Product Description
CMT 311.051.12 Dowel Drill - 5.1 x 35 x 70mm Left-Hand Rotation is a precision-engineered, left-hand boring tool built for dowel hole drilling in panel processing and furniture manufacturing applications. Crafted by CMT with a solid tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head and a super-strength steel body, this 2-flute dowel drill delivers clean, flat-bottomed blind holes in chipboard, MDF, hardwood, softwood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels. The spiral portion carries a P.T.F.E. coating that resists pitch and adhesive buildup, keeping the bit running cleanly over extended production cycles. Left-hand rotation makes this drill the correct choice for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers, ensuring accurate dowel pocket placement in cabinet making and panel assembly workflows.
Key Features
- Tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head with 2 precision-ground cutting edges - delivers sharp, consistent cuts that produce flat-bottomed holes with minimal breakout, reducing rework in furniture and cabinet production.
- 2 negatively ground spurs (V2 configuration) - score the material cleanly ahead of the cutting edges, preventing tearout on chip-prone surfaces such as melamine-coated panels and laminates.
- P.T.F.E.-coated spiral flutes - the orange or black coating repels pitch, resin, and glue, so chips evacuate freely and the drill maintains cutting efficiency through long boring runs without frequent cleaning stops.
- Precision-balanced centre point - locates the drill accurately at the target bore position, reducing wandering and ensuring hole-to-hole repeatability critical to dowel joint alignment.
- Left-hand (LH) rotation - engineered specifically for left-hand spindle positions, making this drill a direct, purpose-built fit rather than an adapted right-hand tool.
- 10 x 30mm parallel shank with driving flat and length-adjusting screw - the driving flat prevents slippage under torque, and the adjusting screw lets operators set boring depth precisely, supporting consistent blind-hole depth across all spindles.
- 5.1mm cutting diameter with 35mm cutting height in a 70mm overall length - the long-series body reaches the required depth for standard dowel connections while keeping the shank engagement length adequate for secure chuck or collet retention.
- Super-strength steel body - resists deflection and vibration during high-cycle production runs, maintaining bore straightness and prolonging tool life.
- 2 spiral flutes - promote efficient chip evacuation from the blind hole, reducing heat buildup and keeping cut quality high even in dense materials like HDF and hardwood.
Why This Product
- Purpose-built left-hand rotation - this drill is designed from the ground up for LH spindle positions, not a right-hand tool running in reverse. That design intent means the spurs, cutting edges, and flute geometry all work in the correct direction, producing cleaner holes and longer tool life at left-hand boring stations.
- Flat-bottomed blind holes with tearout-free walls - the combination of negatively ground spurs and precision-ground carbide cutting edges means dowel pockets come out clean on both face and edge surfaces, eliminating the sanding or trimming steps that rough bores require.
- P.T.F.E. coating extends service intervals - in production environments where glue or panel coating residue is a constant issue, the non-stick spiral coating reduces the frequency of cleaning and sharpening cycles, lowering downtime and per-unit tooling cost.
- Precision-balanced centre point improves joint accuracy - dowel joint strength depends on hole-to-hole alignment. The balanced centre point holds position at the programmed coordinate, supporting tight tolerances across multi-spindle boring heads and reducing assembly gaps in finished furniture panels.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 311.051.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Description: Dowel Drill 5.1 x 35 x 70mm LH
- Diameter: 5.1mm
- Cutting Height: 35mm
- Total Length: 70mm
- Shank: 10 x 30mm parallel shank with driving flat and length-adjusting screw
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
- Number of Flutes: 2
- Number of Cutting Edges: 2
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Spur Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
- Body Material: Super-strength steel
- Spiral Coating: P.T.F.E. (orange or black)
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel joinery in panel furniture construction
- Panel drilling on multi-spindle CNC boring machines
- Cabinet making and case goods manufacturing
- Boring in chipboard, MDF, HDF, hardwood, softwood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels
- Left-hand spindle positions on boring centers and panel processing centers
- Precision dowel pocket drilling requiring flat-bottomed, tearout-free bores
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is left-hand (LH) rotation required for this drill, and how do I know if my machine needs it?
Multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers use both right-hand and left-hand spindles simultaneously to drill rows of holes from opposing directions or to cover both sides of a panel in one pass. A left-hand drill is needed for spindle positions that rotate counter-clockwise when viewed from the cutting end. Consult your machine's boring head layout or spindle chart - spindles designated LH require LH-rotation drills like this CMT 311.051.12 so that the spurs and cutting edges engage the material correctly and chip evacuation flows in the right direction.
What is the purpose of the P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral flutes?
The P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral portion creates a low-friction, non-stick surface that resists adhesion of pitch, resin, and wood glue. In production environments - especially when boring laminates, coated panels, or pre-glued dowel-joint systems - materials tend to deposit on the flutes and degrade chip flow and bore quality. The P.T.F.E. coating keeps the flutes cleaner between service intervals, maintains consistent chip evacuation, and helps sustain cut quality over longer production runs without requiring frequent manual cleaning.
What shank does the CMT 311.051.12 use, and how is boring depth adjusted?
This dowel drill uses a 10 x 30mm parallel shank with a driving flat. The driving flat keys into the spindle to prevent rotational slippage under cutting torque. A length-adjusting screw on the shank allows operators to set and lock the insertion depth, which directly controls the resulting blind-hole depth. This makes depth calibration straightforward when setting up or resetting a multi-spindle boring head for a specific panel thickness or dowel length.
What materials is this dowel drill designed to bore?
The CMT 311.051.12 is designed for boring in solid wood (hardwood and softwood), chipboard, MDF, HDF, plywood, laminates, and coated panels. The tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head withstands the abrasive nature of engineered wood products like MDF and chipboard that wear high-speed steel tools quickly. The negatively ground spurs score cleanly through surface laminates and coatings, producing tearout-free bore walls suitable for visible furniture panels and finished cabinet components.
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