Metric or Imperial; that is the question...

sonflowerinwales · Jun 15, 2022

Hi there Covers

(Caveat: I know a large number on here are from America and use Imperial units, but this post is for discussion as applicable in Europe)

It's a long time since I have written, but this one is painful. Here in the UK our illustrious Government is discussing reverting from the Metric System of measurement to Imperial units. Why, because it will restore "Britishness"!

We have converted from Imperial to Metric over many, many years and there is a whole generation that does not know or understand, pounds and ounces, gallons, inches, fractions of inches etc.

Being a member of the OFC, I have dealt with, and used, the imperial system. When I was at school, metric was enforced, so why step back 50 years?

There is a consultation document at Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales.
Please have a look and if you want, complete it.

Having completed it, this Government questionnaire is bias towards Imperial, with it being written so it is difficult to object.

It goes back to an old adage, "if it's not broken, don't try to fix it".

I for one will object at the highest level to block this change.

What do my fellow Covers think?

Have a nice day
Paul

chris1price · Jun 15, 2022

I can remember when engineers converted from imperial to metric, many mistakes were made 25.0 or 24.5mm per inch. I can imaging similar issues occurring should our illustrious leader's idea go forward.

Scanton · Jun 15, 2022

Our CNC machines have their adjustments made in µm and do not as far as I am aware have the facility to input in µin.

Some of our customers are from the us and I have to convert their component drawings from imperial into metric so that they can be used on the shop floor at the machines. This sounds like a huge step backwards to me and would trigger all kinds of completely unnecessary problems.

I know have have mentioned it before "We do what we do to keep the F@#k up fairies at bay", well this would give them an open invitation.

Mikey324 · Jun 15, 2022

I am an American. I would protest to the highest levels that we accept metric. I grew up learning about inches, feet, miles, gallon, quarts, etc. There was some metric education, but nothing around me to apply it to. So basically, a few things stuck, most didn't.
Then I got a job. Nothing was done in imperial measure. Nothing. So I had to re-learn and re-remember. Honestly, it didn't take long at all. Why?? Metric is soooo much easier. Its all I use at work. Its all I use at home. When replaced my flooring, I measured in metric. So needless to say the gentleman at the flooring store had no idea what I wanted when he got measurements in cm.... Time to convert

I have all the conversions memorized not, and i have handy spreadsheet calculators for almost everything. Any place wanting to convert back to imperial should look at it long and hard in my opinion.

Mikey324 · Jun 15, 2022

sonflowerinwales said:
It goes back to an old adage, "if it's not broken, don't try to fix it".

And to use it properly, one in the US would say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" :thanx:

Scanton · Jun 17, 2022

I told one of the local owners of a similar company to ours what the government was proposing and he said:

"That would be ridiculous, metric is ingrained in schools and manufacturers, it would costly and pointless"

I could't agree more.

John Broomfield · Jun 17, 2022

sonflowerinwales said:
Hi there Covers

(Caveat: I know a large number on here are from America and use Imperial units, but this post is for discussion as applicable in Europe)

It's a long time since I have written, but this one is painful. Here in the UK our illustrious Government is discussing reverting from the Metric System of measurement to Imperial units. Why, because it will restore "Britishness"!

We have converted from Imperial to Metric over many, many years and there is a whole generation that does not know or understand, pounds and ounces, gallons, inches, fractions of inches etc.

Being a member of the OFC, I have dealt with, and used, the imperial system. When I was at school, metric was enforced, so why step back 50 years?

There is a consultation document at Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales.
Please have a look and if you want, complete it.

Having completed it, this Government questionnaire is bias towards Imperial, with it being written so it is difficult to object.

It goes back to an old adage, "if it's not broken, don't try to fix it".

I for one will object at the highest level to block this change.

What do my fellow Covers think?

Have a nice day
Paul

Paul,

As a British American I agree with you. The UK officially reverting to imperial units of measurement is a ridiculous notion.

It is all part of the Brexit funk and will probable settle down to keeping pints of beer (proper 20oz pints not the lightweight 16oz pints) and MPH (and miles per gallon).

BTW, in 1975 President Ford signed the Metric Conversion Act, which unlike the EU, is completely voluntary.

Best wishes,

John

Metric or Imperial; that is the question...

sonflowerinwales

In the country

chris1price

Scanton

Quite Involved in Discussions

Mikey324

Quite Involved in Discussions

Mikey324

Quite Involved in Discussions

Scanton

Quite Involved in Discussions

John Broomfield

Similar threads