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Hole vs. tap size

SpeedCoach

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
633
Location
Chicagoland
This is a dumb question I'm sure....but I don't know the answer so I turn to your expertise...

Is there some sort of simple chart that indicates what size hole to drill in order to tap for X size fastener? :dunno:

I'm certain there is, and I've looked - but I must just not be using the right terminology.

I appreciate the help gang - thanks in advance.
 
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magnetnerd

Active member
Joined
Feb 23, 2010
Messages
38
Or tap clearance, etc. yes there are definitely standards for these things. If you need to know these type of things frequently, I'd recommend investing in the Machinery's Handbook.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk
 

bobadame

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 26, 2007
Messages
1,124
There are "tap drill charts" that list the information you're looking for. A simple rule of thumb if you are not close a google machine: The size difference between the major diameter of the bolt and the tap drill is equal to the pitch of the thread you want to make. In other words, take a 1/4-20 bolt. The major diameter is .250". The tap drill size is .201". The difference between those diameters is .049". The bolt has a pitch of 20 threads per inch. If you divide an inch by 20 you get .050, really close to the .049" number. This method works for any size or pitch machine screw.
 

mike13u

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Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
616
Location
S.Florida
Print laminate and hang in your shop or find an old hardware store sign that has this info and hang it. You will use it all the time. A must have.

Here is an old sign/tap chart I found on eBay and have hanging on my wall behind my lathe:
TapChart.jpg
 

purplezr2

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Joined
Jun 1, 2010
Messages
5,292
Location
Central MN
They make a free Iphone app for it even. I just google drill chart. I found on I like and just leave it as a browser window on my phone/
 

Outlander

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Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
5,154
Location
Quebec, Canada
All our tool vendors used to leave us little plastic cards with tap drill sizes, metric equivalents or whatever back in the day. Of course, we didn't have that fancy internet thing and Machineries Handbook was hardcover book :)
 
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gatewaysysop

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Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
3,290
Location
Arizona
thats nice

I'm cheap, and did the print laminate thing

I have a vintage sign just like this one, only from the Cleveland Twist Drill co., absolutely love it. Have it hanging beside my 1946 floor model Craftsman drill press. :D

Great to have and really cool.
 

rockchucker

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Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
1,764
Location
Seattle WA
Print laminate and hang in your shop or find an old hardware store sign that has this info and hang it. You will use it all the time. A must have.

Here is an old sign/tap chart I found on eBay and have hanging on my wall behind my lathe:
TapChart.jpg


Very nice! I just bought a set of new Twist Drill Bits! They work very well.
 

zmotorsports

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
21,350
Location
Northern Utah
If you have a local Grainger or Motion Industries dealer/distributor in your area they have some nice laminated ones. Motion Industries has a nice one that is on the backside of the cover of their desk calendars each year. We have several of them hanging around in our shops at work and I have one over my lathe/mill at my home shop.

Mike.

P.S., I have also seen nice ones from Fastenal and Lawson products if you have any of those distributors around.
 

Regnar

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 9, 2010
Messages
461
First metric chart that I have seen. I was always taught minus 1 for steel and minus 1.5 for Aluminum. So if you had 10 fastener you need a 9mm hole for steel and a 8.5 for aluminum. Size chart confirms.
 
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