Hasta La Ideas

I hate that I wasn’t raised with the metric system, and have a shop full of tools sized for Imperial dimensions only. With calipers I’ve been exhaustively measuring a broken antique piece of furniture in hopes of reproducing it. Yes, by now I know that 0.3125″ = 5/16″, .375″ = 3/8″, etc. but the conversions are giving me a headache.

I was thrilled to learn that Starrett produces this 1202F dial caliper, even though no other country in the world really needs it. It’s got the dial helpfully laid out in fractions, a boon to American woodworkers:

I was unthrilled to learn these run about $140. Damn you, Imperial.