"K.-Benoit Evans" wrote in message
charlie b wrote:

Actual "measured" lengths aren't that important (unless you're
doing built ins. Its far more important that all parts that
are supposed to be the same length are in fact the same
length.

This is true, unless you have to send your measurements to someone else.

I found that out the hard way once when I ordered a glass table top
based on a tape measure measurement. Unfortunately, my tape and their
measurement device did not agree. (I suspect theirs was probably the
accurate one.)

Done that. Now when ordering glass, particulary if it is to be inset into a
frame of some type, I either have the glass cut first and build to it, send
a template, or take the piece to the glass shop and let them measure it.
Most glass cutters cut to +/- 1/16" tolerance, which, as you noted, can be
problematic when measuring with two different measuring devices..


I checked by tapes and rulers. The straight-edge rulers were very
accurate. However the tapes were all over the place. After all, they're
made for construction work, usually for fairly long lengths, and a
tolerance of plus or minus 1/16 is acceptable (except for finish work).

Tolerances used to be that way down here, but with the advent of
"carpenters" named after Mary's son, and who hail from places with no wood
whatsoever, the framers seem to think 1/2" is close enough, and the finish
guys 1/4".

These days, it's the painters, with their caulk guns, who make things fit.

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Last update: 1/02/04