|
|
|
| Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article | Login | Become a Member | What's New | Site Map |
|
WOODWEB DISCLAIMS any and all RESPONSIBILITY and LIABILITY for the accuracy and application of the information below. Readers agree to evaluate the significance and limitations of the information provided, and accept full responsibility for the application of this information. Read More ... |
|
|
Would you like to add information to this article? Interested in writing or submitting an article? Have a question about this article? Moving to Metric Question
Forum Responses
I applaud your leap of faith into the metric world. It certainly will not hurt but there will be some hurdles. A lot of our hardware and supplies are still on the US standard and probably will be for some time, so there will be confusion related to this. Also, it's just that in the US we have a standard that we have used for a long time and it will be difficult to get the lay person to come around. I think it would be best if you just convert to the true 32 system. You will have less headaches in general. For example, if you want to communicate with an outside source here in the US, you would most likely have to convert your dimensions to standard just to be understood, or risk the chance of just missing it by a fraction. I'm sure that the British and Europeans would love it, though.
From contributor N: Measure twice before cutting. From contributor F: To help the process, some common cabinet standards may move the process along. 9 = 228mm 12 = 305mm
From contributor R: When I went through the process, a calculator was absolutely necessary and I used the 25.4 mm in an inch constantly. You can buy a Casio for a few bucks instead of paying for the construction master ones. Actually, I thought it was best to use the 25.4 to actually understand rather than just pushing a conversion button. In time it will get easy to think in terms of metric. All the guys picked it up pretty quickly. Going from metric to imperial is a lot tougher. From contributor J: I recommend you use the correct conversions, not the ones that contributor F suggested. From contributor T: This might help.   From contributor M: Metric is easy for anyone who can count up to 10. Metric is all in units of ten. Don't try to bounce back and forth with inches and millimeters. I find it a lot easier to train someone to read a tape in millimeters than fractions. A lot easier to add round numbers for multiple cabinets on a wall than with fractions. From contributor N: That's right about the ten unit count. In all truth, metric is a much easier system than the one used in the states. When I moved back to the old country years ago, I had to convert overnight, so to speak. Friday I was using fractions and Monday I started millimeters. All my mistakes the first couple weeks were in groups of ten. So measure twice. The double tape is just too much of an eyesore for me. When working quickly, there's a chance of mistakes. I prefer two separate tapes. From contributor J: Being English, I had to do the conversion to metric some years ago (I was brought up with imperial). I found it much easier when I let go of the imperial, stopped trying to convert all the time, and trained myself to think in metric. Constant converting is just postponing the time when your guys need to learn to visualize in metric. From contributor S: Anyone who knows U.S currency knows the metric system. Always work in millimeters, never centimeters or meters. It helps to have a tape measure marked liked this: 10 20...30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 10 20 30 40 ..200 .10 20 etc. Instead of: 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 200 210 220 etc Forget about inches - you should only ever need to convert when dealing with the world outside your shop. Measure metric, cut metric.
The comments below were added after this Forum discussion was archived as a Knowledge Base article (add your comment). Comment from contributor A:
As for any regret in having the alien French metric system imposed on me replacing centuries of tradition, forget it - all I have left is a huge embarrassment at how antiquated and inefficient the old system was. Curiously I still think imperial measurements when it comes to screws and nails, but metric sizes are more sensible. One thing is that the metric system allows a calculator to be used, so dont be surprised to find the lads on the tools quickly acquire one. Do not issue drawings with both measurements - this only causes problems. Why convert? The old system is dead, or should be.
The comments below were added after this Forum discussion was archived as a Knowledge Base article (add your comment). Comment from contributor B:
Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below? 
|
