metric tool idiocy

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  • LCHIEN
    Internet Fact Checker
    • Dec 2002
    • 20914
    • Katy, TX, USA.
    • BT3000 vintage 1999

    metric tool idiocy

    noted today in tooliday



    So this is a metric adjustable wrench?
    Why is it listed as 6 inches then, rather than as a 15 cm wrench?
    And how is a continuously adjustable wrench suited for metric nuts but not SAE or imperial inch-based fractional nuts? Won't it fit either?
    Shouldn't they have called it a universal SAE/metric adjustable wrench (sounds much better to me) --they'd sell twice as many.

    such metric silliness.
    If we're not already importing them maybe we should export them!
    Last edited by LCHIEN; 12-08-2012, 11:34 PM.
    Loring in Katy, TX USA
    If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
    BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions
  • TB Roye
    Veteran Member
    • Jan 2004
    • 2969
    • Sacramento, CA, USA.
    • BT3100

    #2
    The discription was probably written by some one at Irwin who has no clue about wrench's and no clue about SAE or Metric size nuts. and bolts.


    Tom

    Comment

    • LinuxRandal
      Veteran Member
      • Feb 2005
      • 4889
      • Independence, MO, USA.
      • bt3100

      #3
      Probably bad type. Typically, these are marked metric on one side and SAE on the other. Looking at Amazon, there are others that appear to use metric only markings by the opening (allows one to see the size of the nut for getting a replacement).
      She couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod, and the bathroom. We had to go back for her.........................Twice.

      Comment

      • cabinetman
        Gone but not Forgotten RIP
        • Jun 2006
        • 15218
        • So. Florida
        • Delta

        #4
        Originally posted by LinuxRandal
        Probably bad type. Typically, these are marked metric on one side and SAE on the other. Looking at Amazon, there are others that appear to use metric only markings by the opening (allows one to see the size of the nut for getting a replacement).
        Now, that makes sense. Sorta like a redneck caliper.

        .

        Comment

        • woodturner
          Veteran Member
          • Jun 2008
          • 2047
          • Western Pennsylvania
          • General, Sears 21829, BT3100

          #5
          Originally posted by LCHIEN
          noted today in tooliday


          So this is a metric adjustable wrench?
          Why is it listed as 6 inches then, rather than as a 15 cm wrench?
          And how is a continuously adjustable wrench suited for metric nuts but not SAE or imperial inch-based fractional nuts?
          The difference is that this wrench has a scale that is calibrated in mm, so you can measure the size of the opening and therefore the fastener head. It will work on either, of course, but the measurements are in mm.

          I assumed they used the 6" designation because people in the US have an intuitive sense of inch measurements but not really metric. Calling it a 150 mm wrench (or 15 cm or 1.5 dm) would confuse most people and they would have to convert it to English in their head (and their inability to do that is a discussion for another thread).
          --------------------------------------------------
          Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by night

          Comment

          • Daryl
            Senior Member
            • May 2004
            • 831
            • .

            #6
            Originally posted by woodturner
            The difference is that this wrench has a scale that is calibrated in mm, so you can measure the size of the opening and therefore the fastener head. It will work on either, of course, but the measurements are in mm.

            I assumed they used the 6" designation because people in the US have an intuitive sense of inch measurements but not really metric. Calling it a 150 mm wrench (or 15 cm or 1.5 dm) would confuse most people and they would have to convert it to English in their head (and their inability to do that is a discussion for another thread).
            Blowing up the picture, I see the scale is in sixteenths.
            Sometimes the old man passed out and left the am radio on so I got to hear the oldie songs and current event kind of things

            Comment

            • Tom Slick
              Veteran Member
              • May 2005
              • 2913
              • Paso Robles, Calif, USA.
              • sears BT3 clone

              #7
              Back when I was a mechanic in the USAF I'd tell the newbies that the "Metric" and "Inch" markings indicated which side had to be facing out when you used it. Everything we worked on was "Inch" so "You'll strip the fitting if you use the wrench with the "Metric" side facing you. It worked on a few guys but it always got a good laugh.
              Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison

              Comment

              • Brian G
                Senior Member
                • Jun 2003
                • 993
                • Bloomington, Minnesota.
                • G0899

                #8
                Irwin's website doesn't confuse the two.

                Adjustable Wrench

                I'm passing responsibility to Tooliday for the description.
                Brian

                Comment

                • sweensdv
                  Veteran Member
                  • Dec 2002
                  • 2862
                  • WI
                  • Baileigh TS-1040P-50

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Tom Slick
                  Back when I was a mechanic in the USAF I'd tell the newbies that the "Metric" and "Inch" markings indicated which side had to be facing out when you used it. Everything we worked on was "Inch" so "You'll strip the fitting if you use the wrench with the "Metric" side facing you. It worked on a few guys but it always got a good laugh.
                  Did you ever send any of them over to Supply to pick-up a few hundred feet of Flight Line?
                  _________________________
                  "Have a Great Day, unless you've made other plans"

                  Comment

                  • woodturner
                    Veteran Member
                    • Jun 2008
                    • 2047
                    • Western Pennsylvania
                    • General, Sears 21829, BT3100

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Daryl
                    Blowing up the picture, I see the scale is in sixteenths.
                    Yeah, looks like they used the wrong photo as well.
                    --------------------------------------------------
                    Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by night

                    Comment

                    • Tom Slick
                      Veteran Member
                      • May 2005
                      • 2913
                      • Paso Robles, Calif, USA.
                      • sears BT3 clone

                      #11
                      Originally posted by sweensdv
                      Did you ever send any of them over to Supply to pick-up a few hundred feet of Flight Line?
                      Flight Line and a bucket of K9-P. Also they'd need to get some Prop-Wash
                      Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison

                      Comment

                      • durango dude
                        Senior Member
                        • Mar 2011
                        • 934
                        • a thousand or so feet above insanity
                        • 50s vintage Craftsman Contractor Saw

                        #12
                        Sears has them, too!

                        Comment

                        • cabinetman
                          Gone but not Forgotten RIP
                          • Jun 2006
                          • 15218
                          • So. Florida
                          • Delta

                          #13
                          I thought I saw a special sale on metric bubble levels.

                          .

                          Comment

                          • durango dude
                            Senior Member
                            • Mar 2011
                            • 934
                            • a thousand or so feet above insanity
                            • 50s vintage Craftsman Contractor Saw

                            #14
                            Found out my neighbor bought the combo set ----- one of the wrenches is metric, the other is standard.

                            Comment

                            • eezlock
                              Senior Member
                              • Feb 2006
                              • 997
                              • Charlotte,N.C.
                              • BT3100

                              #15
                              metric tool idiocy

                              I guess that the next or "updated version " will come out as either a right or
                              left handed version ? what do you think?

                              Comment

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