I'm working in Metric for the first time (love not having fractions) and was wondering if anyone has a good visualization graphic to help me better conceptualize the scale. Its all a bit new to me at the moment. Something that shows everyday objects with metric and possible imperial dimensions would be very helpful.
Thanks for any help!
atelier nobody
Feb 10, 21 3:14 pm
Just remember that an inch is 25.4 mm and a meter is 39.37".
tduds
Feb 10, 21 3:29 pm
Probably not useful at architectural scales but one fun trick is that you can convert miles to kilometers (approximately) using the Fibonacci sequence.
Almosthip
Feb 10, 21 5:47 pm
In Canada they gave us students wooden rulers with metric and imperial measurements. Find one of those
JLC-1
Feb 10, 21 5:51 pm
.
Almosthip
Feb 10, 21 6:22 pm
Ya one of these!!
Non Sequitur
Feb 10, 21 9:03 pm
.
Non Sequitur
Feb 10, 21 6:08 pm
welcome to the 1970s. Use math and powers of ten.
SneakyPete
Feb 10, 21 6:12 pm
A meter is (not) 3'-0".
bowling_ball
Feb 10, 21 6:33 pm
Wait, what?
SneakyPete
Feb 10, 21 7:33 pm
While not 3'-0", it's close enough for someone who doesn't need precision to use as a visual translation.
(This opinion is not shared by Non Sequitur)
Non Sequitur
Feb 10, 21 8:17 pm
it is not.
atelier nobody
Feb 14, 21 5:09 am
If a meter and a yard are "close enough", then you won't mind me taking 8½% of your paycheck, right?
SneakyPete
Feb 16, 21 3:01 pm
If you're using my current paycheck to get a rough idea of the amount you'll be paying me when it's multiplied by 1,000, sure. I mean FFS, the rule of thumb is LITERALLY a dumb thing, and you're over here litigating Imperial vs. Metric instead of giving the OP a better answer. "Can you give me a way to do this difficult conversion roughly while I get used to it?" "No, just learn it. I did. Never mind I was three at the time, just learn it, otherwise I'll be a smart ass."
bowling_ball
Feb 10, 21 6:38 pm
It's funny. I grew up with both Imperial (at home) and metric (in school). Our (Canadian) rulers still have both. Most of our new projects are metric, but if you're doing any renovations on a building older than about 30 years, then it's Imperial.
Also all of our building materials are in Imperial, but our drawings are metric. Etc.
It took me almost a decade working in an office to start to understand the metric system (in terms of judging scale) and I'm still not comfortable with it, despite 35 years of using it. It takes time I guess.
Non Sequitur
Feb 10, 21 8:16 pm
imperial scales are pure sorcery to me... can't figure out them out without sitting down and writing their metric "equivalent" first. All I know is 1/8" is close enough to 1:100 and 1/4" is 1:50ish. After that, might as well make the rest up.
Wood Guy
Feb 10, 21 9:42 pm
I'm with BB. I got used to metric in engineering school and again when I was doing a lot of Passive House work several years ago. I try to stay in practice about conversions, not just distance but other measurements as well, but IP units just make sense to me. I know they're archaic but they have personality; metric measurements are too sterile--how many mm thick is that window frame? How many mm tall?
Non Sequitur
Feb 10, 21 8:23 pm
1 football field length (USA) = 0.11km
1 football field length (canada) = 0.10km
Brady would still have won regardless.
bowling_ball
Feb 10, 21 10:32 pm
Check your math, son
Non Sequitur
Feb 10, 21 10:41 pm
Right, I had the endzones confused. 120y vs 150y (or 100y vs 110y sans ends)
109,728mm vs 137,160mm
1 NFL = 0.1097km
1CFL = 0.1371km
Serves me right for half-assing a snarky comment.
accountantthe
Feb 10, 21 9:00 pm
Metric Handbook?
caramelhighrise
Feb 10, 21 10:57 pm
I'm sure many of us have counted out ceiling tiles since they're typically 2x2 or 2x4 Freedom Units to help clients picture how big a room might be. A quick google search says they're commonly 600x600mm elsewhere so I'd be curious if there are any tricks up some of all your sleeves besides that.
Non Sequitur
Feb 10, 21 11:10 pm
Hey, freedom units is my thang.
