Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - metric someday??

Does anyone know if all nuts and bolts ect. will be all metric someday? thanks for replies

Thirdeep,

I doubt we'll ever go totally metric. My first M-cycle(68) led me to buy some metric sockets. Heck, way back then they said we'd be totally metric in the near future. We'll, that has certainly passed.
Most of the mid to larger Craftsman toolsets include some metric, but you see what still dominates.

fred

There was an industrial agenda in the 60s to move to metric. No way was the consensus, to much money (cost). Now that we are more in a global environment than ever and it still has not been adopted - it will never happen. Companies will continue to produce their metric/english counterparts to their respective markets.

Canada has been metric since 1980.
It is a good system and easy to understand.
The problem that Canada has, is that when metrication was introduced, our government did not put strong enough teeth into the laws surounding its implementation.
As could be expected there was considerable opposition. A gas station in Quebec took exception to the law and took it to our Supreme court and won. That effectively cancelled the law, but by the time the court cases were completed merchants had already converted their measuring devices.
We now have a real dog's breakfast of measurements.

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/internat.htm

If your govrnment does ever go with it, I hope they will have solid legislation to back it up.

Greg,
I understand Canada went metric in volume, distance, temperature, and maybe weight.

But are they 100% metric in the nuts/bolts area?
I suppose not due to many imports from south of the border.

fred

fewalt:
The automotive industry and off shore imports are the main industries that are metric.
The construction industry is somewhat split on specifications.
I have worked on projects that were spec'd in metric where metric material isn't readily available. An example is dimension lumber which is measured in feet and inches and plywood which is sold in metric thickness but in 4 foot by 8 foot sheets.
Nuts and bolts found in hardware stores are imperial except for a token bin of metrics.
My refrigeration and airconditioning trade is exclusively imperial due to the influence of our good friends to the South. Most people now think in Celcius temperature.
Plumbing fittings and fixtures are also imperial measurement.

The metric system is infinitely better, the only downside is the massiveness of the conversion process.

Thanks for all the info Greg.

fred