Product Description
CMT 310.140.12 Dowel Drill 14 x 27 x 57.5mm LH is a left-hand rotation, 2-flute carbide-tipped boring tool engineered by CMT for precision blind-hole drilling in furniture manufacturing, cabinet making, and panel processing. Built on a super-strength steel body with a tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head, this short-series dowel drill delivers consistently flat-bottomed, clean-walled holes for reliable dowel joinery in chipboard, MDF, hardwood, softwood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels. The spiral flutes are coated with P.T.F.E. to resist pitch and adhesive buildup, keeping the tool cutting cleanly across high-volume production runs.
Key Features
- HW (Tungsten Carbide) Cutting Head with 2 Precision-Ground Edges (Z2) - carbide construction holds a sharper edge longer than standard steel, reducing re-sharpening frequency and maintaining consistent hole quality through demanding panel materials.
- 2 Negatively Ground Spurs (V2) - score the perimeter of the bore before the cutting edges engage, producing clean, tear-free entry points in laminates, coated panels, and veneered boards where surface quality matters most.
- P.T.F.E.-Coated Spiral Flutes - the low-friction coating prevents resin, glue, and wood pitch from sticking to the flute surfaces, extending service life and reducing cleaning downtime between tool changes.
- Super-Strength Steel Body - provides the structural rigidity needed to resist deflection during high-speed multi-spindle boring, ensuring repeatable hole placement for tight-tolerance dowel connections.
- Precision-Balanced Centre Point - self-centers on contact to eliminate walk and keep every hole exactly on location, which is critical when drilling mating panels that must align perfectly during furniture assembly.
- Parallel Shank with Driving Flat and Length Adjusting Screw (10 x 27mm) - the driving flat prevents shank rotation under load, while the length adjusting screw allows fine-tuning of drilling depth without removing the tool from the machine.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - specifically designed for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers, making it a direct-fit replacement where LH rotation is required.
- Short Series Total Length - 57.5mm - the compact overall length minimizes overhang and vibration, contributing to better hole accuracy and surface finish in blind-hole dowel drilling applications.
Why This Product
- Designed specifically for left-hand spindle positions, this drill fills a requirement that standard right-hand tooling cannot meet - making it an essential component for balanced multi-spindle boring machine setups used in cabinet and furniture production.
- The combination of negatively ground spurs and a precision-balanced centre point addresses the two most common boring defects - tear-out at the hole rim and off-location holes - both of which cause rejected panels and assembly problems in high-volume operations.
- P.T.F.E. spiral coating directly reduces non-cutting time by keeping flutes clear of pitch and adhesive buildup, which is a common cause of tool changes and production slowdowns when drilling MDF, chipboard, and glue-laminated materials.
- At 14mm diameter with a 27mm cutting height and a 10 x 27mm parallel shank, this tool matches the standard dowel boring geometry used across furniture and cabinet manufacturing, making it compatible with a wide range of CNC boring centers and panel processing equipment without modification.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 310.140.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 14mm
- Cutting Height: 27mm
- Total Length: 57.5mm
- Shank: 10 x 27mm (parallel with driving flat and length adjusting screw)
- Number of Flutes: 2
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Spur Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
- Rotation: Left-hand (LH)
- Spiral Coating: P.T.F.E. (orange or black)
- Product Type: Dowel Drill
- Series: Short Series (57.5mm)
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel connections in furniture manufacturing
- Panel drilling in cabinet making and case goods production
- Boring in chipboard, MDF, HDF, hardwood, and softwood
- Drilling laminates, coated panels, and plywood
- Left-hand spindle boring on multi-spindle CNC boring machines
- Panel processing on CNC boring centers and panel processing centers
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this dowel drill specifically left-hand rotation, and how do I know if I need an LH drill?
Multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers use both right-hand and left-hand spindles arranged in a row. Left-hand (LH) spindles rotate in the opposite direction from right-hand (RH) spindles. If you install a right-hand drill in a left-hand spindle, the cutting geometry works in reverse, producing rough, torn holes and poor spur performance. Always match the drill rotation to your spindle rotation - if your spindle is marked LH or rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the chuck end, this 310.140.12 is the correct choice.
What shank size and style does this drill use, and will it fit my boring machine?
This drill uses a 10 x 27mm parallel shank with a driving flat and a length adjusting screw. The driving flat engages a set screw in the spindle collet to prevent rotation under cutting load, and the length adjusting screw allows precise depth setting without removing the tool. This shank configuration is a standard format widely used on multi-spindle CNC boring machines, boring centers, and panel processing centers equipped with compatible collets or adapters.
What makes negatively ground spurs better for laminate and coated panel applications?
Negatively ground spurs are sharpened so that they sever the surface fiber and coating at the perimeter of the hole before the main cutting edges remove material from the bore floor. This pre-scoring action prevents the surface laminate or veneer from peeling or chipping outward as the drill exits the entry face, leaving a clean, defined hole rim. This is especially important when drilling melamine-faced chipboard, HPL-coated MDF, and veneered panels where surface appearance is critical.
How does the P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral flutes benefit daily production use?
P.T.F.E. is a non-stick fluoropolymer coating applied to the spiral flutes of this drill. When boring MDF, chipboard, and resin-bonded materials, fine dust and adhesive residue tend to pack into uncoated flutes, increasing friction, heat, and cutting resistance. The P.T.F.E. coating dramatically reduces this buildup, keeping chips evacuating freely, lowering operating temperature, and helping the cutting edges maintain their geometry longer between sharpenings.
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