Subject: Twist drill sizes (gage vs inch)

From: Les Bartel <"(email me at) lbartel"@veribest.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 08:21:19 -0600

Where can I get a table of drill sizes to convert from ga(u)ge to
inch?  I have a few taps that recommend a certain gage bit.  My
bits are sized in fractions of an inch.

 - les

-- 

 - les

I try to mean what I say, but sometime I don't say what I mean.
Therefore, it is up to you to make sure that what I say is what I
mean.

My return mail address is incorrect to prevent spammers from getting
my real address.

Les Bartel
[email-masked]
VeriBest, Inc.  (A wholly owned subsidiary of Intergraph Corp.)
Huntsville, AL. (Corporate office in Boulder CO.)

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 11 Dec 1996 22:11:38 GMT

>bits are sized in fractions of an inch.

Why not buy sets of number and letter drills for giving the best thread
engagement?

Peter

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From: "Curt Hagenlocher" <[email-masked]>
Date: 11 Dec 1996 15:53:46 GMT

Les Bartel <"(email me at) lbartel"@veribest.com> wrote in article
<[email-masked]>...
> bits are sized in fractions of an inch.

Sorry... as a new arrival to this hobby, I've run into this same
problem.  There is no direct correlation between them.  I'm not
sure if there is a formula for the wire gage sizes, but here are
some sample diameters from Machinery's Handbook.

Gage	Diameter (in)
10	.1935
9	.1960
8	.1990
7	.2010
6	.2040

As you can see, there is neither an obvious formula relating gage
to diameter, nor is there any correlation between these sizes and
the set of x/64" diameter twist drills that can be bought at most
hardware / home improvement stores.  Unless you're willing to live
with the difference between the closest drill you have and the drill
you want (not a particularly good idea for tapping), you'll just have
to find a tool store that caters to a more sophisticated :-) clientele.

--
Curt Hagenlocher
[email-masked]

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From: Les Bartel <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 08:27:34 -0600

> Why not buy sets of number and letter drills for giving the best thread

Because I don't do enough tapping to make it worth buying.  Scott
pointed me to a great chart online - 
http://www.widell.com/drillsiz.html

-- 

 - les

Les Bartel
[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (Scott Logan)
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 01:22:20 GMT

>bits are sized in fractions of an inch.

Check some catalogs, including MSC.  Many have a decimal equivalent
chart.  Also, I think Widell has one on their Web Site
http://www.widell.com/ or perhaps at their Drill Chart (real handy
pointer here): http://www.widell.com/drillsiz.html

Scott Logan
[email-masked]
www.loganact.com

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From: Paul Pierce <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 20:37:04 -0700

> bits are sized in fractions of an inch.

Got a real nice Starrett wall chart of tap drill sizes and decimal
equivalents (doesn't have meteric) for $3.25 from Wholesale Tool
(page 410)  (1-800-521-3420)

-- 
Paul in AJ AZ  NRA Endowment Member

Checkout the Metal Web News at:
new address (11/23/96)

http://www.ten.k12.tn.us/~wgray

Checkout the FAQ at:
http://PLAINS.UWYO.EDU/%7Emetal/index.html

Wholesale Tool

Industrial supplies

Wholesale Tool
P.O. Box 68
Warren MI  48089-0068

Phone: 1-800-521-3420
       1-810-754-9270

FAX:   1-800-521-3661
       1-810-754-8652

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From: NJRich <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 12:03:36 -0800

Thank you Steve,

This NG is too much! The only complaint I have is that
I am exhausted from turning over a front handspring followed by
a round off and seven back handsprings and a triple back somersault!
Right down the block in the middle of my street!
I am so happy I found this group.

British Tools and Fasteners has my BA taps on the way!

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From: "Steven O. Smith" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 16:18:59 GMT

NJRich wrote:
> 
> Hi ,
> 
> Does anyone know a stateside source for BA taps? I am building the
> Stuart model Victoria. The taps are a must. Victoria requires
> BA 2,5 and 7. ( A source besides Coles models please )
> 
> Thank you...
> Be safe!
> Rich

Dear Rich,

Here's some stuff I saved from other correspondence:

----------------------------------
You should be able to find a 1/4-26 BSF tap from one of
these places:

Name:        Metric and Multistandard Corporation
Phone:       (708) 655-9009 

They will ship small orders, COD. Ask for their catalog (it's great).

