Will 2020 be the year?

[Rich Engelhardt]

That the US heads towards the metric system?

W/Ford switching over to an almost all truck lineup, that takes a huge chunk of the market off the table.

As it is now, most manufacturing is done overseas where metric is the standard.

What little manufacturing we have left here, really needs to be metric to compete in the export market.

For the record - I don't care one way or the other - since my favorite bar and grill - where I get my every other Tuesday night hot wing and 32 ounce beer - could easily switch to a liter instead of a quart

[Keith Outten]

IMO it might happen in 2040 but not any sooner, got to get the Baby Boomers well into retirement. We discussed this at length several months ago and I doubt that anything Ford does will have any impact on this issue. Its the machine shops that are the big player, Ford is insignificant.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

I don't know Keith, might need to get us gen x guys into retirement too. I can see a hybrid approach already for the stuff I work with, only using metric bolt sizes that also work with a common SAE wrench for example. Pick and choose metric "standard" sizes that way, and the customer barely notices I guess. I'm still anti metric, except when laying out tile.

[Mike Null]

In my view, it's the building trades that are the big Magilla. They ain't going to change.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

In my view, it's the building trades that are the big Magilla. They ain't going to change.

I definitely agree with that. Imagine explaining to your framing crew that instead of 16"oc, the wall is to be 40.6 cm oc. Oh, make sure that the 6 mm is used, otherwise that 4x8 sheet of osb won't fit. No sane person would screw with that system.

[Bill Dufour]

I definitely agree with that. Imagine explaining to your framing crew that instead of 16"oc, the wall is to be 40.6 cm oc. Oh, make sure that the 6 mm is used, otherwise that 4x8 sheet of osb won't fit. No sane person would screw with that system.

But plywood is all metric now. and 2x lumber has been small since the 1950's. I think it is interesting that building codes have not been modified to reflect the metric changes. The plywood for shear walls is actually a mm or so less then required but no one cares. Of course this is similar to using the old span tables that were designed for old growth lumber. But the east and west coast have dis-allowed clipped head nails and I am sure the middle of the country will do the same.
Bill D.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

But plywood is all metric now. and 2x lumber has been small since the 1950's. I think it is interesting that building codes have not been modified to reflect the metric changes. The plywood for shear walls is actually a mm or so less then required but no one cares. Of course this is similar to using the old span tables that were designed for old growth lumber. But the east and west coast have dis-allowed clipped head nails and I am sure the middle of the country will do the same.
Bill D.

Bill, I agree, the trades have lots of little goofinesses to deal with, and that's my point. A framer knows how to space studs to fit the standard size products as they exist now. He knows that 3/4 ply is actually a little less, and that a 2x6 is actually not. It's a system that has warts, but works. Throw in a whole new level of craziness by changing the units of measure, and see what happens. Shoot, I make my guys use story sticks as much as possible just to avoid some of the measuring screwups with a measuring system they "understand" already.

George illustrated the problem well when he said "40 cm". This actually has nothing to do with the metric system, it's actually about the industry standards. As the engineers, manufactures, and trades develop and incorporate product into the standard, it doesn't just happen. It's a process that works for each level. If one of those levels finds the product decreases the profit margin, it won't get used. I use Schluter products often, I can buy Kerdi board in several sheet sizes. I lay out tile in metric because it's easier math usually, but I buy the larger 4x8 sheets because they fit the room better and have less waste. Schluter makes the product in Canada, but the sheets raw sizes match building standards (4x8). If they didn't, I wouldn't use it.

[Jim Becker]

I actually prefer buying the 4x8 sheets that are 49x97.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I actually prefer buying the 4x8 sheets that are 49x97.

I take it you mean inches and not mm?

[Jerome Stanek]

When I was installing CVS pharmacys we would get some fixture from a Canadian company and their peg board was just a little wider then the Lozier fixture I had to leave almost 1/16 inch for each section It would throw off the other installers as it would not fit when they stated from the wrong end. This was a big problem as those installers were not really carpenters but just a bunch of women and a few flunky guys that were not trained very well. They person that trained them always had them start at the open end and work into a corner. and they never really leveled the fixture and wondered why the shelves wouldn't go in.

[Jim Becker]

I take it you mean inches and not mm?

Yea....it was just a reference to "nominal sizing" that had just come up relative to materials. I really do like the extra inch, of course, it's not generally applicable to building materials. Only the "good stuff". I do most of my actual measuring in metric at this point, however.

[Rich Engelhardt]

I actually prefer buying the 4x8 sheets that are 49x97.

On one hand I like that also - but - on the other hand I don't.
I have two 55" tracks for my track saw & one 42" track.
The single 42" is no good for either 48" or 49", but, a single 55" and the 42" can just fit on a 48"x96" sheet & be usable - it takes a bit of manipulating - but - I've done it several times.
No way no how can those two be used together on a 97" sheet.

In case anyone asks or wonders - - I use the 42" & 55" instead of the two 55" sections because they mate together perfectly. The two 55" don't product a "perfect" cut.

I thought it was significant in 1974 when they started selling gasoline in liters. Obviously I was wrong.

I think that was more a failed PR stunt than anything else. That's back when OPEC started to turn the screws on us and people were mad about the price of gas per gallon. Putting up a price per liter instead gave the false impression that gas was cheaper. It failed in a spectacular manner, IIRC.

Anyone else but me sick and tired of metric conversion discussions? Seriously, probably the biggest waste of time you can think of as far as I'm concerned. LOL

Yeah,,,well,,sort of it is - I tend to agree,,,but,,,recent world events got me thinking about it. It looks like a couple of new players are going to be making a splash in the manufacturing world & both will be metric.

[Larry Edgerton]

I actually prefer buying the 4x8 sheets that are 49x97.

You wouldn't if you were sheeting a roof.

[Jim Becker]

You wouldn't if you were sheeting a roof.

Oh, no disagreement there. The building industry will face a challenge on this for sure. But for "in-shop"...I'm all for the extra inch. My CNC actually wants that for the spoilboard, for example.

[Rich Engelhardt]

I'm curious Rich, who?

Vietnam and possibly Korea.
Just pure speculation on my part - so - IMHO applies.