486
xkcd #3138: Dimensional Lumber Tape Measure (imgs.xkcd.com)
submitted 1 year ago by [B] to c/xkcd@lemmy.world
74 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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/

explainxkcd for #3138

A person with two watches is never sure what time it is, especially if I got them one of the watches.
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 7 points 1 year ago (9 children)

Which part? The ruler that can't exist or the part where finished lumber is smaller than the listed size?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 9 child comments
    •
  • [–] 15 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    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.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    My sawyer showed me a measuring tape graduated in tenths of a foot. Someone manufactured that for some reason.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (1 child)

    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.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago*

    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.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago* (3 children)

    ...the ruler exists, it's a metric ruler. This is a metric joke comic. The 2x4 sizes are in metric...

    You are welcome.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •