???

[House of Mustard]

Here's the other problem with the metric system: a foot is such a good length.  Most things aren't a meter long, so when you estimate distance you have to use fractions -- you have to say "about a third of a meter" or "about three decimeters".  The length of a foot is so much more practical.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

because, as you know, 6 foot, 1 inch is easier to say than 1.85 meters.

[House of Mustard]

Speaking of measurement, I work in the lumber industry, and there is nothing screwier than lumber.

Of course, we all know that a 2x4 is not actually 2" by 4".  It's 1-1/2" by 3-1/2".  And almost all wood products work like that.  

But here's the most irritating:  Plywood is measured by 1/4": 2/4", 3/4", 4/4", and 5/4".  Why don't they just say 1/2", 3/4", 1" and 1-1/4"?  I have no idea.  But the craziest part is: 4/4" is actually 3/4", and 5/4" is actually 1".  

I think that this is why contractors charge so much -- because they know that if you tried to build your own house you'd measure everything wrong, and screw it all up.  It's a secret combination -- you have to know the measurement codewords.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

there's nothing to say about that but WTF?!

[42]

yes there is a conspiracy among contractors.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

yes

[Peter Ahlstrom]

so 3/4" = 4/4" ?

[Gemm: Rock & Roll Star; Born to Rock]

No, 4/4" is 3/4". Jeeze, can't you read. =P

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

unless we're talking rock and roll.

[JP Dogberry]

Gee, I use metric and have never described something as a fraction of a metre in my life, except for maybe "Almost a metre". Maybe you yanks are just screwy enough to build everything at awkward sizes.

[House of Mustard]

That's because, here in America, our manufacturing tools are not limited to rocks and clubs.  We're able to be pretty precise, and build things smaller than a meter.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

/me awards the point for that round to HoM

[Peter Ahlstrom]

Plywood is measured by 1/4": 2/4", 3/4", 4/4", and 5/4". . . . But the craziest part is: 4/4" is actually 3/4"

So 3/4" plywood and 4/4" plywood are the same thing? Unless 3/4" = 2/4", 2/4" = 1/4", and 1/4" = 0/4", which doesn't seem possible

[House of Mustard]

Sorry... I get confused talking about this and I work with the stuff every day.

Stuff called 4/4" is actually (if checked it with a ruler) 3/4".

I added in 1/4" when I shouldn't have -- We don't sell any plywood that is called 1/4" plywood.  Instead, we sell 2/4" plywood, which is actually measured at 1/4", and everybody calls it 1/4" (but technically it's called 2/4").  There's the confusion.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

I want some 0/4" plywood. That'd rock