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

**Daddles** · 9th April 2008, 05:02 PM

And typically, it's been done before

http://woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/...72&postcount=3

In this case, John's stick is slightly different to mine but the principle is still the same. There are other versions, some more complex, some amazingly complex. Some people even SELL these things which is a case of pandering to the overly financed - all you need is a lump of ply, a saw (I used my scroll saw) and a couple of minutes to make one.

Just reading John's description, I'd like to comment that I trace both sides of the stick - it's a bit easier to replace the joggle stick in my experience (having forgotten to do both sides on occasion). The tracings can overlap without drama though you can wind up scratching your nut if you go mad with the overlaps.

Richard

**m2c1Iw** · 9th April 2008, 05:54 PM

Hey Daddles,
Thanks for posting the jogglestick thing mate, you can learn something everyday especially on this forum.

Mike

**Boatmik** · 9th April 2008, 07:09 PM

I know some people - instead of having regular teeth - use a bunch of random shapes instead to make sure that it is always lined up unambiguously.

Mik

**joe greiner** · 9th April 2008, 09:59 PM

If I understand Richard's (Daddles) description correctly, another name for the "pick-up" stick is a "story-board." The objective is to avoid cumulative errors when measuring point-to-point. Lay out the work with all measurements from a common base point. Even better if the plans present measurements that way. The technical nomenclature is "true positioning." The units of measurement are immaterial, but doing conversions on the fly is an invitation to disaster.

Joe

**Check twice!** · 9th April 2008, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by 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?

Your charm is interesting.

He can always order one from Canada, we do have running water, do not live in igloos (political correct = ice house) a mail system that works well.

I like Metric! More accurate and easy to learn.
I was raised under the old system and when we went metric a wise move by our country. It was time to get with the program and join the world.

Through the eyes of John!
Have a great woodworking day

**m2c1Iw** · 9th April 2008, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by joe greiner

If I understand Richard's (Daddles) description correctly, another name for the "pick-up" stick is a "story-board." The objective is to avoid cumulative errors when measuring point-to-point. Lay out the work with all measurements from a common base point. Even better if the plans present measurements that way. The technical nomenclature is "true positioning." The units of measurement are immaterial, but doing conversions on the fly is an invitation to disaster.

Joe

Yep Joe,
I recon thats the exhaustive description, some of us would say it's a bloody good way of copying an irregular shape.

Mike

**coogzilla** · 10th April 2008, 01:37 PM

You guys are doin'g yer best to confuse me further. I got some ply
today. It showed up!! Yippee kai yay

**coogzilla** · 13th April 2008, 11:57 AM

Found one of those "meter" type tape measures. Amazon 7.99$

**Boatmik** · 14th April 2008, 05:28 PM

We can now talk the same language!!!

Good price! I can imagine your smile when you found it at such a good price.

MIK

**coogzilla** · 15th April 2008, 07:49 AM

Aye. But they got me for 8.00$ S&H fees. LOL

Keith

**Boatmik** · 15th April 2008, 02:36 PM

:0

Mik

**coogzilla** · 21st April 2008, 03:13 AM

Well, after two tries I'm the owner of a metric tape measure.LOL

Keith

**Daddles** · 21st April 2008, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by coogzilla

Well, after two tries I'm the owner of a metric tape measure.LOL

Keith

Well done. Have fun with the instruction manual. Just take note, every third number is out of order

(that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

)

Richard

**newspire** · 21st April 2008, 01:07 PM

I've been reading the plans all week and finally purchased the plywood and starting drawing out the sides and deck. I've already run into a small 3mm problem. First my 4x8 is 1 mm short of 8 feet. Second, according to the plans the grids should be 305mm apart. Using 305mm I run out of wood before I run out of grids. 305mm * 8 is 2440mm. However, according to Google 8ft is only 2438.4mm and mine is 1mm shorter still.

So, is Ausy ply 2440mm or what? Unless somebody has a better idea or knows what I did wrong I guess I'll have to shift my grid lines down a bit for the second hull side. Any thoughts?

Andy

**Vernr** · 21st April 2008, 03:40 PM

I would not even worry about it........1mm = (slightly over) 1/64th of an inch!!!!!..............that's barely the thickness of a pencil line!!!!!!!.....and 3mm.....thats about 1/8th of an inch.

If you can get the finished product completed inside those tolerances I will be mightly surprised!!!

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