#54 drill size
A #54 number (wire-gauge) drill is 0.0550 in (1.397 mm). It is the form (roll) tap, 65% thread drill for 0-80.
- Decimal inch
- 0.0550
- Millimeters
- 1.397
- Nearest 1/64
- 1/16" (-0.0075)
- Type
- number (wire-gauge) drill
Nearest equivalents in other systems
| System | Drill | Inch | mm | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional | 1/16" | 0.0625 | 1.588 | +0.0075 in |
| Metric | 1.4 mm | 0.0551 | 1.400 | +0.0001 in |
Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 6,250 RPM and 0.0013 in/rev (8.13 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 17,360 RPM.
#54 drill speeds and feeds by material
Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.0550 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 | 17,360 | 600 | 41,670 | 0.0013 | 22.6 | 54.2 |
| Brass / free-machining | 150 | 10,420 | 400 | 27,780 | 0.0011 | 11.5 | 30.6 |
| Low-carbon steel (1018) | 90 | 6,250 | 300 | 20,830 | 0.0013 | 8.13 | 27.1 |
| Alloy steel (4140, annealed) | 70 | 4,860 | 250 | 17,360 | 0.0013 | 6.32 | 22.6 |
| Stainless 304 | 40 | 2,780 | 150 | 10,420 | 0.0009 | 2.50 | 9.38 |
| Gray cast iron | 80 | 5,560 | 250 | 17,360 | 0.0008 | 4.45 | 13.9 |
| Titanium 6Al-4V | 25 | 1,740 | 100 | 6,940 | 0.0007 | 1.22 | 4.86 |
| Plastics (acetal) | 300 | 20,830 | 500 | 34,720 | 0.0022 | 45.8 | 76.4 |
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, 6,250 RPM × 0.033 mm/rev = 206 mm/min.
Worked example: #54 drill in 1018 steel
- HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
- RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.0550 ≈ 6,250 RPM.
- Feed for a 0.055 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0013 in/rev.
- IPM = 6,250 × 0.0013 = 8.13 IPM.
Peck cycle by hole depth
| Depth | Cycle | Peck | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3×D = 0.165 in (4.2 mm) | G81 (no peck) | None | Up to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own. |
| 5×D = 0.275 in (7 mm) | G73 chip-break | 1 × D | Chip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless). |
| 8×D = 0.440 in (11.2 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 #54 drill
- 0-80 — form (roll) tap, 65% thread · tap speeds and feeds
Nearest drills
- 1.4 mm: 0.0551 in / 1.400 mm (+0.0001 in)
- 1.35 mm: 0.0532 in / 1.350 mm (-0.0019 in)
- 1.45 mm: 0.0571 in / 1.450 mm (+0.0021 in)
- #55: 0.0520 in / 1.321 mm (-0.0030 in)
Common questions
- What is a #54 drill in decimal and mm?
- 0.0550 in, or 1.397 mm; nearest fractional drill: 1/16" (0.0625 in, +0.0075 in); nearest metric drill: 1.4 mm (0.0551 in, +0.0001 in).
- What RPM for a #54 drill in steel?
- In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #54 drill (0.0550 in) runs about 6,250 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 20,830 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
- What feed for a #54 drill?
- About 0.0013 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0013 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0009 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 6,250 RPM that is 8.13 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
- What RPM for a #54 drill in aluminum?
- 17,360 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 41,670 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0013 in/rev.
- What tap uses a #54 drill?
- 0-80 (form (roll) tap, 65% 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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