All of Those Scrap Drill Bits!

[rgsparber]

I own a decimal inch tape measure and prefer it over fractions. It does not have foot markings. Give me a division by 10 any day over a division by 8.

Consider dividing 7’ 23 3/8” by 3 versus 123.45” by 3. Not as easy as metric but a close second.

I really don’t care about the scientific definition of a meter. All that matters is it doesn’t change.

[Ed Weldon]

Beware of gravity waves. ("....... of a meter. All that matters is it doesn’t change.) About pure inches without the added confusion of feet ........ The measuring stick for my water tank is graduated in inches 0-120. Very easy to think about.
Back to twist drills -- Anyone know where to get a drill gauge for #61-#80 like the General #13 which is quite rare and no longer manufactured? Ed Weldon

[pfredX1]

Your measuring system is arbitrary.

[mklotz]

...
So they gave us the meter and based it on a dimension extremely important to all of us: The varying distance between two imaginary entities, the Equator and the North Pole. That standard is on its second iteration (wavelength of a specific light emission); but that was before we observed the existence of gravity waves. This will all be very important when there is nothing left except me and ye and a box of chocolate bars. (so before we decide how to divide up the contents of the box we must measure the wavelength of Krypton light)...

I think you need to (re)read this...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/g...1486#post93973

with special attention to this extract...

Some folks want to argue that the metric system is flawed because the length standard it uses is "wrong". The French set out to make the meter one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole. Their technique for measuring this quantity was inspired and they did an admirable job considering the tools available to them at the time. Still, the value they obtained was very slightly in error. But, NONE OF THIS MATTERS IN THE LEAST. All measurement systems are based on a choice of some arbitrary standard. Whether it's the length of the King's arms or the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in a given period of time, it's the fact that everyone agrees to use that length that's important and the real test of a measurement system is how well it satisfies the criteria outlined at the beginning of this text. THE NOTION OF "ACCURACY" OF A MEASUREMENT SYSTEM IS COMPLETE NONSENSE. Accuracy is a function of the measurement tools and techniques, not the system in which the measurements are expressed.

[pfredX1]

Metric sucks.

[ncollar]

Metric might suck but I was taught that metric would be the system used in the 70's and still today it's SAE. Go figure. I like the metric but all my mechanic tools are SAE until now I bought a set of metric wrenches.
It does not make a lot of sense but someone will pay for it soon or later.
Nelson

[pfredX1]

One popular conspiracy theory goes that the industry adopted metric so we'd all have to buy another set of tools. Sales are good for business after all.

[rgsparber]

Rather strange theory. Say all US made goods were 100% Imperial. You would still have things made elsewhere that were Metric. People in these other countries are probably not real happy when they buy our goods and have to buy a second set of tools.

[pfredX1]

The happiness of people in other countries is not my problem. They're certainly doing nothing to make me happy. Did you know that our system is based on Jefferson's experience attending the first metric conference? Then behind his back they decided to change everything. A typical move for foreign sneaky bastards.

[rgsparber]

Bashing all people outside the USA is simply unacceptable.