Where in the world is the imperial system used!

[Philip Sharp]

I live in Australia. I recently purchased a Kreg K4 Jig from our local Australian supplier and was looking forward to using it. On opening the packaging I've discovered that all measurements are in inches. Australia has not officially used this imperial system since 1976. I was bewildered to learn that no metric product is available. My dilemma Is that i use and struggle with this old and ancient system or not use the machine at all.

I am extremely disappointed that although most of the world uses the metric system only a single imperial system based tool exists.

[Donald Arthur Hallam]

Don Hallam (Canada) on  December 13, 2015 at 12:12pm

We have fun here, some articles in Imp. and some in metric. I purchase a 1970 Chev Station Wagon and needed a trailer hitch. Found that some bolts are Imp. and some metric. They said in the manual that the black were Imp. and metric were blue. I ran into one problem. Once you get it undercoated, all bolts are black. It made things very interesting. I also tried buying a sheet of plywood at a Home Depot  Store in Canada, the was shown as 1/2 " x 4' x 8'  but infact was

12 mm not 1/2". I had fun arguing with the store manager re:material designation. Lost out in frustration. Have to have two sets of sockets and wrenches etc. to be able to do any work or repairs. At least the U.S. is finally recognizing our Robertson Screws which were on bed room set of my Mother and  Dad from 1930. I do not use a measuring tape with metric on it, I guess I am old  fashion. Hope you found this interesting.

[Philip Sharp]

Using that logic I guess we should have 5280 commandments not 10! Perhaps humans will evolve into having 12 fingers and toes in the future, maybe some countries are working towards that, so the system of measurement (which uses 12, 14, 16, 22, 1760 2240, 5280 etc etc and inches, feet, yards, miles, pints, gallons, etc etc instead of 10 based measures and descriptors eg millimetre, centimetre, kilometre) becomes simpler to use!! I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Ken Darga]

If God wanted up to adopt the metric system, he would have had 10 apostles.

[Arnie Westfall]

Those were two of the things (lies) we were told as children... the "paperless society" and conversion to the metric system. I'm still waiting. Why in the US we haven't changed to a logical, easily understood system is beyond me. I'm 65 now and still waiting. Probably about the same time as we drop the penny from circulation...

[Robert Brennan]

Hello again Philip,

I can only agree with your sentiments, just out of interest where did you buy the Jig?

Incidently Kreg must be aware of the metric imperial concerns as the Kreg Square has both systems on each side of the blade. Its a attitude dating back to henry Ford.s days  with his "you can have any colour (color) you want as long as its black !!"

[Philip Sharp]

Hi Robert, I don't think size is important. We don't have left hand drive cars nor many other products where the owners are too lazy to adapt their goods and improve their service!

[Robert Brennan]

Philip, you can do what I did, got a black texta and remarked all the boxes with metric mm ranges on them all. Hey its from the USA so what did you expect !! do not be surprised if the threads are the USA's own as well, and not imperial.

In closing when you are as big as they are they can do what they want even their gallons are different, but hey guess what US gallons will fit in our tanks too!! but dont let on!! 

Otherwise enjoy your jig and refresh your imperial cross referencing skills!!

cm and mm can somebody please make up their mind and stick with a prefered system!

Have fun!