Author: "Carsten Schanche" <cschanche@...> Time: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:59 pm PST Link
Dang. Was tired yesterday and drilled a hole in 4 UHMW blocks (yes,
cheap stuff luckily) at an edge distance of 13/32 when the drawing
specified 13/16th. Forgot to convert the drawing dim to 26/32 when
using the metal ruler (no 1/16th scale). Got me thinking about
fractions versus decimals. I've been told there are a few cases of
decimals in Van's drawings, can't say I've seen them. Wish there were
more. So much more logical, accurate and unambiguous. And it will
enable me to use my calliper more easily without having to convert via
tables or calculator.
As it happened, I needed 7/16th drift pins at the hardware store
yesterday also. (Fitting the wings.) The clerk took 30 seconds and 2
tries before he was able to figure out for sure if 7/16 was smaller
than 1/4. Kind of had to laugh, made me feel good that I wasn't alone.
(How long did it take you to figure out the right answer?)
My vote is for more more decimals and less fractions! (Before I scew
up more.) :-)
Carsten
Author: "Franz Fux" <franz@...> Time: Tue Feb 24, 2004 6:15 pm PST Link
by the blink of an eye,
Franz
-----Original Message-----
From: Carsten Schanche [mailto:cschanche@w...]
Sent: February 23, 2004 6:59 PM
To: RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [RV7Yahoo] Fractions and decimals
Dang. Was tired yesterday and drilled a hole in 4 UHMW blocks (yes,
cheap stuff luckily) at an edge distance of 13/32 when the drawing
specified 13/16th. Forgot to convert the drawing dim to 26/32 when
using the metal ruler (no 1/16th scale). Got me thinking about
fractions versus decimals. I've been told there are a few cases of
decimals in Van's drawings, can't say I've seen them. Wish there were
more. So much more logical, accurate and unambiguous. And it will
enable me to use my calliper more easily without having to convert via
tables or calculator.
As it happened, I needed 7/16th drift pins at the hardware store
yesterday also. (Fitting the wings.) The clerk took 30 seconds and 2
tries before he was able to figure out for sure if 7/16 was smaller
than 1/4. Kind of had to laugh, made me feel good that I wasn't alone.
(How long did it take you to figure out the right answer?)
My vote is for more more decimals and less fractions! (Before I scew
up more.) :-)
Carsten
Van's Air Force - World Wide Wing
www.vansaircraft.net
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Author: "jimkiloh" <jimkiloh@...> Time: Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:47 pm PST Link
Carsten,
I agree that fractions are not that easy to work with,
Now if everybody would use the metric system it would be so much
easier, no fraction to convert, just plain simpler
IMHO
Jim Kiloh
Houston
Fuselage
--- In RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com, "Carsten Schanche" <cschanche@w...>
wrote:
> Dang. Was tired yesterday and drilled a hole in 4 UHMW blocks (yes,
> cheap stuff luckily) at an edge distance of 13/32 when the drawing
> specified 13/16th. Forgot to convert the drawing dim to 26/32 when
> using the metal ruler (no 1/16th scale). Got me thinking about
> fractions versus decimals. I've been told there are a few cases of
> decimals in Van's drawings, can't say I've seen them. Wish there
were
> more. So much more logical, accurate and unambiguous. And it will
> enable me to use my calliper more easily without having to convert
via
> tables or calculator.
>
> As it happened, I needed 7/16th drift pins at the hardware store
> yesterday also. (Fitting the wings.) The clerk took 30 seconds and 2
> tries before he was able to figure out for sure if 7/16 was smaller
> than 1/4. Kind of had to laugh, made me feel good that I wasn't
alone.
> (How long did it take you to figure out the right answer?)
>
> My vote is for more more decimals and less fractions! (Before I scew
> up more.) :-)
>
> Carsten
Author: "Bruce" <wingtime@...> Time: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:33 am PST Link
Didn't they try that in the late 70's?
LOL
Just kidding with ya.
--- In RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com, "jimkiloh" <jimkiloh@e...> wrote:
> Carsten,
>
> I agree that fractions are not that easy to work with,
> Now if everybody would use the metric system it would be so much
> easier, no fraction to convert, just plain simpler
>
> IMHO
> Jim Kiloh
> Houston
> Fuselage
Author: "pepeborja925mb" <pepeborja925mb@...> Time: Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:42 pm PST Link
<SNIP>The clerk took 30 seconds and 2 tries before he was able to
figure out for sure if 7/16 was smaller
than 1/4. Kind of had to laugh, made me feel good that I wasn't
alone. (How long did it take you to figure out the right answer?)
<SNIP>
I grew up in the metric system and got acquainted with the English
system through Physics classes.
Since English fractions are multiple of 2's, the trick I use is to
multiply one of the fractions by multiples of two and make both of
the fractions even, that way I just compare integer numbers. For
example:
Comparing 1/4 vs. 7/16?
Multiply 1/4 by 4/4 = 4/16.
Now since both figures are fractions of 16's, I can eliminate the
fraction portion (16's) and compare the integers and see that 4 is
less than 7. Piece of cake.
Compare 13/64 vs. 7/32?
Multiply by 7/32 by 2/2 = 14/64
Eliminate the 64 fractions and I can see that 13 is less than 14.
(7/32 is bigger that 13/64)
No need to do conversions, just make the fractions to be equal and
compare the integers on top of the fraction.
Which fraction is bigger 21/64 or 5/16? How about 27/128 or 3/16
Give it a try and see how easy it is.... (Hint ... multiply the
smallest fraction by 4/4 and 8/8 -- 4x16=64 and 8x16=128)
Jose
Author: "Carsten Schanche" <cschanche@...> Time: Thu Feb 26, 2004 6:33 am PST Link
> Didn't they try that in the late 70's?
> LOL
> Just kidding with ya.
In the early 70's Europe was laghing and saying that the US was
creeping towards metric, inch by inch. ;-)
I was setting up to drill the rear spar bolt hole yesterday. Yes, THE
BOLT! Called Van's about the tollerance on the sweep requirement, mine
was 1/8th inch (actually 0.103" ;-) ) forward sweep, Ken at Van's
laughed and said that was excellent and more accurate than most. So
drilled I did! While I had him on the phone we talked a little about
decimal system versus fractions, he said most builders are mechanical
people that work with fractions and are used to them, therefore they
are not at all contemplating changing. So right there is peace of mind
for the fraction camp. This fringe-element decimal fan will just
trudge along with the 3/32ds and 7/8th.
I'll just be grateful that my paycheck is not in fractions. How do you
deduct, say, 28% taxes from $15 3/16 per hour? ;-)
Carsten
Author: "John" <jadams@...> Time: Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:31 am PST Link
I just keep a hand held calculator on my bench and whenever I have
any questions regarding fractions I convert them to decimal. I can't
seem to keep my drill bits in nice seperate piles either so I use a
digital caliper to check them every time. I'd say the caliper and
calculator are essential tools to build an RV.
John Adams
ready for wing attach.