Product Description
CMT 308.090.12 Dowel Drill - 23/64" x 1-3/16" x 2-17/64" Left-Hand Rotation by CMT is a precision-engineered carbide-tipped boring tool designed for clean, flat-bottom blind hole drilling in panel processing and cabinetry production. Built with a hardmetal (HW) cutting tip and negatively ground spurs, this left-hand rotation dowel drill delivers accurate, tear-out-free bores in solid wood, chipboard, MDF, HDF, plywood, laminates, and coated panels. The 9mm cutting diameter and 30mm cutting height make it a reliable choice for dowel joinery on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers.
Key Features
- Hardmetal (HW) Carbide Cutting Tip - tungsten carbide construction maintains a sharp edge longer than high-speed steel, reducing tool change frequency on high-volume production runs.
- Negatively Ground Spurs - precision-sharpened spur geometry scribes the hole perimeter before material removal, producing clean bore walls and flat-bottom holes with no tearout or rough edges in wood, MDF, and laminates.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - designed specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers, ensuring correct chip evacuation and bore quality on dedicated LH spindles.
- 2-Spur, 2-Tooth Configuration - dual cutting edges paired with dual spurs balance the cutting action for consistent hole geometry and smooth bore surfaces on every pass.
- 10x20mm Parallel Shank with Driving Flat - standardized shank dimensions allow direct mounting in compatible boring machine chucks and adapters without modification, saving setup time.
- 9mm Cutting Diameter / 30mm Cutting Height - matches common dowel joinery sizing standards, making this bit a direct fit for blind-hole dowel applications in cabinet and furniture panel production.
- 57.5mm Total Length (Short Series) - compact overall length suits tight spindle spacing on multi-row boring heads where clearance between adjacent tools is critical.
Why This Product
- The left-hand rotation design fills the specific need for LH spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines - using a right-hand bit on an LH spindle produces poor hole quality and accelerated wear, making the correct rotation designation essential.
- Negatively ground spurs and a hardmetal carbide tip work together to produce clean-entry, flat-bottom blind holes in demanding materials like laminates and coated panels - surfaces where tearout or chipping would result in rejected parts.
- The standardized 10x20mm parallel shank is widely compatible with boring machine adapters and chucks, reducing the need for special toolholders and simplifying bit changeovers in production environments.
- At 57.5mm total length, this short-series dowel drill fits spindle layouts where longer bits would interfere with adjacent boring heads - a practical advantage when drilling multiple holes in close proximity on cabinet panels.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 308.090.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Product Type: Dowel Drill
- Diameter: 9mm (23/64")
- Cutting Height: 30mm (1-3/16")
- Total Length: 57.5mm (2-17/64")
- Shank: 10x20mm
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Number of Teeth: 2
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
- Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: Hardmetal (HW)
Approved Applications
- Chipboard and particle board panel boring
- MDF and HDF panel drilling
- Solid hardwood and softwood dowel hole production
- Plywood boring
- Laminate and coated panel blind-hole drilling
- Cabinet and furniture dowel joinery on CNC boring centers
- Multi-spindle boring machine left-hand spindle applications
- Panel processing center production runs
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does rotation direction matter for a dowel drill, and how do I know if I need a left-hand bit?
Multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers use both left-hand and right-hand spindles, often simultaneously on opposing rows. A left-hand (LH) spindle rotates counter-clockwise when viewed from the cutting end. Installing a right-hand drill on an LH spindle causes the tool to rotate backward relative to its cutting geometry, producing poor hole quality, rough walls, and accelerated edge wear. The CMT 308.090.12 is specifically ground for LH rotation and should be used only on LH spindle positions. Check your machine documentation or spindle markings to confirm rotation direction before installing any boring bit.
What does "negatively ground spurs" mean, and why does it matter for panel materials?
Negatively ground spurs are precision-sharpened cutting edges that are angled to scribe and sever the panel surface ahead of the main cutting teeth. This scribing action severs wood fibers or laminate surface layers cleanly before the central cutting geometry removes material, which prevents the tearing and chipping that commonly occurs at the hole entry on laminates, coated panels, and veneered chipboard. The result is a clean, sharp hole perimeter - important in cabinet and furniture production where hole entry appearance affects finished product quality.
What shank size does this dowel drill use, and will it fit my boring machine?
This dowel drill uses a 10x20mm parallel shank with a driving flat. This is a widely used shank format on industrial boring machines, CNC boring centers, and panel processing equipment. If your machine uses 10mm shank boring bits directly or with a standard chuck or adapter rated for 10x20mm shanks, this bit is compatible. Always verify your spindle or chuck specification against the 10x20mm shank dimension before installation.
Can this drill be used for through-hole drilling, or is it designed only for blind holes?
The CMT 308.090.12 is a dowel drill with a flat-bottom cutting geometry produced by its negatively ground spurs and 2-tooth configuration. This geometry is optimized for blind-hole drilling - producing flat-bottomed holes at a precise depth for dowel pin insertion in furniture and cabinet joinery. While the tool will physically cut through a panel, its flat-bottom design is not optimized for through-hole applications the way a through-hole or brad-point bit would be. For dowel joinery and blind-hole boring in chipboard, MDF, solid wood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels, this is the appropriate tool type.
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