so I wanted more than one just in case I mess one up or waver on going back and forth between American standard and metric. Anyway, I'm new to carpentry and woodworking, so I haven't converted to metric yet (I just want the option). Do you convert your Sawstop CTS to metric? If not, is that something you would consider? It just seems to me metric is the way to go, but like you pointed out, for framing you're still using imperial. I just wish we'd pick the metric lane for everything. Even though I don't think in metric, I could learn and it would be so much easier.
I'm also getting the new Festool TS 60 which is both metric and imperial.
I am all in on Metric and just ordered a new tape measure but what about the scale on my table saw!
I have some extra FastCap rule used on my PTSII so I will see if I can change the scale on my SawStop table saw. Video coming if it works😎
I bought a Dewalt job site saw years ago and one of the things I like most about it is the dual rip scales. When I need to take a “hair” off, a 1/16 is too much but a mm is about right. Not sure about the newer generation, but this saw is a beast!
Bravo. I worked in Enzed one year(94/95) and it took me 5 minutes to learn. Since then, i tried to make my shop all metric, but that didn't work out due to material sizes, so what i do now, is convert all fractions to 100's. I know i know, but that's the idiocy that we deal with here. However, were i to build something with metric plans(most of us don't need plans)that would just not be a problem, i have plenty of metric only measuring devices. Good choice Ron.
I live in Ireland and we went decimal years ago but if you go to the builder providers they still sell timber in imperial .
Ron I’ve spent my Christmas building my I-smart, yes i smart , its the Irish version of smart 😂. Best Christmas present to myself ever
Send photos. My wife is a Murphy so Irish blood runs deep and my wife is the boss.
Ron Paulk Ya we all like to think we are the boss but when it comes down to it, we realize we just replaced our mothers with our wives.Could be worse doe , you could have married an Irish red head , no controlling them at all at all, firry women 😂.
I’m not finished my van yet but when I’m done I’ll sent you a video walk through. I changed the drawer stop a bit from what you have done , looks a little nicer from the front and also works as a backstop now as well .
I really enjoy your Chanel Ron , you should do a video about how you started out in business and some of the worries and fears you experienced as a self employed person ( money , work , bills ect!!!)
Also how work picked up year on year due to good quality work.
I’ve a window business here and I started it in 2010 in the middle of the recession , left it for 3 year when my daughters came along for a factory job but hated it.
I’m back again working for myself for the last 2.5 year and love my job , I love your business tips .
Can I ask why you don’t have signage on your trailers , your older versions had ?
I have found myself working a bit in both, metric and imperial, as some measures seems to me easier in imperial as they are related to human body and so from ergonomics point of view I'm working in imperial. But for precision things I go back to metric. Back? Well yes, I'm from continental Europe. Those are nice tapes, like the clip. Surprisingly there is not much of the imperial rulers or tapemeasures around, but surprisingly found a cheap one tape with imperial and metric is sold i IKEA. It was a little surprise when kids talked me to buy them a tape to later find out it's with both scales, so I bought one for my hobby shop :-).
Your talking about the HUGE difference between a cabinet maker and a carpenter ( finish or framing ), so in the USA we have to convert. Hasn't be a big deal for me except, buying more tools
Yes, I frame in standard/imperial and finish in metric. I have to thank Festool for pushing me to metric and I prefer their tools and all of their scales have historically been metric.
hi have been in the building industry all my life worked with my father in the imperil system and my apprenticeship . The metric system is the only true international method when is America going to enter the twenty first century.
good desicion.
Can you make a video on filing a copyright on woodworking plans?
I still like miles and pounds, but for cabinet making, trim work and measuring woodworking, despite my loathing all (or at least most) things Froggy, the metric system is pretty handy and so easy to use. I got my metric rulers and won't go back to English.
I prefer metric and I think Festool changing to imperial is silly . Not sure why they would
I've wanted to go to metric but where, oh where, can I get a set of metric twist-drills that won't cost me my first-born? I'm slowly collecting metric forstner bits but really need a set of twist-drills.
AliExpress?
