public double getValueAs(String to){
		double fromBase = 0;
		double toBase = 0;
		Converter[] u;

		// don't do any work if we're converting to ourselves
		if (to == unit || type == abrv)
			return value;

		if (type == "vol")
			u = volUnits;
		else if (type == "pressure")
			u = pressureUnits;
		else // assume weight
			u = weightUnits;

		fromBase = getBaseValue(u, unit);
		toBase = getBaseValue(u, to);

		return value * (toBase / fromBase);
	}