RE: Using the Metric System in USA - getting tape measures and others

[coogzilla]

Here we have no "Metric tape measures" the fellas at the hardware store
look confused when the subject of meters comes up. I had to do something. What I'm not sure. I got confused. Even more then usual.
Well, now what. I got these "Aussie" boat plans in metric. Well, I had a
rum$coke and took a nap. That worked wonders. Now I kinda got
it figured out. "GOOGLE"!!! has these conversion things. Yippee

The boat might be upside down when It's finished, but the spec's will
be right on. Keith

(Michael Storer - Boatmik - the designer replies below - look for the "IMPORTANT" in large print as it is very important not to convert all the measurements into another system - easier and simpler to use a metric tape measure)

[Dusty Dave]

Not sure if you are having a lend of us, but surely a tape measure with both metric and imperial can't be that hard to find?! Maybe get onto eBay and order one from your nearest civilised country.

Once you dip your toe in the 20th century you'll love it. Nest thing you know you'll be wanting some decent mains voltage...

Oh, and they aren't meters they're metres. Millimetres, centimetres, kilometres etc.
A meter is something which measures, a metre is a unit of length. Pass that along to the others would you?

[Barry_White]

Here you go Coogzilla

A conversion tool from the ex big Australian.

http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au/ind...37964B795E94A5

[joe greiner]

Here we have no "Metric tape measures" the fellas at the hardware store look confused when the subject of meters comes up. Keith

Balderdash. The clowns at the hardware store don't know their butts from last week. Although I did find a nice Stanley 33-115 at Lowes or Home Despot - conventional one face, "pi" on the other: inch marks are 3.1416" apart, so it measures the diameter directly by wrapping around the whatever. Not dual metric and Imperial though.

Have a look at McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com/ ). Select "Tape Rules" under "Measuring," etc.

Grizzly also has some ( http://www.grizzlyindustrial.com/ ). Enter "tape measures" in the search field.

Also, be alert for Cummins Industrial Tools travelling tent shows. They probably have a web site. My no. 3288 is 1" wide x 25 ft, with dual markings, inch/feet and cm/mm.

(Dave, please do a search for "spelling nazis." And as George Bernard Shaw said, "England and America are two countries separated by a common language.")

Joe

[m2c1Iw]

Balderdash. The clowns at the hardware store don't know their butts from last week. Although I did find a nice Stanley 33-115 at Lowes or Home Despot - conventional one face, "pi" on the other: inch marks are 3.1416" apart, so it measures the diameter directly by wrapping around the whatever. Not dual metric and Imperial though.

Have a look at McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com/ ). Select "Tape Rules" under "Measuring," etc.

Grizzly also has some ( http://www.grizzlyindustrial.com/ ). Enter "tape measures" in the search field.

Also, be alert for Cummins Industrial Tools travelling tent shows. They probably have a web site. My no. 3288 is 1" wide x 25 ft, with dual markings, inch/feet and cm/mm.

(Dave, please do a search for "spelling nazis." And as George Bernard Shaw said, "England and America are two countries separated by a common language.")

Joe

G'day Joe and Coogzilla,
You blokes have the best tool supplier next door.

Lee Valley is your friend.

Cheers Mike

[Boatmik]

Howdy All and thanks for this topic Coogzilla

Duckworks Magazine has a mail order service for tape measures.
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/tools/measure/index.htm

Chuck and Sandra are prompt and reliable and have good follow up if there are problems.

IMPORTANT

Please don't use any conversion tools - there is no way that you can go that way without making an error or 23. One guy got the tops of his bulkheads out by around an inch and a quarter by the time he had converted several of his measurements with the result his mast leant forward rather than back.

Conversions work OK for a single measurement but metric tape measures are the only way to minimise errors in a boat building project.

On the plus side - the metric system is a dream to use and the plans do have an imperial timber list and most timber sizings through the plans are in metric and imperial so you can see what is needed from the pile of timber in your shed. So identification information is in both systems.

But measuring information is only in metric (if you haven't met my plans before)

Best wishes
Michael

[Honorary Bloke]

Just had a walk out to the shed to check the model--a Stanley 30-824, 8 metres long, dual markings. Bought at Lowes right off the shelf.

[Daddles]

I'll second Mik's thoughts on measuring things rather than converting and measuring. The more steps you have in the process, the more places to go wrong.

Following that thought on, transfering measurements when you're working with full sized plans/bits is better done without using a ruler - use a board with one edge bevelled nice and thin, then lay board over the bit to be 'measured', put on a pencil mark, move the board to the other part of the job, transfer the pencil mark to the new job. The accumulating pencil marks can be 'rubbed' off with a chisel used as a scraper every now and then.

The theory is that when you use a ruler, you have the opportunity to make a mistake when reading the ruler, another mistake remembering the measurement and another mistake when making the final mark. Using a board (I can't remember the salty name for the damned thing) and pencil marks removes those three opportunities. Besides, it's quicker and easier on aging thought processess

Richard

[Boatmik]

Howdy Daddles,

It is a method I use a lot when there is a repeated measurement. But I do check the final overall measurement against the original too.

(as I know you do)

Michael

[Daddles]

I just remembered the name of the thing too, a 'pick up stick', which is a tad more obvious than the equally useful (but used for a different job) 'joggle stick' ... of which I have two

Richard

[Daddles]

The other gadget I use a lot are calipers - no, I never read them, I just set them on the job then take them to the bit to be cut out

Richard

[coogzilla]

OK guys what is a joggle stick?
We got a "Lowe's" but it's 40miles away. The people working there
are as talented as the ones working at McDonalds. On a good day
they can locate their aXX all by their own self. If you ask about a
"tape mesure" they say, what kinda tape? It comes in rolls. Oh, ok.
Well, . Mcmasters will have one most likley.

Unless one of you Aussie's want to send me one (-:
Keith

[Daddles]

A joggle stick is an amazingly useful wee gadget.

It's made out of sheet 'something' - ply, wood, tin, plastic. Mine are cut out of a piece of ply on the grounds that it's cheap and not hard to make another.

Basically, it is anywhere from a foot long, depending on the job. It's straight on one side and has randomly serrated teeth about 1" deep on the other with a point at the end. You can buy 'plans' for them, but that's not necessary, nor is it necessary to number the teeth though that can help with complicated jobs.

You use it for mapping out the shape of something.

For example, the shape of a seat top where you need to get the inside shape of the hull. You fix a piece of scrap ply to the seat frames. You then place your joggle stick on the scrap ply with the point against the inside of the hull and draw it. Remove the joggle stick, and you are left with its outline drawn on the ply. Do this for a cunningly selected number of spots. Remove the sheet of ply, lay it on top of your good ply, place the joggle stick inside its outline and mark on the good ply where the point is. You wind up with a series of points which mark out the inside of the hull, hence the 'cunning selection' of the points

Very quick and accurate if done carefully.

Numbered teeth can help locate which teeth line up where but in reality, if your teeth are randomly shaped and with a bit of thought, it's not hard to put the joggle stick in the right place.

Richard

[coogzilla]

Thank's Richard. I kinda get it. The "teeth" part has me confused.
Diagrams for a bozo like me would help a lot. Keith

[Daddles]

Sheesh, give a bloke a chance to take some photos

Here ya go

Richard