Hi, Bill! If you let me know exactly what you want, I can check around here in Tallinn, Estonia to see what's available. (Hmm, this might be an idea for a business. Ha, ha!)
Likewise, you can try Amazon UK. Or, other Amazon sites: I often look up a tool's name in German or Italian, and then try Amazon.de or Amazon.it.
Of course, there are specialist retailers similar to Rockler or whoever, like Axminster in the United Kingdom: www.axminster.co.uk/search/?q=twist%20drill&nR[visibility_search][=][0]=1&
Yes, postage has gone up, and sometimes you'll get hit with customs charges.
The underlying REASON that the Metric system is excellent for carpentry & cabinet making is that 1 mm is a comfortable tolerance for every woodworking tool.
Personally I use Metric exclusively for cabinet making, but architects, framing & finish carpenters (and window & door makers) think it's stupid.
Imperial or metric. Horse and cart still works🤔
Often Metric cabinet making measurements are based off of imperial ( aka American standard / British imperial) to start with. I live i a country that has never used inches, all my manufactured wood, even locally made, is in reality sized to inch fractions, but sold as mm.
Crazy KT Neither are precise.
Where do you live if that question is ok?
Wishing everyone the best for the New Year. Absolutely go all in metric. Get rid of standard. You will waste so much time converting back and forth. Save yourself about two years of confusion and slow progress. DO NOT go Standard/Metric. Throw out anything that has standard measurement on it. You’ll be up to metric in no time and will never look back. Fastcap sells metric only. Go all in metric. Don’t waste your time converting back and forth. Only download plans that are in metric. Don’t convert from standard. There will be a metric plan available somewhere.
Hey Ron, Just curious how much you offset when using a router to cut out. I know you used to use 1/8 offset but 1/8 comes out to 3.17mm.
I'm gonna try to switch to metric in the shop, 1 number is easier to remember than a number and a fraction !
Eventually you can think in metric, the trick is get used to the lengths and not try to convert them all the time; it is easy really. Learn what 100mm looks like, 500mm then 1,000mm or 1 meter and what 5meters and 10meters looks like. DON'T BOTHER LEARNING 10mm equals 1 centimeter. Forget Centimeters. Only do millimeters. If it says 2.4meters, tell your boss 2.4meters. If your tape measure says it is 1m.650mm It is 1650mm say, "sixteen fifty" not 165centimeters. Don't communicate it in centimeters only meters and millimeters. That is the secret. If your tape measure says 4m.605mm, it is 4605mm, say Forty Six 0 five mm
For 33years I've been using both I just switch to whichever is easiest at the time ie its easier to half 1000mm than 39 5/16"
lol That tape measure is 16 feet. No difference between Imperial and Metric. Some non-Americans delight in bashing Americans over it it and vice-versa. The real problem some people have is fraction math. I think it is less likely to make an error if you are only working in whole numbers. If you (like me) use Festool, it is better to try and use metric. Some of their tools are only in metric. But you have to work hard to find some of their tools in the USthat are in metric. Usually, you have to remove an imperial scale and add a metric one. But that being said, all Americans and Brits daily use both measurement standards. No brit walks into a pub and orders 437 milli-litres of beer for example.
Metric master race, cheers Ron, still using the bench I built from your original plans love it, I slimmed it down to 6' , it's my main shop bench bit heavy to lug about so made a tiny version that clamps on top of my work mate, best of both worlds all best Will
I knew this day was coming, so I just bought the Fastcap standard/metric tape measure with the pencil sharpener. I also bought another brand MulWark, just to try out, with its own unique features. However, my DeWalt 7491RS table saw, and Hitachi C12RSH Double Bevel Slider, is standard ruler.
Mario Monti My DeWALT DW7491-XE is metric. I wonder how much it might cost and how hard it would be to change the scale to metric.
@@whoDatBeDare It's probably just a stick on tape I could get.
I wouldn't want to change it over, I would want both rules.
However, I don't think the tape is tall enough to let it be well seen with both rules.
I use both depending on what I'm doing. Trained as a zoologist, everything was in metric. Working in my shop or on a Habitat for Humanity job site, everything is in imperial.
