What Size Drill Bit

M1.6 x 0.35 tap drill size

1.25 mm

Inches
0.0492
Inch bit
#55
Thread
77%

Drill a 1.25 mm hole before cutting an M1.6 thread with 0.35 mm pitch. The rule for metric taps is diameter minus pitch.

1.25 mm 1.6 mm thread

No metric bits? A #55 bit (0.0520 in) gives about 61% thread.

M1.6 x 0.35 thread and hole sizes

ThreadM1.6, 0.35 mm pitch, coarse
Major diameter1.6 mm 0.0630 in
Tap drill1.25 mm 0.0492 in
Closest inch bit#55 0.0520 in
Clearance hole, close fit1.7 mm
Clearance hole, medium fit1.8 mm

Why 1.25 mm

Subtract the pitch from the diameter: 1.6 minus 0.35 is 1.25 mm. That leaves 77% thread, the usual target for a cut tap.

More thread than that adds almost no strength and makes the tap much easier to break. In hard or tough material, go 0.1 mm larger.

Tools for this job

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