#2 drill size
A #2 number (wire-gauge) drill is 0.2210 in (5.613 mm).
- Decimal inch
- 0.2210
- Millimeters
- 5.613
- Nearest 1/64
- 7/32" (+0.0023)
- Type
- number (wire-gauge) drill
Nearest equivalents in other systems
| System | Drill | Inch | mm | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional | 7/32" | 0.2188 | 5.556 | -0.0022 in |
| Metric | 5.6 mm | 0.2205 | 5.600 | -0.0005 in |
Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 1,560 RPM and 0.0057 in/rev (8.89 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 4,320 RPM.
#2 drill speeds and feeds by material
Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.2210 in. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D, rounded to 10. Feed per rev scales with diameter and material; IPM = RPM × IPR.
| Material | HSS SFM | HSS RPM | Carbide SFM | Carbide RPM | Feed (in/rev) | HSS IPM | Carbide IPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum (6061) | 250 | 4,320 | 600 | 10,370 | 0.0053 | 22.9 | 55.0 |
| Brass / free-machining | 150 | 2,590 | 400 | 6,910 | 0.0046 | 11.9 | 31.8 |
| Low-carbon steel (1018) | 90 | 1,560 | 300 | 5,190 | 0.0057 | 8.89 | 29.6 |
| Alloy steel (4140, annealed) | 70 | 1,210 | 250 | 4,320 | 0.0057 | 6.90 | 24.6 |
| Stainless 304 | 40 | 690 | 150 | 2,590 | 0.0037 | 2.55 | 9.58 |
| Gray cast iron | 80 | 1,380 | 250 | 4,320 | 0.0039 | 5.38 | 16.9 |
| Titanium 6Al-4V | 25 | 430 | 100 | 1,730 | 0.0027 | 1.16 | 4.67 |
| Plastics (acetal) | 300 | 5,190 | 500 | 8,640 | 0.0042 | 21.8 | 36.3 |
Metric: Vc (m/min) = SFM × 0.3048; feed (mm/rev) = in/rev × 25.4. In steel, 1,560 RPM × 0.145 mm/rev = 226 mm/min.
Worked example: #2 drill in 1018 steel
- HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
- RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.2210 ≈ 1,560 RPM.
- Feed for a 0.221 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0057 in/rev.
- IPM = 1,560 × 0.0057 = 8.89 IPM.
Peck cycle by hole depth
| Depth | Cycle | Peck | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3×D = 0.663 in (16.8 mm) | G81 (no peck) | None | Up to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own. |
| 5×D = 1.105 in (28.1 mm) | G73 chip-break | 1 × D | Chip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless). |
| 8×D = 1.768 in (44.9 mm) | G83 full retract | 0.5-1 × D, shrinking with depth | Retract to clear chips; reduce feed ~10-20% past 5×D. |
Taps that use a #2 drill
No standard UNC, UNF or metric tap in our tables calls for a #2 drill. Use it for clearance, pilot or reamer prep holes.
Nearest drills
- 5.6 mm: 0.2205 in / 5.600 mm (-0.0005 in)
- 7/32": 0.2188 in / 5.556 mm (-0.0022 in)
- 5.7 mm: 0.2244 in / 5.700 mm (+0.0034 in)
- 5.5 mm: 0.2165 in / 5.500 mm (-0.0045 in)
Common questions
- What is a #2 drill in decimal and mm?
- 0.2210 in, or 5.613 mm; nearest fractional drill: 7/32" (0.2188 in, -0.0022 in); nearest metric drill: 5.6 mm (0.2205 in, -0.0005 in).
- What RPM for a #2 drill in steel?
- In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #2 drill (0.2210 in) runs about 1,560 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 5,190 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
- What feed for a #2 drill?
- About 0.0057 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0053 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0037 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 1,560 RPM that is 8.89 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
- What RPM for a #2 drill in aluminum?
- 4,320 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 10,370 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0053 in/rev.
- What size is a #2 drill?
- 0.2210 in / 5.613 mm. The nearest other drills are 5.6 mm (0.2205 in), 7/32" (0.2188 in), 5.7 mm (0.2244 in).
Nearby drill sizes
Sources
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed., Speeds and Feeds for Drilling, Reaming and Threading (Tables 17-23) — HSS and carbide drilling SFM (rounded).
- RedLine Tools (Productivity Inc.) catalog p. 340, Cobalt & HSS Drills Speeds & Feeds — feed per rev by drill diameter and material (middle of the catalog range).
- ASME B94.11M twist drills: number (#1-#80) and letter (A-Z) drill sizes; drill size reference.
Material feed multipliers (aluminum 1.3×, brass 1.1×, 4140 0.85×, stainless and titanium 0.7× the mild-steel feed) are JobLine estimates. Peck guidance is JobLine shop practice. Use your drill maker's data first.
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