Want to disagree with me or tell me I'm wrong . . . . . I don't care. I do what I want.
Woo-hoo finally an American who realises the benefits of metric.
It's multiples of 10. It's so much better.
In the UK we stopped using imperial/standard measurements in the early 70's
Learn metric and the vocabulary.
BTW, get a double sided metric. I. France It's just metric tapes in the UK they have metric and imperial on the same tape which hurts my head as its really annoying when measuring from the opposite side of the tape.
GO METRIC!!!!
Any chance you guys in the US can get your date format aligned too? Those of us in the first world have been using day/month/year for ever. I think you're the only ones which uses month/day/year.
Take a set of metric plans to the building department and see how it goes.
Hey Rob, I wasn't aware I needed permits to build my workbench or even for cabinets and trim. I would still design my houses using "Standard aka Imperial."😎🤙
Bob: Why would you do that?
I just go there knowing exactly what I want and tell them how to cut down sheet goods.
I know you don’t need a permit for your bench. I go back and forth between metric and “standard “ and i hate it. Ben Franklin was right we should adopt an international standard. Tradition has me building steel string guitars in inches and classical guitars in metric. All my building is inch. Most mechanical i do is metric. Metalwork has a gauge measurement that i buy steel in and i buy sheet aluminum in metric. Ahhhhh!
Rob Eggers uh that was exactly the point of metric- an ‘international standard’ that literally everyone else in the world uses except for 3 countries (the US, Liberia and Myanmar)
@@flashdaz05 And when I build "euro" cabinets to US spec kitchen drawings. Our US system is still too ingrained for me to use both. In remodeling kitchens, cabinetry and trim I only use inches to prevent mistakes. Last time I used feet in a kitchen was over 40 years ago and counters were made incorrectly after someone confused 11'3" with 113". I am a proponent of metric system but as a builder have not been able to fully transition and going back and forth just leaves one more area for mistakes. I have gone all metric in my Lutherie but it is still challenging with many vintage instrument dimensions in inch. All CNC for me is now metric. I still have not been given shop drawings to build something in metric they are either fraction or decimal of inches. I won't turn down the work or quit building because of 16 or 24" center layout. My construction stuff is still all inch and shop is a mix. My point is forward thinking Americans wanted metric in the late 1700's and we even had a metric conversion act in 1975 which Regan promptly killed.
Dude metric is standard.... You meant metric versus imperial
This is a topic for debate. In the US, standard vs metric is the common nomenclature used and is slightly different than UK Imperial for some things. In an earlier video, I referred to it as Imperial and was beat up for mistaking American Standard for Imperial. I don't have a dog in the fight and will call it whatever you want.
Metric really is easier. You just need a metric tape measure. I use both but I like metric.
Metric would be better but every board is made on inches and feet.
Yep! I frame in standard/imperial and finish in metric
Ron, Looks like you poked the hornet nest on this one, people don't like change, Metric is becoming more the norm, I have to have both tools to work on my cars ,bikes, power equipment, electric equipment, because they are all not made in the USA ,I do find it had to find certain router bits and drill bits , certain saw blades but it is getting easier
Why do you refer to the Imperial system as "standard"? It is standard in only one country in the entire world (USA). It was a British invention, so it makes no sense to me to call it "American standard". The fact that even the country that invented it has abandoned it in place of the logical, easy metric system should tell us something. Other than terminology, I agree with you 100%, and applaud your decision to publish plans in metric. A small step for mankind! :)
It is NOT called the Standard system, it is called the Imperial system...
American Standard and imperial are not the same, but close 😎🤙
It's actually called "Imperial"... not standard, american, inches, fractional or anything else..."Imperial" vs "Metric"
Do you happen to sell the dx files for your benches?
Metric and tea all the way . Happy New year Ron
The measurement is imperial, standard I assume is an American term 😏
"SAE is a reference to the American standard sizes for parts and tools.
USCS is the American system of units in which SAE standard sizes are measured.
Imperial is another system of units formerly used in the UK. (And still occasionally used there.) Like USCS, it is also based on ancient English measures. However, UK automotive standards, such as thread pitch, were different, and not “SAE” standard.