British Cycle Supply Company
Box 119
Wolfville, NS B0P 1X0
CANADA
Phone (902) 542-7478 (3 lines)
Fax (902) 542-7479

British Tools and Fasteners
Phillip Brown
2030 Andre Avenue
Los Osos, CA 93402 USA
(805) 528-0418
FAX: (805) 528-0358
[email-masked]
http://www.majon.com/www/british.html

Online order form for tools & fasteners in BA, BSF BSW and BS CYCLE
sizes.
Also have TAPS and DIES in sets and singularly in M.E. SIZES.
Catalog $2.

British Cycle Supply Company
Box 119
Wolfville, NS B0P 1X0
CANADA
Phone (902) 542-7478 (3 lines)
Fax (902) 542-7479

Although this company specialises in parts and accessories
for British bikes, not cars, they have been supplying customers for
over 18 years, and have a number of items which would be of interest
to British car owners, primarily Whitworth tools and hardware.

They are direct importers, and supply retail and wholesale.

While a copy of their 176 pg. pricguide/catalogue is available for
$5.00 postpaid (prepaid or by calling with a credit card number) best
bet is to phone them any weekday. They have warehouses in both the USA
and
Canada, and accept all credit cards. - Wayne Swift 

-- 
Steven O. Smith
[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (Chris Kantarjiev)
Date: 12 Dec 1996 19:23:33 GMT

The last page of the KBC catalog has a nice equivalence table, including
a tapping chart. It's 8.5x11 inches, so it fits perfectly in a sheet
protector, which I have hung on the wall above the lathe.

Starrett will send you a free card with equivalents - it's about 3x5.
Just write and ask (address in the FAQ).

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 10:10:14 GMT

>>bits are sized in fractions of an inch.

Darex has what you want and more, good site for all to see.

http://www.darex.com/index.html

scroll down to :   Information-we got information	and click

scroll down to :  Tap Drill Size Chart               and click

print it out for reference

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From: NJRich <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 07:46:28 -0800

Hi ,

Thank you...
Be safe!
Rich

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From: [email-masked] (Bruce Holder)
Date: 12 Dec 1996 20:51:49 GMT

> > bits are sized in fractions of an inch.

  The MSC catalog (see FAQ) has a table inside the back cover. It
also has a column of decimal equivalents on several of the pages that
have all the drill sizes mixed together in one list.

  Machinery's Handbook has a table in the twist drill chapter.

  Tool vendors frequently offer a wall chart as a promotional item.
I got mine from the Denver dealer (whose name I have forgotten (so
just exactly how successful was the promotion?)) that I bought my
milling attachment from.

  At least one advertiser in HSM offers a wall chart.
 
  You can't have too many of them, especially if you sit and think
and doodle in a different room from where you cut metal.

> There is no direct correlation between them. [... H]ere are

> Gage	Diameter (in)

  It's even worse than that. If you sit down with the number and letter
drills and plot the intervals between adjacent sizes, you'll see that
there _can't_ be a formula because there isn't a regular size difference
between adjacent sizes. So basically you have to have the table.

  You're going to want at least an MSC catalog and Machinery's Handbook
anyway if you're serious about metal. The MSC catalog is free for the
asking at (800)645-7270 and just by sheerest coincidence (No, I'm not
an MSC shareholder.) they have Machinery's Handbook on sale this month.

Bruce

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From: [email-masked] (Nigel Cliffe)
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 07:47:02 +0000

> BA 2,5 and 7. ( A source besides Coles models please )

Reeves in Birmingham, UK have them. 

http://www.fotec.co.uk/mehs/reeves/mindex.htm

- Nigel.

-- 
Nigel Cliffe,   mailto:[email-masked]   BT Labs, Ipswich, UK
   Opinions my own, they may or may not be shared by my employers