Product Description
CMT 310.040.12 Dowel Drill 5/32" x 18 x 57.5mm Left-Hand is a precision two-flute boring tool engineered for clean, accurate blind hole drilling in panel processing and furniture manufacturing applications. Built on a super-strength steel body with a tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head, this short-series dowel drill delivers the tight tolerances and smooth bore walls that dowel joinery demands - whether you are working with solid hardwood, chipboard, MDF, laminates, or coated panels. The left-hand (LH) rotation makes it the correct choice for multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers that require counter-rotating spindle tooling.
Key Features
- HW (Tungsten Carbide) Cutting Head with 2 Precision-Ground Edges (Z2) - carbide hardness holds a sharp edge far longer than standard high-speed steel, reducing retooling downtime and maintaining consistent hole quality across high-volume production runs.
- 2 Negatively Ground Spurs (V2) - the negatively set spurs score the material ahead of the cutting edges, producing clean, tear-out-free bore walls and a flat hole bottom, which is critical for flush-fitting dowel connections in furniture panels.
- PTFE-Coated Spiral Flutes - the orange or black P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral portion repels pitch, resin, and adhesive buildup, keeping the flutes clear and reducing friction so chips evacuate efficiently during extended drilling cycles.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - correctly matched to LH spindle positions on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers, ensuring proper cutting action and chip evacuation without spindle reversal.
- Parallel Shank with Driving Flat and Length Adjusting Screw - the 10 x 27mm shank seats securely in boring machine chucks and adapters, and the built-in length adjusting screw lets operators set drilling depth precisely without additional tooling.
- Precision Balanced Centre Point - the HW centre point self-locates on the panel surface before the spurs engage, preventing bit walk and ensuring hole-to-hole positional accuracy across CNC drilling grids.
- Short-Series 57.5mm Overall Length - the compact 57.5mm body fits within the tight spindle-to-spindle clearances of multi-row CNC boring heads, making this drill a practical fit for dense boring patterns.
Why This Product
- The negatively ground spurs combined with the carbide cutting head address one of the most common blind-hole defects - surface tearout on laminates and coated panels - delivering a clean entry that needs no secondary cleanup before dowel assembly.
- The PTFE spiral coating directly reduces the pitch and adhesive fouling that shortens tool life in MDF and chipboard drilling, meaning fewer tool changes and lower per-hole tooling cost in production environments.
- Left-hand rotation is a factory-specified requirement for many multi-spindle boring machine positions, and using the correct rotation prevents premature edge wear and ensures the spurs cut rather than burnish the material surface.
- The parallel shank with integrated length adjusting screw simplifies setup on boring machines and CNC centers, letting operators dial in exact drilling depth quickly - a practical advantage when switching between panel thicknesses or dowel lengths.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 310.040.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Product Type: 2 Flute Dowel Drill
- Diameter: 4mm (5/32")
- Cutting Height: 27mm
- Total Length: 57.5mm
- Shank: 10 x 27mm parallel shank with driving flat and length adjusting screw
- Number of Flutes: 2
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Number of Cutting Edges: 2
- Spur Grind: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
- Spiral Coating: P.T.F.E. (orange or black)
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel joinery connections
- Panel drilling in furniture manufacturing
- Cabinet making and case goods production
- Drilling in chipboard, MDF, HDF, solid hardwood, softwood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels
- Multi-spindle CNC boring machine left-hand spindle positions
- CNC boring center and panel processing center applications
- Boring machine use with adapter or chuck
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this dowel drill use left-hand (LH) rotation instead of the more common right-hand rotation?
Multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers are designed with alternating or dedicated left-hand spindle positions so that adjacent spindles do not interfere with each other. A left-hand drill placed in a right-hand spindle would spin the cutting edges backward, causing the spurs and carbide edges to rub rather than cut, producing poor hole quality and rapid tool wear. Always match the drill rotation to the specific spindle position called out in your machine's tooling layout.
What does "negatively ground spurs" mean and why does it matter for panel drilling?
Negatively ground spurs are sharpened with their cutting angle oriented to score and sever material fibers just before the main cutting edges remove the core. This geometry is especially important when drilling laminates, coated panels, and melamine-faced chipboard because it severs the surface cleanly at the hole perimeter - preventing chipping or delamination at the bore entry that would be visible in a finished furniture piece.
What is the purpose of the P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral flutes?
The P.T.F.E. (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating applied to the spiral portion of the drill creates a non-stick surface that resists adhesion of pitch, resin, and glue residue commonly generated when drilling MDF, chipboard, and resin-bonded laminates. Keeping the flutes clear allows chips to exit the hole freely, reduces cutting friction, and helps the drill run cooler - all of which contribute to extended tool life and more consistent hole dimensions across a production shift.
Can this drill be used in a standard handheld drill or bench drill press?
This dowel drill is designed for use in multi-spindle CNC boring machines, CNC boring centers, panel processing centers, and boring machines fitted with an appropriate adapter or chuck that accepts the 10 x 27mm parallel shank with driving flat. The left-hand rotation also means it requires a machine spindle that runs in the left-hand direction - a standard handheld drill or bench press typically runs right-hand only and would not produce correct cutting action with this tool.
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