Metric refers both to the SI system of units and also to the current set of standard sizes used worldwide."
When did the name Imperial get changed to Standard? Not debating which is "better", I don't care about that. Not arguing, just asking.
Imperial and American Standard are similar, but not identical. Comparison of Imperial and U.S. volume measures
1 U.S. fluid ounce = 29.573 529 562 5 milliliters ≈ 1.041 Imperial fluid ounces
1 Imperial fluid ounce = 28.413 062 5 milliliters ≈ 0.961 U.S. fluid ounce
1 liquid U.S. gallon = 3.785 411 784 litres ≈ 0.833 Imperial gallon
1 Imperial gallon = 4.546 09 liters ≈ 1.201 liquid U.S. gallons
1 dry U.S. gallon = 4.404 842 803 2 litres ≈ 0.968 Imperial gallon
1 Imperial gallon = 4.546 09 liters ≈ 1.032 dry U.S. gallons
The size of an imperial inch is exactly the same size as an American standard inch both are based on exactly 25.4 mm Not the other way around. Where it would be easy to deduce that 25.4 just happened to measure an exact inch. No, the inch was resized to exactly 25.4 mm. And NOT rounded. In the early 60s starting in the late 50s if I recall correctly. For both American and English. The American standard monicker, I believe, comes from any other measurement then inches and feet and yards like weight and volume and land measuring units etc. when the units standards are different between the two country’s. The actual word standard is from the American Customary Units. I think the word standard has become more popular over the years since it’s easier to say and recognise the word standard over the word customary. My opinion. Where literally customs very between countries. Where American standard should not be confused as a different length measurement than English imperial. They are exactly the same. It’s my opinion the ijits in charge of resizing the inch should have gone with 25mm. They had their chance and missed the opportunity.
@@whoDatBeDare True, but if I call the measuring system "imperial" I will be whipped in the public square. Then again, If I refer to it as "Standard" I am called out as an idiot. Either way, it is a no win on YT, but it is fun to poke the bear🤙
Ron Paulk So coving up as an intentional jibe instead of a misinformed error. Ok. The only permanent solution is to move to metric completely and never refer to the previous system again.
Thanks for the update, Ron.
Good call to just have metric.
Peace of Lord Jesus upon you and yours
Good.
"US standard system" not "America Standard system". America is a continent, not a Country, and the mayority of the continent uses metric.
Ron: “my favourite metric tape is this 16 footer”😂😂😂😂
Metric sucks!!!!!
Danny, that was very helpful. Thank you for such deep and insightful thought. I am sure the viewers here will be impressed.
@@TheSmartWoodshop it was very helpfull. now i know why usa stays in imperial standard
@@TheSmartWoodshop LOL!!! You are so welcome Ron!!! Your reply was much better than mine. I guess you either didn't see my comment or forgot about it on a different video you posted. I post that "sucking" comment every time I see a comparison of the metric persuasion. It is interesting and funny the comments I get from it. Mostly it gets the comment count higher on any particular video I post it to.
I truly think metric is no better or worse to use than American standard. Both can get you to a final goal. I will give a background of my experience just to show that I really don't understand why there is such a fuss over either. I have two engineering degrees and have done projects all over the globe. I have owned a machine shop, a welding business, have built numerous houses, and have used metric probably more than standard. Here in America, most all raw material comes in standard sizes so it is easier to use standard measures as far as I am concerned.... Sorry for the long exhortation! Hope this was more insightful!!!
@@dannywilsher4165 Maybe I should title all of my videos as "?? Sucks" You know, just to poke the bear😎
@@TheSmartWoodshop Mr Ron, It's your channel, but I don't think that is a good idea. I can get by with it because I'm not vested in the content. I was trying to be funny but I guess my humor is not appreciated as much as I enjoy playing with people. You keep doing things your way because it is working for you and I will bow out of jacking with people on your channel.
I have been watching your channel for quite a while and I do enjoy watching and learning from you. Sorry if I caused any harm, keep on keeping on!!!