imperial

[Wideboy]

when i went to work all the machines where still imperial as they were so old so i had no choice but to learn, but now when i order timber ect i use imperial measurements instead of metric as thats the way it is?

[punyXpress]

Originally Posted by specialone

I was taught both, working on any type of construction site when i left school everybody used imperial, but i was taught mainly metric, but learned imperial as well.
It gets more complicated when you start getting into precision measurements in imperial, thats when i have to think a bit more.

0.004 = 1mm (4 thousands of an inch to 1mm)

Phil

Try buying plaster board - One measurement is metric & the other Imperial - heavens knows what the thickness is!

[timwilky]

I visualise in imperial, calculate in metric.

I am comfortable working in either system. most of my measuring equipment, mics, bore gauges etc are imperial. Not a problem I own a calculator if I need to convert.

Now years ago I had one guy who could not get his head round hexidecimal. FFS I said you are English we have been working at base 16 for centuries. He looked at me like I was stupid.

Pounds and ounces.

The sad thing is they don't bother teaching kids 11 & 12 times tables as there is no need since we dumped LSD.

[yorkie_chris]

Is it that hard to multiply by 25.4?

I think in some imperial stuff, but do all calculations in metric. Imperial is a pain in the 'arris for calculations, you end up with constants popping up everywhere to deal with the fact that the scales are based on the weight of a donkey or something.

Science, SI. Beer, imperial.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by davepreston

gggggggeeeeerrrrrmmans

oi...less of the geerrrmans or I revoke your sheep cover on your insurance

Originally Posted by punyXpress

Try buying plaster board - One measurement is metric & the other Imperial - heavens knows what the thickness is!

I do !!! all the time, its normally in metric but sometimes displayed as 3/8 = 10mm (albeit its 9.52mm) and 1/2 = 12.5mm ( again really 12.7mm)

Originally Posted by tigersaw

I can picture an acre, furlong and chain in my mind easier than metric stuff.

What the hell is a furlong or a chain?

Americans don't understand metric either. Canadians do, probably because of the French influence. It's so easy - if you can count in tens, you've got it sussed.

I only ever use metric, except for in the pub. But wifey always uses imperial, cos she was taught to cook in pounds and ounces. So the kitchen scales (electronic) are always set to imperial. It irritates me cos when did you last buy 8 ounces of butter? Everything is sold in g and kg, or in ml, not in ounces or fluid ounces.

[timwilky]

I still insist on lbs 1/2 lb etc at the deli counter.

Sad was the day when I ordered a quarter of midget gems and the boor kids behind the counter ask how many grammes was that. How should I know I want a quarter of a pound. My butcher prices everything by the pound but weighs it on metric scales

Does anyone get told a measurement or weight then mentally convert it to a unit they can visualise.
Weight in stones is the one for me, if somebody tells me there are 100 kilos, its hard for me to visualise, but 16 stones i can.

Originally Posted by specialone

Weight in stones is the one for me, if somebody tells me there are 100 kilos, its hard for me to visualise, but 16 stones i can.

73kg here