Rivets, Wire Gauge and Drill bit sizes

Jewelry Discussion
1

I would like to find some kind of chart that matches up wire gauges
with drill bit sizes. I would like to try my hand at some simple
riveting exercises, but need a bit of a start with this

Thank you,
Stephanie

2 
I would like to find some kind of chart that matches up wire
gauges with drill bit sizes.  I would like to try my hand at some
simple riveting exercises, but need a bit of a start with this

Hi Stephanie,

I would suggest aquiring a set of vernier calipers (mine are
electronic). Comparing sizes between wire and drill bits becomes very
simple. I use my calipers everytime I make something.

Regards,
Donna
Halifax, NS

3 
I would like to find some kind of chart that matches up wire gauges
with drill bit sizes.

Hello Stephanie,

You’ll find that there is often no 1-to-1 relationship between wire
gauge and drill bit sizes but the drill-wire-fractions-decimal-mm
chart at

http://www.yankeecruisah.com/yc-equiv.html

will certainly allow you to pick the drill size closest to a given
gauge of wire or vice versa. There are many similar charts out there,
I just happen to find this one particularly useful because of it’s
layout.

If you’re trying to be precise you might want to use a calipers or
micrometer to measure your drill before you actually do the drilling.
I’ve found that drills can vary several thou --or more!-- from the
nominal sizes and it doesn’t always depend on the drill quality.

Cheers,
Trevor F.

4

Tim McCreight’s “The Metalsmith’s Book of Boxes and Lockets”,
“Working with Precious Metal Clay” and “Fundamentals of
Metalsmithing” all have such a chart in the back.

The Metalsmith’s Book of Boxes & Lockets (Jewelry Crafts)
By Tim McCreight

Price: $20.39

Media: Hardcover
Manufacturer : North Light Books
Release data : 01 September, 1999

Linda

5

Stephanie,

The simple way to do this would be to us a micrometer or millimeter
gauge. You can also use a wire and sheet gauge.

Simply measure the diameter of the wire and match it to the drill
bit size that you would like to use.

Good luck
Greg DeMark
email: greg@demarkjewelry.com
Website: www.demarkjewelry.com

6

Hi, Stephanie, I would suggest you buy an ordinary wire and machine
screw guage, about $15 at most hardware stores and home centers. It
is a steel plate with graduated holes labeled with drill size and a
couple of other things. You can mark which holes correspond to what
wire guages, or just poke the wire you want to use into it until you
find a match. It is also handy for making head pins, if you don’t
have a round draw plate, or for flattening one end of your rivet
before inserting in your work (ball one end of a wire, stick it into
the smallest hole it will fit in, tap with a hammer).

–Noel

7

MonsterSlayer http://www.monsterslayer.com/ provides an
excellant multi color chart that prints wonderfully that I keep
hanging around my studio in handy positions. It provides Inch, MM,
Gauge, and Drill ##.

I’m also giving the full URL for the one page as well, but look
around the whole site, they have good pricing and great personal
service any time I’ve ordered. I’m just a pleased customer, in no
way associated with them.

Chart http://www.monsterslayer.com/miscpages/Timgd.htm

Cheers
Ed

8

Hi Stephanie,

I would like to find some kind of chart that matches up wire
gauges with drill bit sizes.

You might try ‘The Complete Metalsmith’. There’s a chart on page
181 in my older copy of it that lists the B & S ga numbers from 3 to
29 with the corresponding drill number.

Dave

9

I know I’ve seen such a chart, and I may actually be able to find
it.

In the meantime, you don’t actually need a chart, though I
understand if you’d like one. Just take your drill bit and hold the
end of it up to the end of the wire or tubing that you want to use.
This has always worked for me.

I’d suggest you check The Complete Metalsmith, Pocket Ref. I’ll
find my chart and get back to you.

Elaine
Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor

Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay

10

Don’t forget to allow for the drill kerf - the hole will be a little
larger than the drill bit so that even a physical comparison of wire
with drill bit won’t be 1:1

Pam Chott
www.songofthephoenix.com

11

I just wanted to thank everyone for pointing me in the right
direction. I printed out a chart from Monsterslayer that I think
will work just fine. I am self-teaching myself some basic cold-join
metalsmithing skills, and am currently interested in rivets.

I am using an old fashioned eggbeater style hand drill, and needed
to purchase some drill bits that corresponded to the various wire
sizes that I have on hand. (12,14,16,18,20) I will eventually pick
up a B&S gauge.

Thanks again!
Stephanie

12 
    I would suggest aquiring a set of vernier calipers (mine are
electronic). Comparing sizes between wire and drill bits becomes
very simple. I use my calipers everytime I make something.

Hi Folks…

What you want to look for is either a dial or electronic
caliper… A vernier caliper uses a set of scales against each
other to provide the measurement… Think of a slide rule (remember
those?) to get a picture sort of how you read it…

The dial or the electronic caliper provides a much more user
friendly readout…although the vernier setup can provide greater
precision and repeatabilty…

The electronics offer the ability to switch back and forth between
metric and English measurement…(which is a true boon for anyone
into gemstones and jewelry)…

Prices start at about $20 more or less and go up…

Gary W. Bourbonais
A.J.P. (GIA)

13

Stephanie,

Try your Rio Grande or Indian Jeweler’s Supply catalogs. I’m pretty
sure that both have a chart that compares drill sizes to wire gauges
and sawblade sizes. Rio Grande’s is, I think, in the section of the
catalog that features sawblades; Indian Jewelers Supply is (again, I
think) near the front.

HTH, and have fun,
Jessee Smith
www.silverspotstudio.com