3 ms·

My country (Slovenia) was under Austrian domination for a long time, so we informally still use klaftra (Klafter in German) for firewood. It now means 4 m3, but

My country (Slovenia) was under Austrian domination for a long time, so we informally still use klaftra (Klafter in German) for firewood. It now means 4 m3, but I guess it was defined by the particular region in the past.

Ekaros 6y ago
Measuring firewood is fun too. Here we have 3 different ways to measure it. Roughly: loose, piled and solid. And differences aren't small. Really matters what are you talking about, loosely piled, properly piled or actual amount of material minus all air...
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
Scoundreller 6y ago
Sounds close enough to a cord in North America. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cord_(unit) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cord_(unit) What bothers me is that it, of course, depends how you cut/stack it. Different woods = different density. Firewood should be sold on based on dry weight, not volume. A lot of American recipes assume scales are for cocaine dealers and inappropriately use volume and dumb measures at that “a teaspoon???” While European recipes appropriately use grams.
- ghaff 6y ago
  I use a scale at home but, for many purposes, it really is easier to use measuring spoons for things like spices and baking soda than to use the scale for everything. Even my cookbooks that do give weights as well as volumes for ingredients like flour, tend to just give measuring spoon amounts for the small additions. To your cord example, precision just isn't a big deal and I'm sure it's just easier for people selling to throw an approximate volume in their truck than weighing everything.
- soneil 6y ago
  I have precisely one teaspoon which actually measures a teaspoon. The rest of my teaspoons are spoons used for making tea, but don't actually measure a teaspoon. However, none of my cups are actually cups. they're just cups. It amuses me that these are actual (and accurate) sentences.
  - Scoundreller 6y ago
    Different crystals will pack differently, so a teaspoon of table sugar from brand1 will be different than brand2. Same between icing and table sugar. And different syrups will have different surface tensions, so a 5mL flattish teaspoon will hold more than a 5mL deep-well
    - erichurkman 6y ago
      And if you own cookbooks, check the intro to see if it notes what kind of salt to use. Most recipes use coarser kosher salt for measure, at least with professional recipe writers. Table salt is made of finer crystals and will make your dish far saltier if you substitute them unknowingly. (Fine table salt packs about 2x the salt into 1tsp than Diamond Kosher -- 2 tsp Diamond Kosher == 1 1/2 tsp Morton Kosher == 1 tsp regular table salt.
- mc32 6y ago
  A lot of people don't really measure things out. And except for a few items, you don't need to be precise. I mean, how would you measure eggs, down to the gram? Oh, I'm off by 5 grams, let me crack another one. Sugar, you can usually use half of what the recipe calls for without much consequence. Etc, etc.

Ekaros 6y ago

Measuring firewood is fun too. Here we have 3 different ways to measure it. Roughly: loose, piled and solid. And differences aren't small. Really matters what are you talking about, loosely piled, properly piled or actual amount of material minus all air...

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

Scoundreller 6y ago

Sounds close enough to a cord in North America. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cord_(unit) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cord_(unit) What bothers me is that it, of course, depends how you cut/stack it. Different woods = different density. Firewood should be sold on based on dry weight, not volume. A lot of American recipes assume scales are for cocaine dealers and inappropriately use volume and dumb measures at that “a teaspoon???” While European recipes appropriately use grams.

ghaff 6y ago
I use a scale at home but, for many purposes, it really is easier to use measuring spoons for things like spices and baking soda than to use the scale for everything. Even my cookbooks that do give weights as well as volumes for ingredients like flour, tend to just give measuring spoon amounts for the small additions. To your cord example, precision just isn't a big deal and I'm sure it's just easier for people selling to throw an approximate volume in their truck than weighing everything.
soneil 6y ago
I have precisely one teaspoon which actually measures a teaspoon. The rest of my teaspoons are spoons used for making tea, but don't actually measure a teaspoon. However, none of my cups are actually cups. they're just cups. It amuses me that these are actual (and accurate) sentences.
- Scoundreller 6y ago
  Different crystals will pack differently, so a teaspoon of table sugar from brand1 will be different than brand2. Same between icing and table sugar. And different syrups will have different surface tensions, so a 5mL flattish teaspoon will hold more than a 5mL deep-well
  - erichurkman 6y ago
    And if you own cookbooks, check the intro to see if it notes what kind of salt to use. Most recipes use coarser kosher salt for measure, at least with professional recipe writers. Table salt is made of finer crystals and will make your dish far saltier if you substitute them unknowingly. (Fine table salt packs about 2x the salt into 1tsp than Diamond Kosher -- 2 tsp Diamond Kosher == 1 1/2 tsp Morton Kosher == 1 tsp regular table salt.
mc32 6y ago
A lot of people don't really measure things out. And except for a few items, you don't need to be precise. I mean, how would you measure eggs, down to the gram? Oh, I'm off by 5 grams, let me crack another one. Sugar, you can usually use half of what the recipe calls for without much consequence. Etc, etc.