Slide rule or calcuator?

If I were to build a new house, what tools should I use?

I am a noobie on a budget, and have been researching calculators. From what I can glean from old texts and experienced engineers, a slide rule is a very handy tool for solving complex mathematical calculations. From what I can tell, in the hands of a knowledgeable, competent engineer, a slide rule can get the job done in most applications. On the other hand, a calculator is not all that expensive and is fairly easy to learn to use quite effectively.

Given the fact I already have my great grandfather's slide rule, and he used one to fabricate plans for the building of the Empire State Building, do you all think I should learn to use it or pick up a new fancy-schmancy electronic calculator?

You're pushing it Norm...

I know.

I hope I don't get any more replies.

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Originally Posted by foxx

If I were to build a new house, what tools should I use?

I am a noobie on a budget, and have been researching calculators. From what I can glean from old texts and experienced engineers, a slide rule is a very handy tool for solving complex mathematical calculations. From what I can tell, in the hands of a knowledgeable, competent engineer, a slide rule can get the job done in most applications. On the other hand, a calculator is not all that expensive and is fairly easy to learn to use quite effectively.

Given the fact I already have my great grandfather's slide rule, and he used one to fabricate plans for the building of the Empire State Building, do you all think I should learn to use it or pick up a new fancy-schmancy electronic calculator?

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You've missed out on capitalizing on your obvious talent Foxx.
Your actually funnier than Bob Hope was.
If theres a thing I know more about than guns and shooting, it would be the home building business, and judging human nature which is a necessary thing for anyone in business hoping to be successful.
Tomorrow Foxx, try getting up a little earlier. lol

Being on a budget, I'd stick to the slide rule....it doesn't use batteries. With that being said, your next big decision is what to draw it up with, a #2 pencil, or one of those fancy new
"Ever Sharp" versions.....;)

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Originally Posted by yobuck

You've missed out on capitalizing on your obvious talent Foxx.
Your actually funnier than Bob Hope was.
If theres a thing I know more about than guns and shooting, it would be the home building business, and judging human nature which is a necessary thing for anyone in business hoping to be successful.
Tomorrow Foxx, try getting up a little earlier. lol

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Dang it, Yobuck!
You STILL won't answer my question!

Slider rule or calculator???????!!!!!!! :)

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Originally Posted by sharpshooter

Being on a budget, I'd stick to the slide rule....it doesn't use batteries. With that being said, your next big decision is what to draw it up with, a #2 pencil, or one of those fancy new
"Ever Sharp" versions.....;)

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I heard a story, not sure if it's true.

Supposedly, when the Russians Cosmonauts and American Astronauts first starting working together on the space station and stuff like that, the Americans showed the Russians their fancy ink pens that were specially designed to work in zero gravity conditions and write upside down, etc. We were quite proud of them, figured it showed off our superior ingenuity. They said it cost millions of dollars for R&D, but they finally got one to work reliably. Story goes, the Cosmonauts shrugged their shoulders and said, "Oh, they gave us pencils."

https://youtu.be/a-DEMN4ysJk

I do have a slide rule that I had aspirations to keep in my rifle bag to do calculations when shooting, but--wouldn't you know it--my cell phone keeps its charge remarkably well.

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If I were to build a new house, what tools should I use?

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First that come to mind for me is Hammer, Saw, Measuring Tape. :p


Without those, nothing's going to get built.:cool:

Whatever you decide on, make sure it has a big eraser on the other end...

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Originally Posted by foxx

Dang it, Yobuck!
You STILL won't answer my question!

Slider rule or calculator???????!!!!!!! :)

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And with good reason Foxx.
Your already so confused with scope dials, I figured adding something else might just push you over the edge.
Good thing you weren't around when gear shifts went from the floor to the steering column. lol
I know, I know, whats a gear shift?

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Originally Posted by sharpshooter

Whatever you decide on, make sure it has a big eraser on the other end...

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All the (real pros) have the electric ones.
I could probably find mine if I looked real hard.

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Originally Posted by Deadshot2

First that come to mind for me is Hammer, Saw, Measuring Tape. [/COLOR]:p


Without those, nothing's going to get built.:cool:

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No your wrong, that used to be true but no longer.
Today, the first thing is a trip to home depot for all the expert advise.
Better yet one of the Saturday morning seminars.
The instructor will also fill you in on what cool tools you need.

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Originally Posted by yobuck

And with good reason Foxx.
Your already so confused with scope dials, I figured adding something else might just push you over the edge.
Good thing you weren't around when gear shifts went from the floor to the steering column. lol
I know, I know, whats a gear shift?

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Actually, I once had a van with standard transmission, the gear shifter on the column.

Had a Corvair with an automatic tranny, the shifter was a vertical sliding knob in the dashboard.
and no heat. That wasn't so bad, the worst thing was I had to put an electric heated dipstick in the engine every night in the winter so it would start the next day.

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Originally Posted by MrFurious

You're pushing it Norm...

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At least he can take it. And it ain't like we're clutterring up a legitimate thread. :)

There's gotta be at least a few people here thinking, "What the heck is this garbage all about?"
--this is a spin-off from another thread. Someone was standing on my last raw nerve and I decided to "take it out doors". Can I help it he followed me outside? :)

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Originally Posted by foxx

Actually, I once had a van with standard transmission, the gear shifter on the column.

Had a Corvair with an automatic tranny, the shifter was a vertical sliding knob in the dashboard.

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OK Foxx, I'm really glad you've had that experience.
Now just think about that and what was actually accomplished.
Just a different way of getting the car to do the same thing it did with the stick on the floor.
And once you get the thing into high gear and your cruising, does how you got there make any difference?
Only to those still stuck in first gear. lol

Yes, but why don't they build them that way anymore? and, if they did, why would I recommend someone choose that model when there are better options out there that allow me to better utilize the rest of the vehicle's features?

Simple observation: If you build a scope with multiple, graduated aim points on the x and y axis, why have it's adjustment controls correspond to a different scale than the reticle? It's like trying to build a house with a yard stick when your calculator only uses metric.

Or, put another way, asking you to measure and call out my cuts for me with a yardstick when all I have to measure (the boards I am trying to cut) with is a meter stick. It is better if we both use either yardsticks or meter sticks. Therefore, when shopping for tools, I am going to buy two measuring sticks or tapes that use the same units of measure, rather than purposely getting two different ones.

Gentlemen, Please take it to PM. I'm closing this one down.