Inheritance Machining patreon

(BONUS) Why I Don't Use Metric (Q&A)

🕑 Added 2023-08-03 14:01:01 +0000 UTC

Comments

Richard Kramer

When I retired from the military and had to find an occupation I decided to build custom rifles. I had no tools other than files and a drill press and I spend bout 10 years teaching myself to use the tools I had to create bespoke custom hunting rifles. I made a decision to stay on the high end so I took a week long class to learn how to use air assisted engraving tools. Then I took a year to teach myself how to design and cut elegant scrollwork and lettering. I now have a complete machine shop for custom gunsmithing, and an engraving studio to build custom hunting rifles from scratch and to create bespoke hunting rifles. From the steel and wood I create works of art for hunters all over the world. …and to think, I started out as a poor dirt and dairyman’s son. Your videos intrigue me because of the detailed work you apply to your projects.

Capt.Frito

Oui, monsieur, diviser par dix ou par deux (-: I personally prefer the Imperial measurements because there's is an implicit sense of scale and proportion. The metric system is equivalent -- they both perform the identical functions albeit using different numerology. And while true that many physics calculations are easier using the metric system (by hand), most of the mathematical tools I have are versatile enough to manage without difficulty or confusion. While the metric system is built on the 10's, one can divide anything by 10's, and I have to take a 1/2 or 1/4 or 16th of something as often as I take a 1/10th, so that part isn't compelling to me. That said, I have a German CNC machine (Datron Neo) and everything is metric. I have heard the same rationale for using slide rules instead of calculators the implicit sense of proportion and scale versus seemingly unconnected numbers on an LCD display. Maybe it's why hand drafting is less error-prone to me, despite doing everyting in SolidWorks (and SolidCAM -- it has one of the few posts for a Datron mill).

Brandon Sander

No worries, we're always here 😁 Yeah that pretty much sums it up. Most of my machine dials/screws are imperial as well so that is an even larger factor I didn't think to mention. The DRO helps, but I don't have that on all machine axes (Z on mill and compound on lathe). Fortunately my lathe came with an internal change gear so I can get the majority of metric threads with the flip of a single lever!

Michael Faragher

Time has gotten away from me; I'm a week late! Thanks for the answers! Given the presence of standards and the ability for people to convert from IPS to MKS it makes sense that the major reason for choosing a measurement system would come down to tooling. Especially for threading on a lathe. That was a huge issue we had.

Brandon Sander

Now you are speaking my language! My past engineering job dealt a lot with both hydraulics, and high pressure chemical metering systems. We were german so we used primarily DIN/Ermeto style fittings; a really neat system honestly. But always had to convert at one end or the other to npt, bspp and jic. But almost never metric. Sounds like for good reason!

Brandon Sander

Sorry about that Ralph! Here's the link to my storefront. The drawing equipment is in here. https://www.amazon.com/shop/inheritancemachining

Danial

Thanks, Erik. I’ve just taken up woodworking with hand tools in my apartment, which is doable with a small work bench I move into place when using it. Going down the machining rabbit hole will have to wait until we have a bit more space, however!

Ralph Marshall

Thanks for answering my question about drafting! I am probably a bit thick, but I can't find the list of stuff on Amazon that you mentioned; a pointer would be great. As for the Machinery's Handbook, somebody donated the 1964 version to me and it's fascinating reading (in small doses).

Erik D. Radzius

For what it’s worth, Danial, I’ve got a workshop very similar to clickspring’s in my spare bedroom and the small machines are surprisingly capable if you respect their limits

Macromage

as someone who works in hydraulics, i can understand why you dont use metric, there are so many options for fittings, but also imperial was the o.g. measurement so we have cylinders come in that are imperial, and we measure in imperial, but if we are fabricating something we measure in metric since customers like metric more, even the american ones, because it is the international standard. i dispise metric fittings because of their ease of galling if you dont install them correctly, jic and uno are so much better, but even bspp and bspt are waves more reliable than metric

Brandon Sander

Thanks, Erik! I genuinely had no idea what Paige was going to ask something about it sounded like it was from you (and I was right 😂). She also has a way of bringing the silly out of me. We always have fun doing stuff together so these Q&A's are just another "date" for us lol I'll probably release some of these on the channel when I need a little break or something. It would be interesting so see how they do on a larger audience

Brandon Sander

I really love hearing that! I've never run a CNC, but I can imagine a lot of the "fun" of it just isn't the same as manual. Good luck on the restoration and thanks a lot of the kind words!

Brandon Sander

Thanks, a lot, Jeff!

Brandon Sander

That idea is far more tempting than I'd like to admit 😂 the fractional metric is the cherry on top

Brandon Sander

If you tell her you'll be able to make/fix things of her's, she'll be all in!

Erik D. Radzius

I can honestly say that I've been looking forward to watching this all day, and it definitely hasn't disappointed. Absolute heartwarming content, and it's so nice seeing you smile throughout the video. I truly think you should upload this to youtube at some point to give the non-patreons an idea of what they get for the money, because as far as I'm concerned, it's worth every cent. P.s - getting a mention in a video has genuinely made my day 😂 I truly hope that was unscripted haha

Danial

Thanks for answering my question. Now I’ve just got to persuade my wife to allow a mini lathe in the apartment 😬

Danial

I’m glad I’m not the only one who enjoys and rewatches those types of videos!

Will Lindberg

Just wanted to say, you've been a huge inspiration for me to get back to my roots and get back into manual machining projects. I have a ton of CNC equipment, but I've personally bought a manual mill and surface grinder for my own shop. I'm refreshing a Harig Super 612 right now and I laugh because I have the same attention to detail you do. Keep up the good work. You'll inspire a whole new generation of people to this field

Jeffrey Spoor

Thanks for entertaining us every few days. I constantly look forward to what is next. Keep them coming!

legendary.jerry@gmail.com

Imperial Units got us to the moon. To really rile them, you should do a video where you only use absurd units of measure. Examples: barleycorn (about 1/3”), Mickey (the smallest detectable movement of a computer mouse—1/200th to 1/300th of an inch, and of course, the bananalength (~7”). And to be helpful, you could translate the measurements to metric, but use fractions instead of those obscene decimals…because it should be common knowledge that 1” = 25 2/5 mm

Brandon Sander

Thanks for the input! At any given moment I could dive in and do something like that so I'm glad there is some interest.

Brandon Sander

Interesting! That's a very familiar voice but never considered myself in the league of that gentleman. Thank a lot!

Rvator

Totally off topic…but your style and voice attributes are reminiscent of Tom Bodett of Motel 6 fame. It’s a good quality! I enjoyed the camera gantry project a lot. Glad you called it out as a favorite.

Drokles21

The mention of the lathe coolant pump made me remember something I have wanted to comment for a while. That being that another side project extravaganza would be nice where you just fix “small” things on all the machines and all in the shop. I know it isn’t something everyone would enjoy but I would like just seeing the small things getting fixed. After all I frequently rewatch the lathe, mill and grinder videos where you restored the machines or levelled them like you did with the lathe. Not sure what about it is so captivating for me but I throughly enjoy them along with the usual projects as well of course.