4.2 mm drill size

    A 4.2 mm metric drill is 0.1653 in (4.200 mm). It is the cut tap, 75% thread drill for M5×0.8.

    Decimal inch
    0.1653
    Millimeters
    4.200
    Nearest 1/64
    11/64" (-0.0065)
    Type
    metric drill

    Nearest equivalents in other systems

    Drills closest to 4.2 mm
    SystemDrillInchmmDifference
    Fractional11/64"0.17194.366+0.0065 in
    Number / letter#190.16604.216+0.0006 in

    Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 2,080 RPM and 0.0041 in/rev (8.53 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 5,780 RPM.

    4.2 mm drill speeds and feeds by material

    Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.1653 in. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D, rounded to 10. Feed per rev scales with diameter and material; IPM = RPM × IPR.

    4.2 mm drilling speeds
    MaterialHSS SFMHSS RPMCarbide SFMCarbide RPMFeed (in/rev)HSS IPMCarbide IPM
    Aluminum (6061)2505,78060013,8600.003922.554.0
    Brass / free-machining1503,4704009,2400.003311.430.5
    Low-carbon steel (1018)902,0803006,9300.00418.5328.4
    Alloy steel (4140, annealed)701,6202505,7800.00416.6423.7
    Stainless 304409201503,4700.00272.489.37
    Gray cast iron801,8502505,7800.00275.0015.6
    Titanium 6Al-4V255801002,3100.00201.164.62
    Plastics (acetal)3006,93050011,5500.004732.654.3

    Metric: Vc (m/min) = SFM × 0.3048; feed (mm/rev) = in/rev × 25.4. In steel, 2,080 RPM × 0.104 mm/rev = 217 mm/min.

    Worked example: 4.2 mm drill in 1018 steel

    1. HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
    2. RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.1653 ≈ 2,080 RPM.
    3. Feed for a 0.165 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0041 in/rev.
    4. IPM = 2,080 × 0.0041 = 8.53 IPM.

    Peck cycle by hole depth

    4.2 mm drill: depth and canned cycle
    DepthCyclePeckNote
    3×D = 0.496 in (12.6 mm)G81 (no peck)NoneUp to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own.
    5×D = 0.827 in (21 mm)G73 chip-break1 × DChip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless).
    8×D = 1.323 in (33.6 mm)G83 full retract0.5-1 × D, shrinking with depthRetract to clear chips; reduce feed ~10-20% past 5×D.

    Taps that use a 4.2 mm drill

    Nearest drills

    • #19: 0.1660 in / 4.216 mm (+0.0006 in)
    • 4.1 mm: 0.1614 in / 4.100 mm (-0.0039 in)
    • 4.3 mm: 0.1693 in / 4.300 mm (+0.0039 in)
    • #18: 0.1695 in / 4.305 mm (+0.0042 in)

    Common questions

    What is a 4.2 mm drill in decimal and mm?
    0.1653 in, or 4.200 mm; nearest fractional drill: 11/64" (0.1719 in, +0.0065 in); nearest number / letter drill: #19 (0.1660 in, +0.0006 in).
    What RPM for a 4.2 mm drill in steel?
    In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS 4.2 mm drill (0.1653 in) runs about 2,080 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 6,930 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
    What feed for a 4.2 mm drill?
    About 0.0041 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0039 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0027 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 2,080 RPM that is 8.53 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
    What RPM for a 4.2 mm drill in aluminum?
    5,780 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 13,860 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0039 in/rev.
    What tap uses a 4.2 mm drill?
    M5×0.8 (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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