1-11/16-18 UNEF Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

1-11/16-18 UNEF is the Unified extra fine thread for the 1-11/16 in (42.86 mm) diameter: 18 threads per inch, a pitch of 0.05556 in (1.411 mm), on a 60° profile. ASME B1.1 lists it in the UNEF series as a secondary size.

Thread profile

major Ø1.688 in10 threads = 0.556 in
1-11/16-18 UNEF drawn to scale: 70 threads in 3.86 in of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 0.0556 inmajor Ø d1.6875 inpitch Ø d21.6514 inminor Ø D11.6274 in5H/8 = 0.0301 inthread axis
Basic profile with the 1-11/16-18 UNEF dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

1-11/16-18 UNEF basic dimensions

Dimensioninmm
Major diameter d = D1.687542.862
Pitch P0.055561.411
Pitch diameter d2 = D21.651441.946
Minor diameter, internal thread D11.627441.335
Minor diameter, external UNR thread d31.621341.182
Height of fundamental triangle H0.04811.222
Thread height, internal (5H/8)0.03010.764
Thread height, external (11H/16)0.03310.840
Crest flat of external thread (P/8)0.00690.176
Crest flat of internal thread (P/4)0.01390.353
PropertyValue
Threads per inch18
Flank angle60° (30° each side)
Lead angle at the pitch diameter0.61°
Tensile stress area As2.1 in² (1350 mm²)

Basic (nominal) sizes per ASME B1.1, before tolerances. A UN external thread with a flat root has the same basic minor diameter as the nut (D1); d3 applies to the rounded UNR root.

1-11/16-18 UNEF limits of size (class 2A bolt, 2B nut)

Classes 2A and 2B are the general-purpose fits for commercial bolts, screws and nuts. The 2A external thread has an allowance of 0.0015 in, so its maximum size is that much below basic; the 2B nut starts at the basic size.

External thread 2AMax (in)Min (in)Tolerance (in)
Major diameter1.68601.67730.0087
Pitch diameter1.64991.64490.0050
Internal thread 2BMax (in)Min (in)Tolerance (in)
Minor diameter1.6401.6270.0130
Pitch diameter1.65791.65140.0065

Limits of size from ASME B1.1 Table 2.

1-11/16-18 UNEF tap drill size

Tap drill for 1-11/16-18 UNEF: 1-41/64" (1.6406 in, 41.67 mm)

This leaves about 65% thread in the tapped hole.

Published charts rarely list this size. 1-41/64" is the nominal diameter minus 3/64 in, the same convention charts use for 9/16-18 and 5/8-18.

The 2B minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 1.627 and 1.640 in. The charted drill is slightly under that band: the tap trims the crests to size, at the cost of higher tapping torque. A drill inside the band is the safer choice in tough materials.

Other drills that work for 1-11/16-18 UNEF

A larger drill cuts less thread and taps more easily; a smaller one gives a fuller thread but loads the tap harder.

Drillmmin% threadWithin 2B limitsThread engagement
1-5/8"41.271.625087%no
41.5 mm41.501.633974%yes
1-41/64"recommended41.671.640665%no

% thread = (major diameter − drill diameter) ÷ (1.299 × pitch). See the tap drill chart for how to choose a percentage.

Clearance hole for 1-11/16 in

ASME B18.2.8 covers sizes up to 1-1/2 in, so there is no standard clearance hole for the 1-11/16 in size. Size the hole from the fit the joint needs.

1-11/16-18 UNEF strength

SAE J429 stops at 1-1/2 in, so the SAE grades give no proof load for 1-11/16-18 UNEF. Bolts this large are made to specifications such as ASTM A307, A449 or A354, whose strengths depend on diameter. For an estimate, multiply the tensile stress area of 2.1 in² by the strength of the material: for example, 60,000 psi gives 126,000 lbf.

Closest metric thread

No metric thread is interchangeable with 1-11/16-18 UNEF. The nearest is M42×1.5, which is 0.86 mm smaller in diameter with a pitch of 1.500 mm against 1.411 mm. A nut may start on the wrong thread and then bind or strip, so identify by both diameter and pitch.

ThreadMajor Ø (mm)Pitch (mm)TPIØ difference (mm)
1-11/16-18 UNEF (this thread)42.8621.41118.00—
M42×1.542.0001.50016.93-0.862
M45×1.545.0001.50016.93+2.138
M42×242.0002.00012.70-0.862

Identify a thread from measurements

How the 1-11/16-18 UNEF dimensions are calculated

Every basic dimension follows from the major diameter and the pitch:

  • P = 0.05556 in = 1 ÷ 18 threads per inch
  • H = 0.866025 × P = 0.0481 in
  • d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 1.6875 − 0.0361 = 1.6514 in
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 1.6875 − 0.0601 = 1.6274 in
  • d3 = d − 1.190785 × P = 1.6875 − 0.0662 = 1.6213 in (external root, 11H/16 deep)
  • As = 0.7854 × (d − 0.9743 × P)² = 0.7854 × 1.6334² = 2.09537 in²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 0.61°

Related sizes and tools

Sources: ASME B1.1 (profile, series, limits of size and stress area), ASME B18.2.8 (clearance holes), SAE J429 (mechanical properties) and the tap drill tables of Machinery’s Handbook. How this site checks its data. Last reviewed 29 September 2026.