USA to become metric by 2016

[loodvig]

I've had to buy metric tools. Didn't want to but..................................

[Boomer gone soft]

America has technically been metric since July 1, 1959 when the inch was officially defined as exactly 2.54 cm.......even when saying "inch" we have meant cm for almost 52 years!

I prefer the metric system.....10 is much simpler than 12; 3; 5,280; ect.....;)

It's about time we got over this egocentric American mentality and admitted the metric system is far superior!

[wudwoker51]

Hell I've been hearing about the conversion for 30 yrs. I know it's probably the right thing to do, but for us "OLD FOCKERS" change is not as easy as it is for the younger generation. Just quit talking about it and do it, we will deal with it!

[wudwoker51]

Yeah, it probably will be. :(
I would expect Nothing less from barry.:mad: It's a "World Global" thing.
My AMERICAN tools...Don't work on my AMERICAN made CARS!!!:mad: Fu$kin Metric!!

To me though...an "INCH", will ALWAYS...be an "INCH".
AND...you centimenter, MF'er...can go piss up a Rope.:D

What's a matter Swamp worried that your "better half" will realize that your manhood is only 7.62 centimeters?

[Squizzy]

Yep it it will take a while I still have the old Boys asking for a 5/8ths bolts and 1/2 inch which causes confusion on the ground with new guys lol . Though we still have all our bolts measured off in inches as when they are in their trays in the line truck we write their lengths on the heads its easier to write 17 than 425 etc. on the bolt heads:D

[BigClive]

In the UK we tend to use both imperial and metric measurements on site. Our tape measures have inches on one side and metric on the other. Sometimes inches are easier for a rough measurement, but millimetres are better for an accurate measurement.

[neil macgregor]

in ireland they just guess everything then go to the pub

[lewy]

The metric system has been here a long time & it is what I am use to for temperature & speed when traveling, but when it comes to how much a person weighs or how tall I still use imperial. At work all of our standards come in metric for e.g. spacing between phases is 1500 mm which is almost 5', but we make all of our measurements in imperial, like everyone else our poles come in feet & our bolts are in inches. I think it will be a long time before we are even completely metric, but it is an easier system use

[Highplains Drifter]

I helped on an addition to a 500kva substation in San Diego, it was Iso-Phase(Isolated Phase Bus). Everything was metric even the footer bolts for the columns. So I have used metric up to 48.


I am wondering how a conversion like this will affect road signs since every thing is laid out in miles. And land measurements will they be changed?

For example an acre is 43560 square feet. It is easier to measure with a chain which is 66 feet. So you take the squared chain divided by 10 and you get the acres.

Example 2chains(132') x 5chains(330') = 10 chains(43560 sq ft.)

10/10=1 43560/43560=1

Then a rod is 16.5 ft. 4 rods= 1 chain

Now all road R.O.W. (right of way) is on rural roads ½ chain to 1 chain and on highways 1.5 chains to 3 chains.

I just don’t see this metric conversion happening very quickly and not even in my life time.