How to use bootstrap with 16 or 24 columns

I need some help setting bootstrap 2.0.4 to be 16 or 24 column instead of the default 12 columns i can't understand what am i doing wrong i tried the customize option on the bootstrap site and i tried changing the grid variables in the variables.less file and recompile bootstrap.less using Crunch but for both trials i still have the same result .it is still 12 columns !!! when i try to set a div to be span12 it still takes the whole screen ?

Can anyone guide me to what's wrong i am doing or if someone can generate a 16 and 24 columns versions and send them to me that would be perfect

This method is for an older version of Bootstrap - Version 2.3.1

Click this link to customize bootstrap: http://twitter.github.com/bootstrap/customize.html

You will find examples such as this. Change the parameters to fit your needs.

16 Grid system with Gutter
@gridColumns: 16
@gridColumnWidth: 45px
@gridGutterWidth: 15px
@gridColumnWidth1200: 52.5px
@gridGutterWidth1200: 22.5px
@gridColumnWidth768: 31.5px
@gridGutterWidth768: 15px

16 Grid system without Gutter
@gridColumns: 16
@gridColumnWidth: 60px
@gridGutterWidth: 0px
@gridColumnWidth1200: 75px
@gridGutterWidth1200: 0px
@gridColumnWidth768: 46.5px
@gridGutterWidth768: 0px

24 Grid system with Gutter
@gridColumns: 24
@gridColumnWidth: 30px
@gridGutterWidth: 1px
@gridColumnWidth1200: 35px
@gridGutterWidth1200: 15px
@gridColumnWidth768: 21px
@gridGutterWidth768: 10px

24 Grid system without Gutter
@gridColumns: 24
@gridColumnWidth: 40px
@gridGutterWidth: 0px
@gridColumnWidth1200: 50px
@gridGutterWidth1200: 0px
@gridColumnWidth768: 31px
@gridGutterWidth768: 0px

For 24 colums you can split main div

<div class="col-md-12">

    <div class="col-md-6">
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
        <div class="col-md-1">nothing</div>
    </div>

    <div class="col-md-6">12 here</div>

</div>

codepen demo