2-56 taps are hand taps that are commonly used for general purposes. They’re mainly used for tapping steel, aluminum, zinc, and other ductile materials. If you want to know what size drill bit for a 2-56 tap is, read further down below.
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What Size Drill Bit for a 2-56 Tap?
A 2-56 tap has a size drill bit of 0.0700 inches in decimal or a drill bit size #50. It’s part of the National Coarse or UNC (Unified National Coarse) so they usually have fewer threads like the 7/16- 14 tap.
A #50 drill bit is around the middle of the sizing chart so you can say it’s medium-sized like the 1/64 tap. You’re probably wondering why it’s only in decimals and not fractions and that is because there are no standard fractional drill bits that are exactly 7/100 fraction that the #50 drill bit is.
Tips for Using Medium Drill Bits
Know Your Drill Speed
For medium drill bits, it’s important to know the speed of the drill. Drill bits get hotter the faster it spins. When drilling metal or bricks, most people would set their drills to low speed and pressure. This is to avoid overheating and damage to the drill.
The drill’s speed should be adequate for the size of the drill bits, which is medium. The bigger your drill bits are, the slower the speed should be. For medium drill bits, moderate speed is generally what you want. It helps you drill through metal and bricks faster and with better precision.
Maintaining the right speed helps prevent the drill from overheating. If you see smoke coming from your drill, it’s a sign that you should stop what you’re doing and let your drill cool down.
Wear Protective Eyewear
Since I’m dealing with medium drill bits, debris could fly away and land into your eyes. Accidents related to eyes are one of the most common mistakes people do when handling drills. It’s important to protect your eyes from flying debris, which might lead to serious injuries.
Wear safety glasses as a precaution. There is a lot of protective eyewear you can choose from that has different designs. Choose one that fits snugly in your head so it doesn’t slip off as you are drilling.
You can put it in a checklist before drilling so you won’t forget to wear them.
Maintain Your Drill Bits and Drill Tools
Your drill bits have a lifespan, and the less you take care of them, the less you will be able to use them. That’s why it’s important to do regular maintenance to check on their condition.
The quality of your work usually determines your tool’s quality. Quality workpieces can only be produced when your tools are in good condition. It’s also essential to do regular maintenance if you want to avoid mistakes and accidents when drilling.
Maintaining your drill bits extend their lifespan so you can use them longer, saving you from unwarranted replacements. You can do maintenance before and after use if you want to be meticulous.
Conclusion
Now that you know the right size drill bit for the 2-56 tap, make sure you use the correct measurements to ensure proper function and effectiveness. 2-56 taps are commonly used in most materials so you will use them a lot.
