metric to english conversion

[Gary Derian]

But we CAN'T go metric.  All the football and baseball fields would have to
change.

Gary Derian <gderian at oh.verio.com>

> >what is the correct shade tree english to metric conversion?
> ______________________________________
>
> There are 25.4 millimetres to an inch.  Some of those inch- millimetre
> "equivalent" sizes listed earlier are close, but not exact:
>
> Inch size   closest metric size    exact metric size
> 7/16              11                   11.1125
> 1/2               13                   12.7
> 5/8               16                   15.875
> 7/8               21                   22.225
>
> As you can see, sometimes those "equivalent" sizes are significantly
> off, maybe enough to round off the head of a bolt. If high torque is
> involved, it's probably best to stick with the correct metric or
> english socket.
>
> I grew up outside the US, with the metric system, and I can't believe
> how hard we make life for ourselves here in the USA by sticking to the
> English system, which even the English don't use any more!
>
> -John Carri
>