Product Description
CMT 308.064.12 Dowel Drill - 1/4" Diameter, Left-Hand Rotation by CMT is a precision carbide-tipped boring bit engineered for clean, flat-bottom blind holes in solid wood, chipboard, MDF, laminates, and coated panels. With a 1/4" cutting diameter, 30mm cutting height, and a compact 57.5mm overall length, this short-series dowel drill is purpose-built for use in multi-spindle CNC boring machines, CNC boring centers, and panel processing equipment. Its left-hand (LH) rotation makes it the correct choice for machines that require counter-clockwise cutting tools on specific spindle positions, ensuring accurate hole placement and repeatable results on production lines.
Key Features
- Tungsten Carbide (HW) Cutting Material - hard-wearing carbide construction maintains a sharp edge through high-volume production runs in abrasive materials like chipboard, MDF, and laminates, reducing downtime for tool changes.
- Negatively Ground Spurs (2 Spurs) - precision-sharpened spurs score the material fibers before the main cutters remove waste, producing clean bore walls and crisp, tearout-free hole edges in both solid wood and engineered panels.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - counter-clockwise cutting direction matches the specific spindle requirements of multi-spindle CNC boring machines, ensuring correct chip evacuation and hole geometry where LH bits are required.
- 2-Flute, 2-Tooth Design - twin cutting edges balance chip load evenly, reducing vibration and heat buildup during blind hole drilling, which contributes to longer tool life and consistent hole quality.
- 10x20mm Parallel Shank - standardized shank dimensions provide secure, repeatable seating in compatible CNC boring machine chucks and adapters, minimizing runout for precise hole positioning.
- Short Series Profile (57.5mm Overall Length) - compact tool length reduces deflection at the tip, improving hole accuracy and flatness at the bottom of blind holes - critical for tight-tolerance dowel joinery and panel assembly.
- 30mm Cutting Height - sufficient depth capacity for standard dowel hole applications, giving operators flexibility across a range of panel thicknesses and joint configurations without a tool change.
Why This Product
- The left-hand rotation is not interchangeable with a standard RH bit - this drill is specifically designed for LH spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines, making it an essential replacement or complement when equipping a machine with mixed-rotation spindles for symmetrical hole patterns.
- Negatively ground spurs paired with a carbide (HW) cutting body mean this bit handles both natural wood and abrasive engineered panels - chipboard, MDF, HDF, and laminates - without sacrificing edge quality or requiring frequent resharpening.
- The short 57.5mm series length keeps the tool rigid under load, which is especially important in high-feed CNC boring applications where longer bits can flex and produce oversized or off-center holes.
- With a standardized 10x20mm shank, this bit is a direct fit for common CNC boring machine chuck configurations, simplifying setup and reducing the risk of compatibility issues when replacing worn tooling.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 308.064.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 1/4"
- Cutting Height: 30mm
- Total Length: 57.5mm
- Shank: 10x20mm
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Number of Teeth: 2
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
- Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel joinery in solid wood and engineered panels
- Chipboard and particle board boring
- MDF and HDF panel drilling
- Hardwood and softwood dowel hole production
- Plywood boring
- Laminate and coated panel processing
- Multi-spindle CNC boring machine operations
- CNC boring center panel processing
- Panel processing center production lines
- Boring machine operations with adapter or chuck
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this dowel drill have left-hand (LH) rotation and when do I need it?
Left-hand rotation means the bit cuts in a counter-clockwise direction. Multi-spindle CNC boring machines are typically designed with alternating LH and RH spindle positions so that when drilling symmetrical hole rows simultaneously, each spindle cuts efficiently in the correct direction. If your machine specifies an LH bit for a particular spindle, a right-hand bit will not cut properly in that position - it may spin without engaging the material or produce poor-quality holes. Always match the bit rotation to the spindle requirement specified in your machine documentation.
What does "negatively ground spurs" mean and how does it affect hole quality?
Negatively ground spurs are precision-sharpened cutting edges on the outer rim of the drill that score the surface fibers of the workpiece before the main flutes remove material. This scribing action severs the fibers cleanly at the hole perimeter, preventing tearout and producing smooth, defined bore walls - especially important when working with laminates, coated panels, and veneered chipboard where surface quality at the hole edge is critical for a clean finished appearance.
What is the shank size and how does this bit mount in a boring machine?
This dowel drill uses a 10x20mm parallel shank, which is a standard shank dimension for CNC boring machine spindles. It mounts directly into compatible multi-spindle boring machine spindle heads, CNC boring centers, and panel processing centers. It can also be used in a boring machine fitted with an appropriate adapter or chuck that accepts a 10x20mm parallel shank tool. Always verify your machine's spindle acceptance before installing.
What materials can this dowel drill be used on?
This drill is suited for solid hardwood, solid softwood, chipboard, MDF, HDF, plywood, laminates, and coated panels. The tungsten carbide (HW) cutting material is hard enough to handle abrasive engineered wood products like chipboard and MDF without rapid dulling, while the negatively ground spurs protect surface finishes on laminates and coated panels from tearout at the hole rim.
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