The CMT 306.064.12 Dowel Drill - 1/4" x 30 x 55.5mm Left-Hand by CMT is a precision-engineered boring tool built for high-speed CNC panel processing, furniture manufacturing, and cabinet production. Designed to cut clean, flat-bottomed blind holes for dowel joinery in solid wood, chipboard, MDF, and laminates, this left-hand rotation drill delivers consistently accurate results where surface quality and bore geometry matter most. Its hardmetal (HW) tipped cutting head, negatively ground spurs, and balanced centre point make it a reliable choice for multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers running at production speeds.

Key Features

• Hardmetal (HW) cutting head with 2 precision ground cutting edges (Z2) - provides exceptional wear resistance during high-cycle CNC production, reducing tool change frequency and downtime.
• 2 negatively ground spurs (V2) - shear the wood fibers cleanly at the bore perimeter before the cutters engage, producing smooth bore walls and chip-free entry points in coated and laminated panels.
• Precision balanced centre point - keeps the drill on target during plunge entry, ensuring accurate hole placement critical to tight-fitting dowel connections and panel-to-panel alignment.
• Super-strength steel body with HW head - the combination of a robust steel shank and hardmetal tip allows repeated resharpenings, extending the working life of the tool and lowering cost per hole over time.
• Left-hand (LH) rotation - engineered specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines, ensuring correct cutting geometry and clean chip evacuation on LH-designated spindles.
• 8x20mm parallel shank - mates securely with standard CNC boring machine chucks and adapters, providing stable tool retention at high production speeds.
• 1/4" (approx. 6.35mm nominal) cutting diameter with 30mm cutting height - sized for standard dowel hole boring in furniture panels, delivering the depth and diameter required for 6mm and 8mm dowel pin applications in panel processing.

Why This Product

• Purpose-built for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle CNC boring machines - using the correct LH rotation tool on an LH spindle keeps cutting edges working with the grain direction, not against it, for cleaner holes and longer edge life.
• The negatively ground spur geometry is specifically suited to laminated, coated, and veneered panels common in cabinet and furniture manufacturing, where chip-out at the bore entry would be visible and unacceptable.
• With a 30mm cutting height on a 55.5mm overall length, this short-series dowel drill provides the reach needed for standard blind-hole dowel connections without unnecessary overhang that could introduce vibration or runout.
• The HW (hardmetal) tipped construction supports multiple resharpenings, making this tool a cost-effective choice for high-volume panel drilling operations where edge retention directly affects hole quality and throughput.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 306.064.12
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Product Type: Dowel Drill
• Diameter: 1/4"
• Cutting Height: 30mm
• Total Length: 55.5mm
• Shank: 8x20mm
• Rotation: LH (Left-Hand)
• Number of Cutting Edges: 2
• Number of Spurs: 2
• Spur Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
• Blade Material: HW (Hardmetal)

Approved Applications

• Blind hole drilling for dowel connections and dowel joinery
• Panel drilling in furniture manufacturing and cabinet making
• Boring in solid hardwood and softwood
• Boring in chipboard, MDF, and HDF
• Drilling coated panels, laminates, and veneered surfaces
• High-speed CNC multi-spindle boring machine operations
• CNC boring center and panel processing center applications