xkcd #3138: Dimensional Lumber Tape Measure
Title text:
A person with two watches is never sure what time it is, especially if I got them one of the watches.
Transcript:
Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com
Source: https://xkcd.com/3138/
This hurts so bad to think about
Which part? The ruler that can't exist or the part where finished lumber is smaller than the listed size?
The thought of reaching into my toolbox and pulling out a measuring tape that's labeled wrong without knowing it. He did a good job with this comic. That thought sucks so bad.
My sawyer showed me a measuring tape graduated in tenths of a foot. Someone manufactured that for some reason.
As a European, it took me a while to realize what's wrong with that. Even though I've been living in the US for almost 14 years now.
Oh yeah, we use these "decimal feet" rulers at my job, for surveying. Nobody bothered to tell me ahead of time, so my first few days out in the field were pretty much a complete waste. I still maintain they are an abomination, the worst of both systems.
If it's used for surveying, aren't those survey feet? (a survey foot is 1.000002 US customary feet). Dividing a survey foot by 12 would not be technically an inch, even though it's only a couple millionths off.
...the ruler exists, it's a metric ruler. This is a metric joke comic. The 2x4 sizes are in metric...
You are welcome.
I want whatever crack you're smoking that made this make sense
Overconfidence and bad eyesight I guess.
No, this comic is about nominal vs actual lumber size. Both tapes are imperial.