Interesting site, Pat. The distinction the author makes between gage and gauge 
is what I grew up with, though I have seen the two terms confused with little 
public complaint for some time now.

I note that AWG is not listed. Some equate that to B&S, but he does not in his 
listing for B&S. One that is listed and sounds intriguing is ISO Metric 
Preferred Series (R388). I wish I could get my hands on that just to satisfy 
my curiosity. (I do have a copy of ASTM B258-02 on its way to me, courtesy of 
ASTM for the sake of our work in the joint IEEE and ASTM committee.)

Notice, by the way, that the author of this site unabashedly leaves nekkid 
decimal points strewn about. Tut, tut.

Jim

On Friday 04 February 2005 22:32, Pat Naughtin wrote:
Dear Jim,

Check:
http://w3.uwyo.edu/~metal/gage.html
as a starting list for wire gauges.

I particularly like the writer's discussion of the spelling of gauge vs gage
and then the definition of gage.

'Gage: An arbitrary assignment of numbers to size, used on sheet, wire,  and
many other things (tubing, shotgun bore, needles, and so on).  Unfortunately
there are so many different standards that using gage  to specify a material
is almost useless, and perhaps even dangerous.  If in doubt, use decimals'.

I would change the final sentence to read 'If in doubt use micrometres', but
otherwise I agree that gauges (or gages) are relatively useless.

By the way, I noticed that they made an error with respect to 'Card Wire
Gauge CWG' which they say is for fibre yarns when it is, in fact, used for
the specialised metal 'wires' that are used on the rollers and drums of
carding machines. These are actually not circular wires but rather flattened
strips of metal with raised pins designed to engage with textile fibres as
they are being 'carded' (Note: Textile carding is a sort of rough combing
process).

-- 
James R. Frysinger
Lifetime Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
Senior Member, IEEE

http://www.cofc.edu/~frysingj
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