Need Metric ti inch conversion

Leroy

Well-known Member
I need to know what size drill bit to drill holes in wood for a 5 MM shelf pin? Drill set has inch, number and letter sizes.
 
(quoted from post at 17:19:23 12/05/18) I need to know what size drill bit to drill holes in wood for a 5 MM shelf pin? Drill set has inch, number and letter sizes.

One MM is approximately .040" Therefore, 5 MM = 5 x .040 = .200".
 
you only need to remember two numbers:
25.4
and
0.03937

for example:
5mm x [u:b5557b6889]0.03937[/u:b5557b6889] = 0.19685 inches
and 0.19685 inches x [u:b5557b6889]25.4[/u:b5557b6889] = 5mm
 
Pick up a set of cheap digital calipers that have both inch and metric. Makes conversions as easy as pushing a button.
 
I agree with JWA. Go to Google and type in the info you want such as: 5 mm to inches. The answer is immediate. I've used the Google search bar for this info many times and it's correct and immediate.
 
You can get a decimal size drill bit from MSC (and others) that measures in at 0.1969 inch.
 
The others are correct, 5mm is .1968 inches. A 13/64 (.203 inch) drill bit will give you .006 clearance, that should work fine.
 
You need a snug fit so the pins do not fall out. My drill box things are hard to read. If I am reading it correctly a no 11 bit is .191, a no 10 bit is .193, a no 9 is.196 and a no 8 is .199 and a 7 is .201 so would it be the no 9 @ .196 or the no 8 @ .199 that I should use. I would not know how to use one of those tools mentioned and I am going to be having to get rid of all my tools shortly as I cannot take them to the apartment. I just need to get the shelves so I can use thrm. And I never heard the word metric untill years after I was out of school. That is all Greek to me.
 

If it's only a shelf pin Leroy wouldn't it be easier and more accurate to buy a cheap 5mm drill bit ?
Fair enough if you live in a remote area , I do , but sometimes the wait fot the right tool is a good move .
 
I use a thing called computer.
In fact I use it to access this information.
this information and the rest of the stuff displayed as internet has each an address
it starts with http or sometimes numbers or some jibberish

If I "wipe away" what is there or simple with the mouse thing and it's button and some minor coordination highlite this area
I can then use this address area to answer questions
such as 5mm to in

Of course in the now available internet of everything they have some beer or tuna can looking thing that simply asking
.
hey stupid internet thing. "convert 5 millimeters ti inches" Fractional? decimal? inches?
.
If you only have a (smart)telephone, or TV you can simple look at it and ask
provided it has been preselected to answer questions
.
or post the simple question here and receive multiple answers, argument, variables, suggestions, humor, or who knows what else , or what for.
.
and it speaks to you with the answer
 
You don't even need to go the internet any more - the calculator that comes with Windows can do the conversions. I have to do some ounces to grams and back at work and the calculator is all I use.
 
Do you really need a press fit to hold the pins in place? Unless the application is mobile, the weight of the shelves will hold the pins in place. Worst case, use 3/16 (.1875 inch) steel dowel pins if metric is too confusing.
 
25.4 mm = 1 inch.

divide 5 mm by 25.4 and answer will be in inches.

Then you will have to convert decimal to fractions.
 
Here's my very low-tech method. Drill several holes in a piece of scrap wood with bits that look about the right size. Try the pin in the holes & pick the size you like. No thinking needed!
 
My low tech braille method would be bring the pin to the drill index box and stick in whatever hole looks close then keep trying smaller and smaller holes until I reach the first hole it does not fit.

All done, snug fit and I did not even have to waste time trying to find my glasses.
 
I agree with determined, try the pin in the index hole until it won't fit. Close enough and no mental mathematics error. I like to invoke the KISS principle, keep it simple stupid . that's me being the stupid one. gobble
 
BUT, one thing nobody has mentioned is that drill bits in wood drill slightly oversize. If you want the dowel pin snug you may need to use a bit smaller than the pins.

Grab several bits, drill a hole or two with each bit and test with a couple dowel pins, the pins can vary in size too.
 
I was trying the index hole and would find one that the pin fit correctlt, then would take the bit from that hole and just feeling it could tell it was smaller than the pin, same way for the next bit.
 
When the pins are loose in the hole they want to keep falling out before you can lay a shelf on them. 3 pins for shelf fit good, forth somebody before I got the cabinets some how screwed up the forth hole that even a quarter inch pim just falls out as soon as you let goe of it. I just need to put one new hole as close beside the dammaged hole as possable so shelf will stay in long enough to get it loaded, so used cases no chance to have a scrap piece to try the bits out on. Several cabinets and each has one messed up hole. but only about 3 holes total so cannot affored big money for a fix on 3 used cabinets. I have found that if you start out with too small a bit and then try the next size up it somehow ends up with that bit making the hole 4 sizes over size and I can only go about an inch to side of dammaged hole to put a new hole in. No place to just practice. Bits in box are not size hole they store in. but every bit in box of over a hundred bits are smaller than the hole they are fitted to and no none have been replaced to get the wrong size for that hole. These bits have never been used. Each cabinet wood is different on. Where they are going they don't have to match.
 
(quoted from post at 19:42:32 12/05/18) Pick up a set of cheap digital calipers that have both inch and metric. Makes conversions as easy as pushing a button.

Ditto .

They are $10 - $15 for a metal caliper ( some are plastic / ? )

You can also measure your pin and zero out the caliper . Then any drill bit you measure will tell you how much bigger or smaller the drill bit is .

Pressing the in/mm button automatically does the conversion for you . Very handy when trying to figure out if a bolt is sae or metric .

A caliper is handy when drilling a hole that you want to tap , in a non critical situation . Measure the tap on the inside threads and zero the readout , then measure drill bits and find the +/- that you want .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-150mm-St...ge/131342674573?hash=item1e94a22a8d:rk:4:pf:0
 
Give it up fellas! If he hasn't got it after 4 days and 29 posts, then he never will!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

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