5/64" drill size

    A 5/64" fractional drill is 0.0781 in (1.984 mm). It is the form (roll) tap, 65% thread drill for 2-56.

    Decimal inch
    0.0781
    Millimeters
    1.984
    Nearest 1/64
    5/64" (+0.0000)
    Type
    fractional drill

    Nearest equivalents in other systems

    Drills closest to 5/64"
    SystemDrillInchmmDifference
    Number / letter#470.07851.994+0.0004 in
    Metric2.0 mm0.07872.000+0.0006 in

    Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 4,400 RPM and 0.0018 in/rev (7.92 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 12,220 RPM.

    5/64" drill speeds and feeds by material

    Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.0781 in. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D, rounded to 10. Feed per rev scales with diameter and material; IPM = RPM × IPR.

    5/64" drilling speeds
    MaterialHSS SFMHSS RPMCarbide SFMCarbide RPMFeed (in/rev)HSS IPMCarbide IPM
    Aluminum (6061)25012,22060029,3400.001822.052.8
    Brass / free-machining1507,33040019,5600.001511.029.3
    Low-carbon steel (1018)904,40030014,6700.00187.9226.4
    Alloy steel (4140, annealed)703,42025012,2200.00186.1622.0
    Stainless 304401,9601507,3300.00132.559.53
    Gray cast iron803,91025012,2200.00114.3013.4
    Titanium 6Al-4V251,2201004,8900.00101.224.89
    Plastics (acetal)30014,67050024,4500.003145.575.8

    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, 4,400 RPM × 0.046 mm/rev = 201 mm/min.

    Worked example: 5/64" drill in 1018 steel

    1. HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
    2. RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.0781 ≈ 4,400 RPM.
    3. Feed for a 0.078 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0018 in/rev.
    4. IPM = 4,400 × 0.0018 = 7.92 IPM.

    Peck cycle by hole depth

    5/64" drill: depth and canned cycle
    DepthCyclePeckNote
    3×D = 0.234 in (6 mm)G81 (no peck)NoneUp to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own.
    5×D = 0.391 in (9.9 mm)G73 chip-break1 × DChip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless).
    8×D = 0.625 in (15.9 mm)G83 full retract0.5-1 × D, shrinking with depthRetract to clear chips; reduce feed ~10-20% past 5×D.

    Taps that use a 5/64" drill

    Nearest drills

    • #47: 0.0785 in / 1.994 mm (+0.0004 in)
    • 2.0 mm: 0.0787 in / 2.000 mm (+0.0006 in)
    • 1.95 mm: 0.0768 in / 1.950 mm (-0.0014 in)
    • #48: 0.0760 in / 1.930 mm (-0.0021 in)

    Common questions

    What is a 5/64" drill in decimal and mm?
    0.0781 in, or 1.984 mm; nearest number / letter drill: #47 (0.0785 in, +0.0004 in); nearest metric drill: 2.0 mm (0.0787 in, +0.0006 in).
    What RPM for a 5/64" drill in steel?
    In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS 5/64" drill (0.0781 in) runs about 4,400 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 14,670 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
    What feed for a 5/64" drill?
    About 0.0018 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0018 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0013 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 4,400 RPM that is 7.92 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
    What RPM for a 5/64" drill in aluminum?
    12,220 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 29,340 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0018 in/rev.
    What tap uses a 5/64" drill?
    2-56 (form (roll) tap, 65% 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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