What Is This Tool?
This converter transforms lengths measured in nail (cloth), a traditional British unit used in tailoring and textile trade, into inches based on the US survey foot system, which is a legacy unit for surveying and mapping.
How to Use This Tool?
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Input the measurement value in nail (cloth) units.
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Select nail (cloth) as your starting unit and inch (US survey) as the target unit.
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Click convert to see the equivalent length in US survey inches.
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Use the result to assist with fabric measurements or interpreting legacy survey documents.
Key Features
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Converts historical nail (cloth) units to US survey inches precisely.
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Supports use cases in tailoring, textile archival work, and legacy surveying.
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Based on exact conversion rates specified for these traditional units.
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Browser-based tool for easy and quick online conversions.
Examples
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4 nail (cloth) equals approximately 8.999982 inch (US survey).
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0.5 nail (cloth) equals about 1.12499775 inch (US survey).
Common Use Cases
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Tailors specifying seam allowances or fabric increments using historical units.
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Researchers interpreting antique clothing patterns and textile measurements.
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Surveyors converting legacy cadastral and geodetic records to modern units.
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Archivists working on textile trade documentation and old measurements.
Tips & Best Practices
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Confirm if your source uses the historical nail (cloth) unit before converting.
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Consider the legacy nature of the US survey inch when applying conversions to modern projects.
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Use this tool to assist with precise legacy data but verify measurements for critical engineering tasks.
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Review original documents for context on unit precision and standards used.
Limitations
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Nail (cloth) values can vary slightly due to historical inconsistencies.
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US survey inch is a legacy unit replaced in many applications by the international inch.
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Not suitable for precision engineering without considering modern unit standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a nail (cloth) unit?
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It is a historical British measurement equal to 1/16 of a yard or about 2.25 inches, traditionally used in tailoring and cloth measurement.
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Why use the US survey inch instead of the international inch?
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The US survey inch is a legacy surveying unit used in older geodetic and cadastral records in the United States, important for interpreting historical data.
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Can I use this conversion for modern textile manufacturing?
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While this tool helps convert historical units, modern textile measurements usually use different units; confirm applicability before use.
Key Terminology
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Nail (cloth)
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A historical British length unit equal to 1/16 of a yard or approximately 2.25 inches, used mainly in tailoring and cloth measurement.
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Inch (US survey)
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A legacy US surveying length unit defined as 1/12 of the US survey foot, formerly used in geodetic control and cadastral surveys.