#59 drill size
A #59 number (wire-gauge) drill is 0.0410 in (1.041 mm).
- Decimal inch
- 0.0410
- Millimeters
- 1.041
- Nearest 1/64
- 3/64" (-0.0059)
- Type
- number (wire-gauge) drill
Nearest equivalents in other systems
| System | Drill | Inch | mm | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional | 3/64" | 0.0469 | 1.191 | +0.0059 in |
| Metric | 1.05 mm | 0.0413 | 1.050 | +0.0003 in |
Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 8,380 RPM and 0.0010 in/rev (8.38 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 23,290 RPM.
#59 drill speeds and feeds by material
Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.0410 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 | 23,290 | 600 | 55,900 | 0.0009 | 21.0 | 50.3 |
| Brass / free-machining | 150 | 13,970 | 400 | 37,270 | 0.0008 | 11.2 | 29.8 |
| Low-carbon steel (1018) | 90 | 8,380 | 300 | 27,950 | 0.0010 | 8.38 | 27.9 |
| Alloy steel (4140, annealed) | 70 | 6,520 | 250 | 23,290 | 0.0010 | 6.52 | 23.3 |
| Stainless 304 | 40 | 3,730 | 150 | 13,970 | 0.0007 | 2.61 | 9.78 |
| Gray cast iron | 80 | 7,450 | 250 | 23,290 | 0.0006 | 4.47 | 14.0 |
| Titanium 6Al-4V | 25 | 2,330 | 100 | 9,320 | 0.0005 | 1.17 | 4.66 |
| Plastics (acetal) | 300 | 27,950 | 500 | 46,580 | 0.0016 | 44.7 | 74.5 |
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, 8,380 RPM × 0.025 mm/rev = 213 mm/min.
Worked example: #59 drill in 1018 steel
- HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
- RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.0410 ≈ 8,380 RPM.
- Feed for a 0.041 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0010 in/rev.
- IPM = 8,380 × 0.0010 = 8.38 IPM.
Peck cycle by hole depth
| Depth | Cycle | Peck | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3×D = 0.123 in (3.1 mm) | G81 (no peck) | None | Up to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own. |
| 5×D = 0.205 in (5.2 mm) | G73 chip-break | 1 × D | Chip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless). |
| 8×D = 0.328 in (8.3 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 #59 drill
No standard UNC, UNF or metric tap in our tables calls for a #59 drill. Use it for clearance, pilot or reamer prep holes.
Nearest drills
- 1.05 mm: 0.0413 in / 1.050 mm (+0.0003 in)
- #60: 0.0400 in / 1.016 mm (-0.0010 in)
- #58: 0.0420 in / 1.067 mm (+0.0010 in)
- 1.0 mm: 0.0394 in / 1.000 mm (-0.0016 in)
Common questions
- What is a #59 drill in decimal and mm?
- 0.0410 in, or 1.041 mm; nearest fractional drill: 3/64" (0.0469 in, +0.0059 in); nearest metric drill: 1.05 mm (0.0413 in, +0.0003 in).
- What RPM for a #59 drill in steel?
- In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #59 drill (0.0410 in) runs about 8,380 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 27,950 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
- What feed for a #59 drill?
- About 0.0010 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0009 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0007 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 8,380 RPM that is 8.38 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
- What RPM for a #59 drill in aluminum?
- 23,290 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 55,900 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0009 in/rev.
- What size is a #59 drill?
- 0.0410 in / 1.041 mm. The nearest other drills are 1.05 mm (0.0413 in), #60 (0.0400 in), #58 (0.0420 in).
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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