[TD in DC]

Originally Posted by }{arlequin

i can't divide by 12, but that doesn't mean i think it would be quick and painless. i actually don't care whether it's quick, painless, or very very expensive. not my problem. what i AM happy about, is the intuitive way of using logic that stems from dealing w/ the metric system.

God Damned Hippie Liberal.

[hoophead]

So }{, when you torque your wheel nuts, do you use the Nm numbers and set the wrench to 130 Nm, or the ft-lb numbers and set to 96 ft-lbs? Just curious if you are a true believer or not...

[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by }{arlequin

i can't divide by 12, but that doesn't mean i think it would be quick and painless. i actually don't care whether it's quick, painless, or very very expensive. not my problem. what i AM happy about, is the intuitive way of using logic that stems from dealing w/ the metric system.

Right -- the problem is how do you get 'there' from 'here'? And if there is a cost involved with it, you can be sure you (and I and everyone else) will be the ones who ultimately foot that bill.

If we do go to SI units here, is will be driven by market forces. Lots of auto-related stuff here in the US is now metric (BMW and Toyota plants, plus supporting suppliers). Not much need in building trades, since most of the products are manufactured in the US.

Frankly, there is nothing really stopping the average consumer from converting a large portion of their life to SI units. Within your home and car, you can do anything you want in metric/ SI. Want to measure something? Purchase a metric ruler and work only in metric dimensions. Order your european shoes in metric sizes (I'm sure you already do). Many drinks come in metric measurements (750 mL, etc.). Replace your thermostat with one that uses celcius. There are lots of things you can do if you want to be metric.

[}{arlequin]

it's probably a bad example b/c on my wrench, when you set one setting, the other just *happens* to be right there as well.

but just in case you wanna split hairs, no i haven't the slightest what a nM feels like, just like i don't know what a ft-lb feels like.

i also don't know what a metric ton looks like. ditto for tonne. in fact, i don't know what many metric measurements are. the beauty is, i don't need to.

for everyday usage, this is most important to us, as car people, for the wrenching that we do. what i care about is the fact that if i pick up a 9mm wrench and it's slightly too small, i just KNOW that a 10mm will be perfect. that way i can just ask for a 10, or get it myself.

now, if that same thing happens w/ a 5/8's, i don't have a slightest effin' clue as to what's the next size up. 6/16's? 7/16's? wtf???

so to me, THIS is where the metric system shines. not whether i tune my torque wrench to this or this setting.

plus, there is something beautiful about the fact that one liter of water weighs exactly one kilo. guesstimating volume and weight becomes somewhat more precise...

[Trak Ratt]

I like metric! I used to luv saying "drop 100 meters" or "left 200 meters and fire for effect." Course a 120mm HE round doesn't care about the difference between 100 meters and 100 yards... no really it doesn't

[SilverStreak]

Originally Posted by }{arlequin

it's probably a bad example b/c on my wrench, when you set one setting, the other just *happens* to be right there as well.

but just in case you wanna split hairs, no i haven't the slightest what a nM feels like, just like i don't know what a ft-lb feels like.

i also don't know what a metric ton looks like. ditto for tonne. in fact, i don't know what many metric measurements are. the beauty is, i don't need to.

for everyday usage, this is most important to us, as car people, for the wrenching that we do. what i care about is the fact that if i pick up a 9mm wrench and it's slightly too small, i just KNOW that a 10mm will be perfect. that way i can just ask for a 10, or get it myself.

now, if that same thing happens w/ a 5/8's, i don't have a slightest effin' clue as to what's the next size up. 6/16's? 7/16's? wtf???

so to me, THIS is where the metric system shines. not whether i tune my torque wrench to this or this setting.

plus, there is something beautiful about the fact that one liter of water weighs exactly one kilo. guesstimating volume and weight becomes somewhat more precise...

Sounds like someone's a metric poser

[APKhaos]

Originally Posted by BlackTalon

Right -- the problem is how do you get 'there' from 'here'? And if there is a cost involved with it, you can be sure you (and I and everyone else) will be the ones who ultimately foot that bill.

If we do go to SI units here, is will be driven by market forces. Lots of auto-related stuff here in the US is now metric (BMW and Toyota plants, plus supporting suppliers). Not much need in building trades, since most of the products are manufactured in the US.

Frankly, there is nothing really stopping the average consumer from converting a large portion of their life to SI units. Within your home and car, you can do anything you want in metric/ SI. Want to measure something? Purchase a metric ruler and work only in metric dimensions. Order your european shoes in metric sizes (I'm sure you already do). Many drinks come in metric measurements (750 mL, etc.). Replace your thermostat with one that uses celcius. There are lots of things you can do if you want to be metric.

With great respect, if this argument was anything other than an excuse for doing nothing then NONE of the many countries that have converted to metric would have been able to do it. The fact is that they have. Tonnes of them. They decided to do it, and they did it. For clarity, the IT in this case in all the things you listed above, and many more.

Hey, if a farm boy from a far off ex-British colony who grew up with Whitworth, BA, SAE, National Fine, rod, poles and perches, and pounds, shillings and pence can do it, it can't be too hard.

Again for clarity, it is not rocket science. Which leads me to wonder if Werner von Baun and his team worked in their familiar metric units, or if they were required to pass remedial classes to become fluent in good ol' pounds and ounces before they could design space vehicles and launch systems?

[good hands]

Originally Posted by APKhaos

With great respect, if this argument was anything other than an excuse for doing nothing then NONE of the many countries that have converted to metric would have been able to do it. The fact is that they have. Tonnes of them. They decided to do it, and they did it. For clarity, the IT in this case in all the things you listed above, and many more.

Tony you might be forgetting other countries don't have West Virginia

[tdatk]

MMMMM West Virginia..........

YouTube - Trailer All Blowed Up

YouTube - Trailer All Blowed Up

[LPM911]

yeah, the chemicals for making meth are pretty volatile.