Why won't we (US) ever just go to metric fasteners? I'm sure that there are minor technical differences, but I don't think that any are earth shaking.

When I was young ( a while back )-- US vehicles went to some metric -- and,as far as I can tell,it's still that way. Gas powered equipment also seems to have a mix. And, of course, stuff for home construction is generally all SAE
(Threaded rod, carriage bolts, whatever)

I'm just looking for opinions here. There's nothing "right" or "wrong" about either system of measurement, but we seem to be hanging on to the old units for no really good reason.

ford2go

 

tradition, one of the worst reasons to keep doing something.

 

Seems to me that metric threads pile up easier than SAE threads.

 

If there's two systems, they can sell you two sets of tools instead of one.

 

I was just involved in a similar discussion on another forum.
The U.S. congress adopted the metric system in 1866, and passed the metric conversion act in 1975. I was in high school, and excited to 'get with the program'.
I asked then why we held on to a system based on some long dead "ruler's" anatomy; inches, hands, feet ect..
We (in the US) are in the elite company of three other technological powerhouses: Liberia, Burma & Papaua New Ginuea.

Talk about arcane measurements. What about horsepower?
"The force required to lift 550 lbs one foot in one second, = to 33,000 foot pounds".
I think of it as 746 watts ( a little less really, but good for estimating electric motors)

I assume it has a lot to do w/ the fact that most machine tools (here) have lead screws and change gears calibrated in threads per inch, and dials in mil's (thousandths)

Why do sparkplugs have a 14mm thread and fractional hex's?? Now that's confusing!

One nice thing about two systems is that you can usually retap a stripped hole w/o having to revert a helicoil; 6mm to 1/4, 8mm to 3/8, 12mm to 1/2.... In non critical applications of course.

 

And abandoning tradition is one of the best ways to destroy something.

 

That's why I use a metric crescent wrench, which also works on SAE nuts and bolts.

Metric pliers also work well on both.

 

really? explain that one. doing something just because of tradition when there is a much better way is what destroys and hampers progress of things.

you do tradition because you like it and works, not just because it is the way things have always been done.

 

I was gonna say that!

 

Not gonna get into anarguement with ya but MY OPINION is that tradition has a place in, for example, this country. And this country was built on the standard or English system of measuring and changing it simply because the rest of the world has changed to SI (Système International) is ludicrous. I feel the same way about the English language being the standard in this country but that is another thread.....

There have been many attempts to convert this country to SI and the main reason it hasn't changed has been the expense of the conversion with no benefit other than convenience. Like you said, the method we have works and people like it - reason enough to keep it.

 

You'll have to explain how a metric nut and bolt holds something together in "a much better way" than an imperial nut and bolt.

 

The lack of standardizing on metric has cost US companies money many times over. Its stupid not to use metric --- despite what xenophobic detractors say. The US government tried to help with the switch because it would help the US economically. For instance, there have been many cases where US goods are turned away at customs for using a power code that is a yard long rather than a meter long. Convenience isn't the main benefit... lowered costs and better trade is.

Don't expect it change any time soon... you can't convince people in a country where many ignorant people still think the earth was literally created in 7 days.

 

And most don't know it but there is a japanese(jis) phillips head that has different angle than a regular phillips!! Why? Most big motor(diesel) are rated in kilowatt.
For horsepower to figure it is a simple. figure the hp rating by multiplying
torque by rpm and then divide that by 5252(engineering constant)

 

Thank god there isn't metric glue.

 

> where many ignorant people still think the earth was literally created in 7 days

Maybe you could explain it to them using a metric calendar?