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Old 04-03-2013, 10:38 AM   #1
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Dumb Question on Metric Bolts

When you go into a Canadian hardware store, are all the nuts and bolts metric?

In the US, one really gets gouged on metric bolts, even though US cars have been metric for ever. If I drove over to Windsor, would I be able to buy metric bolts like I buy SAE bolts here in metro Detroit?
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Old 04-03-2013, 10:46 AM   #2
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It is very common for most Canadian hardware stores and building supplies stores to carry both imperial and metric bolts. Prices for both are usually comparable, but could differ from US prices.
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Old 04-03-2013, 10:52 AM   #3
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And do your socket sets contain both types? That always is a mess because the SAE's get mixed up with the metrics.
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Old 04-03-2013, 10:57 AM   #4
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Most "bin bolts" available at Canadian hardware stores are SAE imperial bolts, so you can buy them as individual bolts, small blister packs, and larger 100 piece boxes. The metric bolts are usually in the specialty bins and sold individually.

Tools vary, you can but sets with just SAE, just metric or both combined in one set.
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Old 04-03-2013, 11:00 AM   #5
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Most "bin bolts" available at Canadian hardware stores are SAE imperial bolts, so you can buy them as individual bolts, small blister packs, and larger 100 piece boxes. The metric bolts are usually in the specialty bins and sold individually. ..........
Now that surprises me, as it is basically the same as I see in the USA. Are you sure that Canada is really on the metric system?
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Old 04-03-2013, 11:27 AM   #6
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Now that surprises me, as it is basically the same as I see in the USA. Are you sure that Canada is really on the metric system?
Canadian educational system is good at that. They are trained in schools for both imperial and metric systems. So, do not worry about...metric-imperial things in.....Canada, including....hard wares
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Old 04-03-2013, 11:57 AM   #7
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And do your socket sets contain both types? That always is a mess because the SAE's get mixed up with the metrics.
Most basic/standard sets these days are sold in metric as most items sold on the international market use metric. The US is pretty well the last standing industrialized country to not totally convert to the use of metric sizes and specs but most US manufacturers have changed their products over to metric in order to sell the product outside of the US. I work in the marine industry and if a ship was in need of parts while in a US port I was forbidden by the vessels owners and Chief Engineers to purchase a US made part for the ship if everything about it wasn't metric -unless it was an emergency and needed asp in order for them to be able to sail - they didn't want the ships to have to carry extra sets of tools or have the engineers doing the repairs hassle with buying or finding an imperial tool to work on it in the future. They were all much happier if I ordered the part from outside the US even if it meant they would have to wait awhile or have it delivered to them at the next port of call.

As mentioned though hardware stores in Canada do still carry bolts and tools in Imperial as well, although the selection may not be as great as it once was.
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Old 04-03-2013, 12:07 PM   #8
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Now that surprises me, as it is basically the same as I see in the USA. Are you sure that Canada is really on the metric system?
It's taken a surprising long time for metric usage to become even semi-widespread. We have a large population at an age where the only measurment system they've ever used is imperial so they've been very slow to adopt the metric system. That and close proximity to the wide usage of imperial in US products makes it still very common.

I've mentored engineering students and only now am I seeing blank looks if I use an imperial unit. I'd expected that to happen about 20 years ago.
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Old 04-03-2013, 12:11 PM   #9
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Metric/Imperial things...

...Be aware, Foreigners. To some Canadian women, they would be shy when you mention/comment about their weights in ...Imperial. Of course, a 60kilo hot girl would be hotter than a....135pound woman...
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Old 04-03-2013, 12:14 PM   #10
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Test Questions

Several years ago in the final exam of a class I taught at the local Vo Tech, I added 2 Bonus Questions

Question #1 How many degrees are in a metric circle

Question #2 How many degrees are in a metric triangle

Less than half the class answered the questions correctly !!

Makes you wonder what they learned in High School
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Old 04-03-2013, 12:25 PM   #11
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And do your socket sets contain both types? That always is a mess because the SAE's get mixed up with the metrics.
Tussh. This is for rank amateurs. 'Real men', who work on old British motorcycles have two sets of imperial sockets - AF (across flats) which was the standardised American import used mostly on engine components and BSW or Whitworth, which is what the cycle parts often used and is a thread form and hex size that dates back at least to the early days of steam locos.

And then there is BSF (British Standard Fine) which is a different thread form, but, thank goodness, uses the same spanner/socket sizes as BSW.
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Old 04-03-2013, 12:29 PM   #12
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One really has to be a Rocket Scientist to keep that whole imperial/metric thing stra- um....wait...

NASA red-faced after metric mixup dooms Mars spacecraft

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Old 04-03-2013, 12:46 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by Ron in BC View Post
That and close proximity to the wide usage of imperial in US products makes it still very common.

I've mentored engineering students and only now am I seeing blank looks if I use an imperial unit. I'd expected that to happen about 20 years ago.
Sounds like the same look I get at the butcher if I slip and ask for something in pounds or at the fabric store I ask for yards of something LOL The under 30 crowd does seem to have made the total switch.

Suspect your right regarding the close proximity to the US playing a part in the slow adaption as most of us read the US news or read popular magazines and recipe books out of the US so we continue to have a daily exposure to imperial measurements.
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Old 04-03-2013, 01:12 PM   #14
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It has been a difficult transition. The Trillium model numbers are a reflection of Canada's metric journey. 1300 for the 13' trailers, (before metric) and 4500 for the 4500mm trailers.
It is a bit supprising that Trillium had conversion problems as well. Below is the bottom of the data sheet on one of my 4500's. Please note that 4410 Kg = 9943 lbs. So, as long as I travel only in Canada, I can carry 4.5 tons.
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Old 04-03-2013, 01:30 PM   #15
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Several years ago in the final exam of a class I taught at the local Vo Tech, I added 2 Bonus Questions

Question #1 How many degrees are in a metric circle

Question #2 How many degrees are in a metric triangle

Less than half the class answered the questions correctly !!

Makes you wonder what they learned in High School
Well, you didn't specify degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Centigrade.
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Old 04-03-2013, 01:36 PM   #16
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As far as tool sets: Mastercraft 184-piece Socket Set | Canadian Tire

something like this should cover just about anything you could need in imperial or metric and its guaranteed for life.

Joe
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Old 04-03-2013, 02:03 PM   #17
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Well, you didn't specify degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Centigrade.
...Here is for Mister.." Michigan". As the poster related, he mentioned about angle unit measurement, not temperature...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_(angle)
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Old 04-03-2013, 02:17 PM   #18
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It has been a difficult transition. The Trillium model numbers are a reflection of Canada's metric journey. 1300 for the 13' trailers, (before metric) and 4500 for the 4500mm trailers.
It is a bit supprising that Trillium had conversion problems as well. Below is the bottom of the data sheet on one of my 4500's. Please note that 4410 Kg = 9943 lbs. So, as long as I travel only in Canada, I can carry 4.5 tons.
Hi, David, that woman at your office of...registra whatever must be an....old GrandMa came to Canada from.....England...
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Old 04-03-2013, 02:40 PM   #19
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Humour - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Old 04-03-2013, 08:15 PM   #20
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Ever heard of "ESL", Tom?

Irony doesn't cross over so easily...

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