#63 drill size
A #63 number (wire-gauge) drill is 0.0370 in (0.940 mm).
- Decimal inch
- 0.0370
- Millimeters
- 0.940
- Nearest 1/64
- 1/32" (+0.0057)
- Type
- number (wire-gauge) drill
Nearest equivalents in other systems
| System | Drill | Inch | mm | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional | 1/32" | 0.0313 | 0.794 | -0.0057 in |
| Metric | 0.95 mm | 0.0374 | 0.950 | +0.0004 in |
Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 9,290 RPM and 0.0009 in/rev (8.36 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 25,810 RPM.
#63 drill speeds and feeds by material
Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.0370 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 | 25,810 | 600 | 61,940 | 0.0008 | 20.6 | 49.5 |
| Brass / free-machining | 150 | 15,490 | 400 | 41,290 | 0.0007 | 10.8 | 28.9 |
| Low-carbon steel (1018) | 90 | 9,290 | 300 | 30,970 | 0.0009 | 8.36 | 27.9 |
| Alloy steel (4140, annealed) | 70 | 7,230 | 250 | 25,810 | 0.0009 | 6.51 | 23.2 |
| Stainless 304 | 40 | 4,130 | 150 | 15,490 | 0.0006 | 2.48 | 9.29 |
| Gray cast iron | 80 | 8,260 | 250 | 25,810 | 0.0005 | 4.13 | 12.9 |
| Titanium 6Al-4V | 25 | 2,580 | 100 | 10,320 | 0.0005 | 1.29 | 5.16 |
| Plastics (acetal) | 300 | 30,970 | 500 | 51,620 | 0.0015 | 46.5 | 77.4 |
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, 9,290 RPM × 0.023 mm/rev = 212 mm/min.
Worked example: #63 drill in 1018 steel
- HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
- RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.0370 ≈ 9,290 RPM.
- Feed for a 0.037 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0009 in/rev.
- IPM = 9,290 × 0.0009 = 8.36 IPM.
Peck cycle by hole depth
| Depth | Cycle | Peck | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3×D = 0.111 in (2.8 mm) | G81 (no peck) | None | Up to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own. |
| 5×D = 0.185 in (4.7 mm) | G73 chip-break | 1 × D | Chip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless). |
| 8×D = 0.296 in (7.5 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 #63 drill
No standard UNC, UNF or metric tap in our tables calls for a #63 drill. Use it for clearance, pilot or reamer prep holes.
Nearest drills
- 0.95 mm: 0.0374 in / 0.950 mm (+0.0004 in)
- #64: 0.0360 in / 0.914 mm (-0.0010 in)
- #62: 0.0380 in / 0.965 mm (+0.0010 in)
- 0.9 mm: 0.0354 in / 0.900 mm (-0.0016 in)
Common questions
- What is a #63 drill in decimal and mm?
- 0.0370 in, or 0.940 mm; nearest fractional drill: 1/32" (0.0313 in, -0.0057 in); nearest metric drill: 0.95 mm (0.0374 in, +0.0004 in).
- What RPM for a #63 drill in steel?
- In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #63 drill (0.0370 in) runs about 9,290 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 30,970 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
- What feed for a #63 drill?
- About 0.0009 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0008 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0006 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 9,290 RPM that is 8.36 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
- What RPM for a #63 drill in aluminum?
- 25,810 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 61,940 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0008 in/rev.
- What size is a #63 drill?
- 0.0370 in / 0.940 mm. The nearest other drills are 0.95 mm (0.0374 in), #64 (0.0360 in), #62 (0.0380 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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