Comments on: Tape Measure Secrets #1 http://www.lemurzone.com/rfg/index.php/2008/12/31/tape-measure-secrets-1/ code for your house Sat, 24 Dec 2011 10:42:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: metric conversion table http://www.lemurzone.com/rfg/index.php/2008/12/31/tape-measure-secrets-1/comment-page-1/#comment-913 metric conversion table Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:23:23 +0000 http://www.lemurzone.com/rfg/index.php/2008/12/31/tape-measure-secrets-1/#comment-913 Wow dude, this is really helpful information, much appreciated. Wow dude, this is really helpful information, much appreciated.

]]> By: Kent http://www.lemurzone.com/rfg/index.php/2008/12/31/tape-measure-secrets-1/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Kent Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:50:38 +0000 http://www.lemurzone.com/rfg/index.php/2008/12/31/tape-measure-secrets-1/#comment-117 I gave up on American measurements with tape measures several years ago for my occasional carpentry work, and switched to metric. It's FAR easier to measure and say "165.73" and "166.85" than to code/decode and measure stuff like "65 and 2" and "65 and 5 strong". And if you need to cut it exactly in half? "166.85 divided by 2 is .. half of 16 is 8 .. half of 6 is 3 .. 4 .. 2 and a half equals 83.43." Much easier than "half of 65 is 32 and ... let's see a half in sixteenths would be 8/16ths, and add half of 11/16ths is approximately 5/16s, so 8 + 5 is 13, equals 32 and 13/16ths." Perhaps there's some esoteric reason why metric would not work for professional carpenters, but my dad and I just built a 320 sq. ft screened-in porch this summer using metric. When the project started, he kept trying to use American measurements, but it didn't take long before metric became the dominant tool for the job. It greatly aided in precision, and reduced calculation errors. I gave up on American measurements with tape measures several years ago for my occasional carpentry work, and switched to metric.

It’s FAR easier to measure and say “165.73″ and “166.85″ than to code/decode and measure stuff like “65 and 2″ and “65 and 5 strong”.

And if you need to cut it exactly in half? “166.85 divided by 2 is .. half of 16 is 8 .. half of 6 is 3 .. 4 .. 2 and a half equals 83.43.” Much easier than “half of 65 is 32 and … let’s see a half in sixteenths would be 8/16ths, and add half of 11/16ths is approximately 5/16s, so 8 + 5 is 13, equals 32 and 13/16ths.”

Perhaps there’s some esoteric reason why metric would not work for professional carpenters, but my dad and I just built a 320 sq. ft screened-in porch this summer using metric. When the project started, he kept trying to use American measurements, but it didn’t take long before metric became the dominant tool for the job. It greatly aided in precision, and reduced calculation errors.

]]> By: the head lemur http://www.lemurzone.com/rfg/index.php/2008/12/31/tape-measure-secrets-1/comment-page-1/#comment-116 the head lemur Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:26:43 +0000 http://www.lemurzone.com/rfg/index.php/2008/12/31/tape-measure-secrets-1/#comment-116 Z, Thanks for stopping by and the kind words. Z,
Thanks for stopping by and the kind words.

]]> By: Z http://www.lemurzone.com/rfg/index.php/2008/12/31/tape-measure-secrets-1/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Z Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:21:27 +0000 http://www.lemurzone.com/rfg/index.php/2008/12/31/tape-measure-secrets-1/#comment-115 I don't know where I found your blog, but I wanted to let you know that it's been a great (in my top 5) source for remodeling information, general tips-n-tricks, etc. I'm remodeling my house myself since I can't afford contractors and I'm too g-d picky about stuff to let someone else screw it up. As my dad always says "Might as well try doing it yourself, you can always pay someone to fix it if you can't". This post about tape measures is a prime example of why I really like your writing. Illustrative, demonstrative, useful, concise and clearly written about an extremely simple procedure. Tips'n'Tricks posts completely fascinate me as they're glimpses into the methods that highly skilled/experienced people have devised to make their repetitive tasks faster, easier, better. Anyhow, keep it up, you're doing a wonderful job. If you were only closer to DC, I'd love to work with someone of your skill and intelligence... And if you're ever in DC, beer is on me. I owe you at least that for all the random stuff I've learned from you. Thanks again, Z I don’t know where I found your blog, but I wanted to let you know that it’s been a great (in my top 5) source for remodeling information, general tips-n-tricks, etc. I’m remodeling my house myself since I can’t afford contractors and I’m too g-d picky about stuff to let someone else screw it up. As my dad always says “Might as well try doing it yourself, you can always pay someone to fix it if you can’t”.

This post about tape measures is a prime example of why I really like your writing. Illustrative, demonstrative, useful, concise and clearly written about an extremely simple procedure. Tips’n'Tricks posts completely fascinate me as they’re glimpses into the methods that highly skilled/experienced people have devised to make their repetitive tasks faster, easier, better.

Anyhow, keep it up, you’re doing a wonderful job. If you were only closer to DC, I’d love to work with someone of your skill and intelligence…

And if you’re ever in DC, beer is on me. I owe you at least that for all the random stuff I’ve learned from you.

Thanks again,
Z

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