Clearance, Mild Steel

Punch Clearance for Mild Steel

Gauge or Size Approx. Decimal Thickness Overall Clearance
(add to punch size)

30
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
13
12
11
1/8"
10
5/32"
8
7
3/16"
1/4"
5/16"
3/8"
1/2"
5/8"
3/4" .0120
.0149
.0179
.0239
.0299
.0359
.0478
.0598
.0747
.0897
.1046
.1196
.125
.1345
.156
.164
.1793
.1875
.250
.3125
.375
.500
.625
.750 slip fit
slip fit
slip fit
.003
.003
.004
.005
.005
.006
.009
.009
.011
.011
.013
.015
.017
.021
.023
.037
.047
.157
.075
.125
.150

Note: Most grades of half hard aluminum use the same clearance as mild steel. Practical experience, in many cases may dictate that you call for clearances different from the above for other alloys of steel or copper.

Gauge or Size	Approx. Decimal Thickness	Overall Clearance (add to punch size)
30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 13 12 11 1/8" 10 5/32" 8 7 3/16" 1/4" 5/16" 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4"	.0120 .0149 .0179 .0239 .0299 .0359 .0478 .0598 .0747 .0897 .1046 .1196 .125 .1345 .156 .164 .1793 .1875 .250 .3125 .375 .500 .625 .750	slip fit slip fit slip fit .003 .003 .004 .005 .005 .006 .009 .009 .011 .011 .013 .015 .017 .021 .023 .037 .047 .157 .075 .125 .150
Note: Most grades of half hard aluminum use the same clearance as mild steel. Practical experience, in many cases may dictate that you call for clearances different from the above for other alloys of steel or copper.