#36 drill size

    A #36 number (wire-gauge) drill is 0.1065 in (2.705 mm). It is the cut tap, 75% thread drill for 6-32.

    Decimal inch
    0.1065
    Millimeters
    2.705
    Nearest 1/64
    7/64" (-0.0029)
    Type
    number (wire-gauge) drill

    Nearest equivalents in other systems

    Drills closest to #36
    SystemDrillInchmmDifference
    Fractional7/64"0.10942.778+0.0029 in
    Metric2.7 mm0.10632.700-0.0002 in

    Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 3,230 RPM and 0.0025 in/rev (8.07 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 8,970 RPM.

    #36 drill speeds and feeds by material

    Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.1065 in. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D, rounded to 10. Feed per rev scales with diameter and material; IPM = RPM × IPR.

    #36 drilling speeds
    MaterialHSS SFMHSS RPMCarbide SFMCarbide RPMFeed (in/rev)HSS IPMCarbide IPM
    Aluminum (6061)2508,97060021,5200.002421.551.6
    Brass / free-machining1505,38040014,3500.002010.828.7
    Low-carbon steel (1018)903,23030010,7600.00258.0726.9
    Alloy steel (4140, annealed)702,5102508,9700.00256.2822.4
    Stainless 304401,4301505,3800.00172.439.15
    Gray cast iron802,8702508,9700.00154.3113.5
    Titanium 6Al-4V259001003,5900.00131.174.67
    Plastics (acetal)30010,76050017,9300.004346.377.1

    Small drills: the computed RPM is above most spindles. Run at your spindle's maximum and keep the feed per rev; feed drops in proportion.

    Metric: Vc (m/min) = SFM × 0.3048; feed (mm/rev) = in/rev × 25.4. In steel, 3,230 RPM × 0.064 mm/rev = 205 mm/min.

    Worked example: #36 drill in 1018 steel

    1. HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
    2. RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.1065 ≈ 3,230 RPM.
    3. Feed for a 0.106 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0025 in/rev.
    4. IPM = 3,230 × 0.0025 = 8.07 IPM.

    Peck cycle by hole depth

    #36 drill: depth and canned cycle
    DepthCyclePeckNote
    3×D = 0.320 in (8.1 mm)G81 (no peck)NoneUp to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own.
    5×D = 0.533 in (13.5 mm)G73 chip-break1 × DChip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless).
    8×D = 0.852 in (21.6 mm)G83 full retract0.5-1 × D, shrinking with depthRetract to clear chips; reduce feed ~10-20% past 5×D.

    Taps that use a #36 drill

    Nearest drills

    • 2.7 mm: 0.1063 in / 2.700 mm (-0.0002 in)
    • 2.75 mm: 0.1083 in / 2.750 mm (+0.0018 in)
    • 2.65 mm: 0.1043 in / 2.650 mm (-0.0022 in)
    • #37: 0.1040 in / 2.642 mm (-0.0025 in)
    Drill speed calculator, prefilled for #36Drill finder: sizes near #36Number drill chartDecimal equivalent chart

    Common questions

    What is a #36 drill in decimal and mm?
    0.1065 in, or 2.705 mm; nearest fractional drill: 7/64" (0.1094 in, +0.0029 in); nearest metric drill: 2.7 mm (0.1063 in, -0.0002 in).
    What RPM for a #36 drill in steel?
    In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #36 drill (0.1065 in) runs about 3,230 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 10,760 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
    What feed for a #36 drill?
    About 0.0025 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0024 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0017 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 3,230 RPM that is 8.07 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
    What RPM for a #36 drill in aluminum?
    8,970 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 21,520 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0024 in/rev.
    What tap uses a #36 drill?
    6-32 (cut tap, 75% thread).

    Nearby drill sizes

    Sources

    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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