Submitted by pheenX t3_ygpzc7 in LifeProTips
LPPT: Measure all your fingers and choose the one with an easy to remember length.
Comments
Dnouglas79 t1_iu9sd7t wrote
Kid named finger:
Justme100001 t1_iu9yfpl wrote
For longer distances use the distance between your thumb and pink. Move your thumb to your pinkie and repeat this all along the object you would like to measure. You then have only to multiply the number of times you moved your hand with the distance you already measured between the thumb and pinkie...
Edit: I always that it was pink instead of pinkie/pinky ..
Woodbutcher31 t1_iua0553 wrote
Average palm is 4” across that’s how-why back in the day horses were measured in hands..
ownersequity t1_iua1xj2 wrote
A dollar bill is exactly six inches. That’s my default. Always impresses people when I pull a bill out to measure.
PharmAttack t1_iuab565 wrote
Oh look at Mr Moneybags over here... 💸
DivvySUCKS t1_iuacmt7 wrote
I'm super great at math so that means a $20 bill is 10 feet.
jupiterkansas t1_iuag719 wrote
other body parts will work too
IRSeth t1_iuakrn3 wrote
Not according to that lesbian chick in the movie
[deleted] t1_iuao76u wrote
[removed]
LekkerWeertjeHe t1_iuaw8qm wrote
On the one hand this sounds right, but on the other hand you have just 4 fingers left
pchlster t1_iuawo9r wrote
Still have the thumb. Just have a big scar on my left thumb.
LekkerWeertjeHe t1_iuawuwl wrote
It was wordplay, with “one hand” “on the other hand” and “right” and “4 left”
But too bad it… left… a scar
jereman75 t1_iuaxb9s wrote
It weirds me out that you said “pink” not pinky twice.
bobo4sam t1_iub464b wrote
I hate to be that guy…. But it’s actually 6.14 inches
So if you’re approximating it’s not a big deal, but there are some cases where I imagine it might matter.
julie78787 t1_iub6yk4 wrote
"Pinky" is for smaller 5th digits. Apparently that poster has an extremely long 5th digit.
julie78787 t1_iub7mym wrote
You can also use other physical measurements.
For me, when I make an "L" shape with my thumb and index finger, the distance from the tip of my index finger to about halfway through my thumb is 6". When I do electrical wiring, I shove one hand in the junction box, touch that finger tip where the wires enter, then cut the wire at the far side of my thumb. When I strip the wire I've got 6" of wire in the box, which makes electrical inspectors very happy.
Steve_Jobs_iGhost t1_iuba97x wrote
Nice to see this topic take off as I was thinking about it a week ago
My contribution is to find the scaled relationship between body parts and to remember those in place of or in tandem with their corresponding length, with one being the 'base' of sorts.
Definitely won't be everyone's thing, but I find it reinforces my confidence in my measurements when I can think about either length as absolutes, or in terms of relationships.
I found that this can also be helpful when accuracy is more important.
When I want to use my elbow to fingers, the lifting, moving, placing my arm consecutively until I get my measurements leaves me with uncertainty. If I instead do the length from my thumb to fingertip, I can very easily and quite swiftly keep contact with a surface at all times by moving the further back finger or thumb to meet the leading, freeing the leading finger or thumb to advance forward.
imnotsoho t1_iubbiie wrote
Horses are still measured in hands.
playinpossum1 t1_iubehxb wrote
when my fingers are spread out it is 8 inches from thumb tip to pinky tip. I have used that for all sorts of things, incredibly useful.
Woodbutcher31 t1_iubesj6 wrote
Yes, I know but average palm is bigger now…
Bitchesl0veusernames t1_iubf65x wrote
As a carpenter, I use a shaka as a legit measurement for rough work
KingofPro t1_iubhxt5 wrote
Slightly above average, congrats man!
mommadragon72 t1_iublldz wrote
Your left hand makes an L with the thumb and forefinger
BloodiedBlues t1_iubmoa3 wrote
Average is 5.5
KingofPro t1_iubmtzw wrote
I was talking about the length of the sandwich
BloodiedBlues t1_iubn6ef wrote
They say a guys thing is as long as the distance between your thumb and index tip. I’d say it’s about 90% accurate.
ImLikeMoreFoodPlease t1_iubrihk wrote
iPhone LiDAR go Burr
Hole-In-Six t1_iubsxpv wrote
I always sip my tea with my pink sticking out proudly.
vietnams666 t1_iubvl7p wrote
I'm a hairstylist and I use that for 1-3inches. My knuckle space is 1 inch.
Junkmenotk t1_iubvu3v wrote
They teach this in med school
goelrishabh09 t1_iubwekq wrote
Samilynnki t1_iuby53k wrote
To piggyback off this: as an RN, I use this trick almost daily (during wound cares and such) and a darling older attending MD taught me way back in nursing school during a clinical rotation. He was so helpful to us!
pearlymeg t1_iubyybc wrote
BloodiedBlues t1_iuc19fh wrote
And I was the sandwich.
Number9Man t1_iuc2g72 wrote
I did this with the bottom of my palm and the tip of my thumb. Now I have a perfect 3" measuring stick haha.
LairdofWingHaven t1_iuc6otq wrote
Measure tip of fingers to elbow. Measure width of hand. Length of foot. Length of stride. Height of hip bone. You're a walking measurement system!
SwordTaster t1_iuckbik wrote
I've gone with the span between my thumb and index finger. Mainly because my friend told me that's a pretty good rough estimate for penis size. A man's penis should be the same size as the span between his thumb and index finger. I'm a woman but apparently my hypothetical dick would be 6 inches long.
kiwidude4 t1_iucs54a wrote
🎵on her forehead🎵
LewisLightning t1_iuctj2v wrote
What if you lose your finger? Then you are screwed
Wjyosn t1_iud2oho wrote
Both can, but one is in a more comfortable and natural position to do so when raised arms length in front of you. The other requires twisting your wrist around 180 degrees.
ddnisha700 t1_iud2y2j wrote
Underrated comment. This is actually a good indicator.
Fortniterulebreaker t1_iudgz26 wrote
Or you can just fucking learn it. Your method requires some extra steps.
GlendaleActual t1_iudpltu wrote
I tattooed a crow’s foot on my forearm 16” from my first knuckle.
evilarom t1_iudzjg9 wrote
only comments like this break the mold
[deleted] t1_iufibdd wrote
[removed]
keepthetips t1_iu9s76p wrote
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!
Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.
If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.