But to your question, if you're counting ceiling tiles to get an idea of a space's overall dimensions... I think you can afford the 10mm potential for error.
caramelhighrise
Feb 10, 21 11:22 pm
As long as the client doesn't pull out a tape measure and compare their brand new building to the room where the meeting took place, I'm okay with that.
caramelhighrise
Feb 10, 21 11:25 pm
Also whoops, I must be too new here still. Maybe I'll try to stake a claim on metric fuck-ton instead?
Wood Guy
Feb 10, 21 11:39 pm
Sometimes potential clients need reassurance that I know what I'm doing, and I have a few party tricks for that. One is that I can estimate IP dimensions very accurately, usually within 10% or less. When they comment about the size of the room we're in, for example, I'll say it's about x by x. Then we measure, and I'm right. Same for inches or yards, up to about 100 yards. I realize now that this sounds like I'm bragging but I just think it's a useful skill. It just takes practice and it shouldn't be something people value, but it never fails to impress.
caramelhighrise
Feb 17, 21 9:56 pm
I've had luck tying cherry stems with my tongue but to each their own.
OneLostArchitect
Feb 11, 21 9:51 pm
as a yankee living north of the border... my first metric job was a nightmare... not only the conversions but understanding the difference between hard and soft metric. also some products are still in imperial (e.g. ceiling grids) so you have to use hard dimensions. then some blocks manufacturers use metric and or imperial block... anyways... just buy yourself a measure master pro calculator on amazon... it will save you lots of headaches at the beginning.
your conscience
Feb 12, 21 4:22 pm
this should help. as an architect your job is to understand scale better than anyone
your conscience
Feb 12, 21 4:28 pm
this one's good too... note we've almost lost the size of the entire army to covid. should have just invaded a country if we're prepared to accept those losses.
bowling_ball
Feb 13, 21 9:40 am
Somebody do the math for me. When I woke up this morning, it felt like -50c with windchill (-38c without).
Yay.
Non Sequitur
Feb 13, 21 11:50 am
It’s too cold for math beyond -40.
atelier nobody
Feb 14, 21 5:17 am
I'm pretty sure the electrons inside the electronic calculators no longer move at that temperature...
randomised
Feb 14, 21 7:41 am
Just think of everything in either gun caliber or amounts of drugs when converting...seems y’all are able to use the metric system when it’s important.
atelier nobody
Feb 16, 21 6:54 am
But, if you think of it in drug units, you'll think there are exactly 28 grams in an ounce. Umm...so I've been told...
randomised
Feb 17, 21 2:33 am
*28.34952g you amateur!
Non Sequitur
Feb 16, 21 7:35 am
Obligatory post.
How to teach metric to m'uricans by our lord and savior: The Oatmeal.
Almosthip
Feb 16, 21 1:32 pm
hahahaha
SneakyPete
Feb 16, 21 3:05 pm
I like how people who live in a country who have no say over their government's choices use it to belittle the people who live in a country who have no say over their government's choices, either. It's like what randomised does with imperialism, but with imperial units instead.
randomised
Feb 16, 21 4:00 pm
You’re not very good at using that ignore function now are you? All I did was make a joke, that people in the States are already using the metric system...had a rough day Pete?
Almosthip
Feb 16, 21 4:01 pm
See that?. it may have flew over your head, but its called a sense of humour. This isn't church....Church is down the street
SneakyPete
Feb 16, 21 4:23 pm
Oh yes. Hilarious.
Almosthip
Feb 16, 21 4:45 pm
Sorry Pete, let me find a copy of the hurt feelings report for you
Hi Everyone,
I'm working in Metric for the first time (love not having fractions) and was wondering if anyone has a good visualization graphic to help me better conceptualize the scale. Its all a bit new to me at the moment. Something that shows everyday objects with metric and possible imperial dimensions would be very helpful.
Thanks for any help!
Just remember that an inch is 25.4 mm and a meter is 39.37".
Probably not useful at architectural scales but one fun trick is that you can convert miles to kilometers (approximately) using the Fibonacci sequence.
In Canada they gave us students wooden rulers with metric and imperial measurements. Find one of those
.
Ya one of these!!
.
welcome to the 1970s. Use math and powers of ten.
A meter is (not) 3'-0".
Wait, what?
While not 3'-0", it's close enough for someone who doesn't need precision to use as a visual translation. (This opinion is not shared by Non Sequitur)
it is not.
If a meter and a yard are "close enough", then you won't mind me taking 8½% of your paycheck, right?
