3/16" Short-Flute Twist Drill (Sheet Metal)
Sheet-metal specialist next to T01’s general-purpose 1/8”. Short flutes instead of a short body: the flute length is what’s cut down here, so the bit clears thin material without the long spiral snagging and tearing the edge of the hole.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Bit size | 3/16” |
| Decimal equivalent | 0.1875” |
| Shank | 3/16” round |
| Point | Split point, 135° |
| Flutes | 2, right-hand, short spiral |
| Overall length | 2.000” |
| Max drilling depth | 0.75” |
| Length class | Short |
| Material | High-speed steel |
| Coating | Black oxide |
| Manufacturer | Republic Drill |
Notes
Short flutes, not just a short bit. T01 is McMaster’s “Short Length” class, a shorter overall bit for rigidity. This one is built for sheet metal specifically: the cutting flutes stop well short of the shank so there’s no long spiral to grab and deform thin stock or tubing on the way through.
Black oxide, not TiN. It’s the cheaper, plainer finish, but this bit is rated for the same “For Use On” list either way (iron, steel, stainless), and black oxide is the McMaster default for this whole sheet-metal family. No reason to pay more for a coating this bit won’t use hard enough to matter.
135° split point on 3/16” is still self-starting in sheet metal, but a punch mark helps more here than on the smaller 1/8” bit. Wider point, more contact area, more tendency to walk before it bites.
Links
- Product page: McMaster-Carr 3045A21
- Database: Tooling