Replies

1. 
   Sgian_Dubh | Feb 20, 2000 06:37am | #1

   *
   We Brits have the same trouble with American terminology.
   * Naptha is naptha the world over.
   * US Alchohol is meths or methylated spirits.
   * US Mineral spirits is white spirits, sometimes known as turps in British English.
   * Genuine gum turpentine is genuine gum turpentine. Outside the US its usually sold as genuine American gum turpentine, and I think I'm correct in saying that it is a resin got from terebinth and other trees.

   Americans commonly call a TV cabinet an "armoire," although why they would want to shove a TV into the wardrobe along with their clothes I have no idea! A sideboard and/or dresser is known as a hutch, which to me means something to keep rabbits in!

   Americans also call the overhand surface planer a jointer, which makes sense, but confusingly they call the thicknesser or thickness planer a "surface planer!"

   Who was it said something like "America and Britain are two countries separated by a common language?" Winston Churchill maybe?

   I also find it interesting that the magazine Fine Woodworking (purchasable in Europe) describes in detail, including photographs, how to do operations on machinery that are both illegal and prosecutable (in Europe.) For example, you will seldom see a table saw in use photographed that is fitted with either a riving knife or crown guard. "Dado" blades for use on the table saw are common in the States, but have been banned in Europe for decades.

   Such are some of the interesting cultural differences.

1. 
   Pete_Jack | Mar 15, 2000 11:30pm | #2

   *It was Oscar Wilde in he Canterville Ghost; one of his characters said "We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language."

1. 
   Sgian_Dubh | Mar 16, 2000 09:24am | #3

   *Pete, Thanks for pinning that 'quote' down for me. Sliante.

1. 
   Don_Nichols | Mar 17, 2000 05:33am | #4

   *By the way, since no one addressed this so far, "potato".

1. 
   Sgian_Dubh | Mar 17, 2000 07:04am | #5

   *b Potato. "Plant with faranaceious tubers used as food, its tuber.i p.- boxori -trap,(sl.) mouth. [Haiti] - OED.*A couple of definitions down is this little gem.b Poteen! That's more like it!! pronouncedb Poh-cheen!!Irish whiskey from illicit stiil. OED again.It gets better by the minute.What was the question? Is there one!!?

2. 
   Dana_Dawes | Apr 17, 2000 06:08am | #6

   *I First, let's all get it straight, it's NAPHTHA, not Naphtha. For ten trivia points, who know what the VM&P in VM&P naphtha stand for??

3. 
   gpwestmoreland | Apr 17, 2000 07:43am | #7

   *Dana, Would that be Varnish Maker's & Painters? I'll trade you this answer for a good one under my "What to do with a Jet Lock Fence." GP