XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.books   
   From: lcraver@home.ca   
      
   On Tue, 20 Aug 2013 15:55:25 -0400, "J. Clarke"   
    wrote:   
      
   >Ever look at an inch tape measure?  Most of them divide the inch into   
   >binary fractions.  There are four quarts and 8 pints in a gallon, 16   
   >ounces in a pint or pound, 16 drams in an ounce, etc.   
      
   Actually drill bits and tools are often done in 3 digit decimal   
   fraction sizes - .032", .028", .053" are all common sizes. Similarly   
   the Birmingham and Standard sizes usually referred to as B&S which are   
   the norm for sheet metal, round wire and ironically surgical needles.   
      
   For instance, blood samples are usually done with #18 needles (.040"   
   or 1.02mm) while drug injections (for instance insulin) are typically   
   done with #32 needles (roughly .015 or 0.25mm). All wire coat hangers   
   (as opposed to the plastic ones) are typically #10 wire (roughly   
   2.57mm) steel.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)