What is a #53 drill in decimal and mm?

0.0595 in, or 1.511 mm; nearest fractional drill: 1/16" (0.0625 in, +0.0030 in); nearest metric drill: 1.5 mm (0.0591 in, -0.0004 in).

What RPM for a #53 drill in steel?

In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #53 drill (0.0595 in) runs about 5,780 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 19,260 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.

What feed for a #53 drill?

About 0.0014 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0014 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0010 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 5,780 RPM that is 8.09 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).

What RPM for a #53 drill in aluminum?

16,050 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 38,520 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0014 in/rev.

What tap uses a #53 drill?

1-64 (cut tap, 75% thread); 1-72 (cut tap, 75% thread).

#53 drill size

A #53 number (wire-gauge) drill is 0.0595 in (1.511 mm). It is the cut tap, 75% thread drill for 1-64.

Decimal inch: 0.0595
Millimeters: 1.511
Nearest 1/64: 1/16" (-0.0030)
Type: number (wire-gauge) drill

Nearest equivalents in other systems

Drills closest to #53
System	Drill	Inch	mm	Difference
Fractional	1/16"	0.0625	1.588	+0.0030 in
Metric	1.5 mm	0.0591	1.500	-0.0004 in

Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 5,780 RPM and 0.0014 in/rev (8.09 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 16,050 RPM.

#53 drill speeds and feeds by material

Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.0595 in. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D, rounded to 10. Feed per rev scales with diameter and material; IPM = RPM × IPR.

#53 drilling speeds
Material	HSS SFM	HSS RPM	Carbide SFM	Carbide RPM	Feed (in/rev)	HSS IPM	Carbide IPM
Aluminum (6061)	250	16,050	600	38,520	0.0014	22.5	53.9
Brass / free-machining	150	9,630	400	25,680	0.0011	10.6	28.3
Low-carbon steel (1018)	90	5,780	300	19,260	0.0014	8.09	27.0
Alloy steel (4140, annealed)	70	4,490	250	16,050	0.0014	6.29	22.5
Stainless 304	40	2,570	150	9,630	0.0010	2.57	9.63
Gray cast iron	80	5,140	250	16,050	0.0009	4.63	14.4
Titanium 6Al-4V	25	1,600	100	6,420	0.0007	1.12	4.49
Plastics (acetal)	300	19,260	500	32,100	0.0024	46.2	77.0

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, 5,780 RPM × 0.036 mm/rev = 206 mm/min.

Worked example: #53 drill in 1018 steel

HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.0595 ≈ 5,780 RPM.
Feed for a 0.059 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0014 in/rev.
IPM = 5,780 × 0.0014 = 8.09 IPM.

Peck cycle by hole depth

#53 drill: depth and canned cycle
Depth	Cycle	Peck	Note
3×D = 0.179 in (4.5 mm)	G81 (no peck)	None	Up to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own.
5×D = 0.298 in (7.6 mm)	G73 chip-break	1 × D	Chip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless).
8×D = 0.476 in (12.1 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 #53 drill

1-64 — cut tap, 75% thread · tap speeds and feeds
1-72 — cut tap, 75% thread · tap speeds and feeds

Nearest drills

1.5 mm: 0.0591 in / 1.500 mm (-0.0004 in)
1.55 mm: 0.0610 in / 1.550 mm (+0.0015 in)
1.45 mm: 0.0571 in / 1.450 mm (-0.0024 in)
1/16": 0.0625 in / 1.588 mm (+0.0030 in)

Drill speed calculator, prefilled for #53 Drill finder: sizes near #53 Number drill chart Decimal equivalent chart

Common questions

What is a #53 drill in decimal and mm?: 0.0595 in, or 1.511 mm; nearest fractional drill: 1/16" (0.0625 in, +0.0030 in); nearest metric drill: 1.5 mm (0.0591 in, -0.0004 in).
What RPM for a #53 drill in steel?: In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #53 drill (0.0595 in) runs about 5,780 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 19,260 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
What feed for a #53 drill?: About 0.0014 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0014 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0010 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 5,780 RPM that is 8.09 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
What RPM for a #53 drill in aluminum?: 16,050 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 38,520 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0014 in/rev.
What tap uses a #53 drill?: 1-64 (cut tap, 75% thread); 1-72 (cut tap, 75% thread).

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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