Date:    Wed, 1 Feb 2006 20:15:39 -0800
From:    Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Metric this, metric that

I do the Imperial version of that all day long Larry. I've been a
Carpenter and Cabinetmaker for almost twenty years now, and that sort of
calculation ie equal spacing for 3, 4, 5 or x design elements is where
feet and inches worka best.

You can use just the feet for a rough approximation, you can use  the
inche= s to get closer and you can use the fractions or the decimals
that they represent to make a perfect spacing. It is the flexibility of
the system that makes it so good to use, and any (I mean ANY!)
knuckle-dragging helper will be able to use it in short order.

I know Larry isn't a carpenter by the brand new apron in his van when
volunteering in Louisiana!

Hands up how many carpenters on the list?  How many prefer metric?
I don't mean to be provocative, I'm just asking.    :-)

Well I'm a builder who is generally involved with the restoration of
old timber buildings (so a lot of carpentry work) when I'm not at my
cushy University job doing research into straw bale building
construction
and earth renders.

In both instances metric is by far my preferred unit of measurement
even thought I am talking to clients in feet and inches and matching old
timber profiles.
I will always measure (twice) and cut using metric measurement. 
I don't to use fractions even tho I am quite at home with them....I can 
easily measure to the nearest 0.5 millimetre and that's more accurate
than 
most old buildings ever were.
...And far more accurate than any straw bale house will ever be...

Even knuckle dragging builder's labourers can converse in both units of
measurement here.

All building work is done using Volkswagens as work vehicles
BTW....(RVC)

Cheers,
Steve O 
NSW Australia