Product Description
CMT 311.047.12 Dowel Drill 3/16" x 35 x 70mm Left-Hand by CMT is a precision-engineered, carbide-tipped boring tool designed for clean, accurate blind-hole drilling in panel processing and furniture manufacturing applications. Built on a super-strength steel body with a hardmetal (HW) cutting head and PTFE-coated spiral flutes, this left-hand rotation dowel drill is purpose-built for use in multi-spindle CNC boring machines, CNC boring centers, and panel processing equipment where consistent hole quality and long tool life are critical. Whether you are drilling dowel connections in chipboard, MDF, solid wood, or coated laminates, this 3/16" diameter long-series drill delivers flat-bottomed, burr-free holes with every pass.
Key Features
- Hardmetal (HW) cutting head with 2 precision-ground cutting edges - tungsten carbide construction provides extended wear resistance and maintains sharpness through demanding production runs in chipboard, MDF, hardwood, and laminates.
- 2 negatively ground spurs (V2 sharpening) - score the material boundary ahead of the cutting edges, producing clean bore walls and flat-bottomed holes with no tearout or rough edges in coated panels and laminates.
- PTFE-coated spiral flutes - the orange or black P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral portion resists pitch and adhesive buildup, reducing friction and keeping the flutes clear for faster chip evacuation and longer tool life between cleanings.
- Precision-balanced centre point - the HW centre point self-locates accurately on the workpiece, reducing drift at entry and ensuring consistent hole placement across high-volume panel boring operations.
- 2 spiral flutes - dual-flute geometry promotes efficient chip clearance from the blind hole, reducing heat buildup and maintaining bore quality when drilling into MDF, chipboard, and dense laminates.
- Left-hand (LH) rotation - engineered specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines, ensuring correct cutting geometry and preventing workpiece lifting on LH spindles.
- Parallel shank with driving flat and length adjusting screw - the 10x30mm shank seats securely in machine collets or chucks, with the driving flat and adjusting screw enabling precise depth setting and preventing shank rotation under load.
- Long-series 70mm overall length with 35mm cutting height - the extended reach allows deeper blind-hole boring in thicker panels and accommodates a wider range of panel thicknesses compared to standard-length dowel drills.
Why This Product
- Built for left-hand spindle positions - many multi-spindle CNC boring machines require dedicated LH-rotation drills for specific spindle columns. This drill is engineered for exactly that application, delivering correct cutting geometry on LH spindles rather than forcing a compromise with a RH tool.
- Long-series reach for deeper panel boring - with a 70mm overall length and 35mm cutting height, this dowel drill handles deeper blind holes in thicker panels that shorter-series drills cannot reach, expanding the range of panel products and joint depths you can process on a single machine setup.
- PTFE coating reduces downtime from pitch buildup - adhesive resins and pitch from chipboard and MDF are a common cause of drill fouling and premature cutting edge failure. The P.T.F.E. spiral coating actively resists this buildup, keeping the tool running cleanly through longer production intervals.
- Negatively ground spurs protect coated and laminated surfaces - the V2 negatively ground spur configuration severs the surface material cleanly before the body of the drill engages, preventing chipout and delamination around the hole mouth on finished panels and coated board products.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 311.047.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 3/16"
- Cutting Height: 35mm
- Total Length: 70mm
- Shank: 10x30mm parallel shank with driving flat and length adjusting screw
- Number of Flutes: 2
- Number of Cutting Edges: 2
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Spur Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: HW (Hardmetal / Tungsten Carbide)
- Rotation: Left-hand (LH)
- Coating: Orange or black P.T.F.E. on spiral portion
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel joinery connections
- Panel drilling in furniture manufacturing
- Cabinet making and casework production
- Boring in chipboard and particleboard
- Boring in MDF and HDF
- Boring in solid hardwood and softwood
- Boring in plywood and multi-layer panels
- Boring in laminates and coated panels
- Boring in plastics
- Left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and boring centers
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this dowel drill rotate left-hand (LH) instead of right-hand?
Multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel boring centers are typically configured with both right-hand and left-hand spindles arranged in a row. Left-hand spindle positions require LH-rotation drills so that the cutting edges engage the material correctly - a right-hand drill on a left-hand spindle would rub rather than cut, producing poor hole quality and accelerated wear. The CMT 311.047.12 is specifically engineered for LH spindle positions.
What is the purpose of the negatively ground spurs on this dowel drill?
The 2 negatively ground spurs (V2 configuration) score the outer perimeter of the hole before the main cutting edges remove the core material. This severs the surface fibers or laminate cleanly at the hole boundary, preventing chipout, delamination, or rough edges around the bore mouth - particularly important when drilling coated panels, laminates, and veneered board products where a clean hole entry is required for visible furniture components.
What does the PTFE coating on the spiral portion do?
The P.T.F.E. (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating applied to the spiral flute portion of the drill reduces friction between the flute and the workpiece material, and actively resists the adhesion of pitch, resin, and glue residues that are commonly released when boring chipboard, MDF, and other engineered wood panels. By keeping the flutes cleaner for longer, the coating helps maintain chip evacuation efficiency, reduces heat buildup at the cutting zone, and extends the intervals between tool cleaning or regrinding.
What does the driving flat and length adjusting screw on the shank do?
The 10x30mm parallel shank includes a driving flat and a length adjusting screw as integral features. The driving flat prevents the shank from rotating within the machine collet or chuck under cutting torque. The length adjusting screw allows the operator to set the precise boring depth by adjusting how far the drill projects from the spindle, enabling consistent blind-hole depth across all spindles in a multi-spindle boring machine setup without needing to re-measure each tool individually.
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