View Poll Results: Which is better SAE OR METRIC bolts?
Voters: 90. You may not vote on this poll
Sae Or Metric?
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: State of Misery (Missouri
Originally Posted by MBDiagMan
For the scientist or engineer the CALCULATION of various things is easier with the Metric system but other than that, the English system is easier to deal with for the reasons given in the last several posts.
Have a great day,
Doc
Have a great day,
Doc
LOL>
Is that so? So why do we have some scientists working in metric and others in SAE? Think of things like the failed mission to Mars (forgot to convert from one to the other) and times when they have built things (PBS show with the DaVinci crossbow).
Today, no matter what we think of it, we need both sets of tools, I just get tired of explaining how to spot the difference on the heads of bolts, to people.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Canada
CheapRanger. That's a good point, any time more than one way of doing something is possible, there can be confusion and disaster - take automotive electrical connectors or languages for example.... The failed Mars mission was most unfortunate but with all the possiblities to screw up such a project, its amazing to me that 'Rocket Science' ever works!
One of the changes Britain & Canada went through long ago was the change from the old money system to the decimal one we have now. The old system of Pounds(Quid), Shillings(Bob) and Pence was fun, while the new system is dead boring....
Of course, after a few beers and a good night's sleep, annoying differences in any measurement system can be seen as amusing.
One of the changes Britain & Canada went through long ago was the change from the old money system to the decimal one we have now. The old system of Pounds(Quid), Shillings(Bob) and Pence was fun, while the new system is dead boring....
Of course, after a few beers and a good night's sleep, annoying differences in any measurement system can be seen as amusing.
New User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: branson mo
i voted metric because of the ease of less wrenches in my cart and ease of eyeballing the size..nothing i hate worse than a late 80's s10 blazer rolling in for head job because they mixed both together on it
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 298
Likes: 3
Funny thing, just as many wrenches for either size, maybe more if you go 1mm at a time.
From 1/2 to 3/4 there 5 sizes from 12 to 19 mm there are 8 sizes? That's more guys.
By the way I can't seem to look at the bolt head and figure the metric size any quicker.
Again, more sizes closer together, a 12 looks alot more like a 13 than a 1/2 does 9/16.
That number on the head has nothng to do with the size now does it?
From 1/2 to 3/4 there 5 sizes from 12 to 19 mm there are 8 sizes? That's more guys.
By the way I can't seem to look at the bolt head and figure the metric size any quicker.
Again, more sizes closer together, a 12 looks alot more like a 13 than a 1/2 does 9/16.
That number on the head has nothng to do with the size now does it?
New User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: branson mo
i meant what i said because if i get a late model gm in to work on..there is usually only 8 -10 -13-15-or18mm and a import is usually 8-10-12-14-and 17mm it just for some reason after all these years working on them everyday i prefer metric to sae..it just seems more simple to me..i work on older cars too and like the starter wires looks confusing because you think its 5/16 and sometimes more than often a 11/32
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 575
Likes: 1
I think for bolts metric all the way, because it is just easier. Now, what I think would be neat is if they could make bolts that are metric head with SAE threads and everything, so you could swap em out. Reason: make things easier to work on. As far as measurement (which wasn't part of the topic), i like SAE because I know it, but from what I have observed with metric, it is easier. They just need to incorporate something that has a length value close to the foot (I think its the dekameter), and I might switch... maybe.
I don't really care which one! Just wish they would pick one and stick with it!
"Mifflin Clay"
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,177
Likes: 4
From: Mifflin, PA
Originally Posted by RotGrubestier44
I think for bolts metric all the way, because it is just easier. Now, what I think would be neat is if they could make bolts that are metric head with SAE threads and everything, so you could swap em out. Reason: make things easier to work on. As far as measurement (which wasn't part of the topic), i like SAE because I know it, but from what I have observed with metric, it is easier. They just need to incorporate something that has a length value close to the foot (I think its the dekameter), and I might switch... maybe.
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,472
Likes: 11
From: Exmore, VA
I voted metric as I have made my living for a number of years turning wrenches, not as much anymore though. I found early that metric is more logical. For years european cars used 8,10,13,17,19 as the most common sizes, The Japanese decided to use 8,10,12,14,17,19. When the American manufacturers started to go metric they threw a bunch of real oddball sizes into the mix, 15,16,18 At the time I bought my 78, yes 1978, Oldsmobile, no normal metric set had these in it. You could get around the 16 with a 5/8" wrench (5/8" = 15.88mm) but the 15 and 18 you were just plain out of luck. And, yes I have worked on many British cars, I have 3 sets of wrenches, SAE, British Standard, and metric. I am crew chief on a vintage class MG midget, which is full of BS fasteners. I was somewhat surprised to find that my 86 F350 is about half and half.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 0
From: Racine county, WI
Metric
It's logical and not to mention more universal. I've gotten to the point that I usually measure in metric more then SAE too anymore. It's a nice clean system. I prefer celsius too but I haven't accepted Kilometers yet for some reason. It seems like meters is as far as I like to go.
It's logical and not to mention more universal. I've gotten to the point that I usually measure in metric more then SAE too anymore. It's a nice clean system. I prefer celsius too but I haven't accepted Kilometers yet for some reason. It seems like meters is as far as I like to go.