If you're using my current paycheck to get a rough idea of the amount you'll be paying me when it's multiplied by 1,000, sure. I mean FFS, the rule of thumb is LITERALLY a dumb thing, and you're over here litigating Imperial vs. Metric instead of giving the OP a better answer. "Can you give me a way to do this difficult conversion roughly while I get used to it?" "No, just learn it. I did. Never mind I was three at the time, just learn it, otherwise I'll be a smart ass."
It's funny. I grew up with both Imperial (at home) and metric (in school). Our (Canadian) rulers still have both. Most of our new projects are metric, but if you're doing any renovations on a building older than about 30 years, then it's Imperial.
Also all of our building materials are in Imperial, but our drawings are metric. Etc.
It took me almost a decade working in an office to start to understand the metric system (in terms of judging scale) and I'm still not comfortable with it, despite 35 years of using it. It takes time I guess.
imperial scales are pure sorcery to me... can't figure out them out without sitting down and writing their metric "equivalent" first. All I know is 1/8" is close enough to 1:100 and 1/4" is 1:50ish. After that, might as well make the rest up.
I'm with BB. I got used to metric in engineering school and again when I was doing a lot of Passive House work several years ago. I try to stay in practice about conversions, not just distance but other measurements as well, but IP units just make sense to me. I know they're archaic but they have personality; metric measurements are too sterile--how many mm thick is that window frame? How many mm tall?
1 football field length (USA) = 0.11km
1 football field length (canada) = 0.10km
Brady would still have won regardless.
Check your math, son
Right, I had the endzones confused. 120y vs 150y (or 100y vs 110y sans ends)
109,728mm vs 137,160mm
1 NFL = 0.1097km
1CFL = 0.1371km
Serves me right for half-assing a snarky comment.
Metric Handbook?
I'm sure many of us have counted out ceiling tiles since they're typically 2x2 or 2x4 Freedom Units to help clients picture how big a room might be. A quick google search says they're commonly 600x600mm elsewhere so I'd be curious if there are any tricks up some of all your sleeves besides that.
Hey, freedom units is my thang.
But to your question, if you're counting ceiling tiles to get an idea of a space's overall dimensions... I think you can afford the 10mm potential for error.
As long as the client doesn't pull out a tape measure and compare their brand new building to the room where the meeting took place, I'm okay with that.
Also whoops, I must be too new here still. Maybe I'll try to stake a claim on metric fuck-ton instead?
Sometimes potential clients need reassurance that I know what I'm doing, and I have a few party tricks for that. One is that I can estimate IP dimensions very accurately, usually within 10% or less. When they comment about the size of the room we're in, for example, I'll say it's about x by x. Then we measure, and I'm right. Same for inches or yards, up to about 100 yards. I realize now that this sounds like I'm bragging but I just think it's a useful skill. It just takes practice and it shouldn't be something people value, but it never fails to impress.
I've had luck tying cherry stems with my tongue but to each their own.
as a yankee living north of the border... my first metric job was a nightmare... not only the conversions but understanding the difference between hard and soft metric. also some products are still in imperial (e.g. ceiling grids) so you have to use hard dimensions. then some blocks manufacturers use metric and or imperial block... anyways... just buy yourself a measure master pro calculator on amazon... it will save you lots of headaches at the beginning.
this should help. as an architect your job is to understand scale better than anyone
this one's good too... note we've almost lost the size of the entire army to covid. should have just invaded a country if we're prepared to accept those losses.
Somebody do the math for me. When I woke up this morning, it felt like -50c with windchill (-38c without).
Yay.
It’s too cold for math beyond -40.
I'm pretty sure the electrons inside the electronic calculators no longer move at that temperature...
Just think of everything in either gun caliber or amounts of drugs when converting...seems y’all are able to use the metric system when it’s important.
But, if you think of it in drug units, you'll think there are exactly 28 grams in an ounce. Umm...so I've been told...
*28.34952g you amateur!
Obligatory post.
How to teach metric to m'uricans by our lord and savior: The Oatmeal.
hahahaha
I like how people who live in a country who have no say over their government's choices use it to belittle the people who live in a country who have no say over their government's choices, either. It's like what randomised does with imperialism, but with imperial units instead.
You’re not very good at using that ignore function now are you? All I did was make a joke, that people in the States are already using the metric system...had a rough day Pete?
See that?. it may have flew over your head, but its called a sense of humour. This isn't church....Church is down the street
Oh yes. Hilarious.
Sorry Pete, let me find a copy of the hurt feelings report for you
My feelings are not injured in any way.