Product Description
CMT 311.052.11 Dowel Drill 5.2 x 35 x 70mm RH by CMT is a precision-engineered, right-hand rotation boring tool built for clean, accurate blind-hole drilling in furniture panels, cabinet components, and solid wood assemblies. Designed around a hardmetal (HW) cutting head with a balanced centre point, 2 precision-ground cutting edges, and 2 negatively ground spurs, this 5.2mm dowel drill delivers flat-bottom holes with minimal tear-out - making it a dependable choice for dowel joinery, panel processing, and CNC boring operations. The spiral portion is coated with P.T.F.E. to resist resin and adhesive buildup, keeping the flutes clear during high-volume production runs.
Key Features
- HW (Hardmetal) Cutting Head - tungsten carbide construction provides superior edge retention and long service life compared to standard steel, reducing regrinding frequency in production environments.
- 2 Precision-Ground Cutting Edges - balanced, symmetrical cutting action minimises vibration and produces consistently smooth bore walls for tight-fitting dowel joints.
- 2 Negatively Ground Spurs (V2 configuration) - scribe the perimeter of the hole before material is removed, delivering clean entry points with no chipping or fibrous tear-out on chipboard, MDF, laminate, and hardwood panels.
- Precision Balanced Centre Point - centres the drill accurately at the start of each bore, eliminating walking on flat panel surfaces and ensuring repeatable hole placement across multi-spindle setups.
- P.T.F.E.-Coated Spiral Flutes - the low-friction coating prevents pitch, resin, and adhesive buildup on the 2 spiral flutes, extending tool life and maintaining consistent chip evacuation during continuous drilling cycles.
- Super-Strength Steel Body - the steel shank and spiral body resist flex and fatigue under the axial loads typical of boring machine operation, supporting accurate depth control over extended use.
- 10 x 30mm Parallel Shank with Driving Flat and Length Adjusting Screw - the standardised shank geometry fits multi-spindle boring heads and CNC boring centres, and the adjusting screw allows precise depth-stop calibration without removing the tool from the spindle.
- Right-Hand Rotation (RH) - matches the standard spindle direction of most production boring machines and CNC machining centres, ensuring immediate compatibility without spindle reprogramming.
Why This Product
- The 5.2mm diameter is a purpose-specific size for dowel boring - fractionally undersize relative to a standard 5mm or 6mm dowel to achieve the snug interference fit that holds furniture joints rigid without splitting the substrate.
- The 70mm overall length (long series) gives sufficient clearance for boring blind holes in thick panel stacks or deep rail components where a standard-length drill would bottom out in the spindle nose before reaching full depth.
- The combination of negatively ground spurs and a P.T.F.E.-coated spiral makes this drill effective across a wide range of engineered wood products - chipboard, MDF, HDF, laminates, and coated panels - without switching tooling between material types.
- The HW (hardmetal) head paired with a super-strength steel body is formulated for the repetitive, high-cycle demands of furniture manufacturing and cabinet production, where tool longevity directly affects per-piece cost.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 311.052.11
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 5.2mm
- Cutting Height: 35mm
- Total Length: 70mm
- Shank: 10 x 30mm parallel shank with driving flat and length adjusting screw
- Number of Flutes: 2
- Number of Cutting Edges: 2
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Spur Grinding: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: HW (Hardmetal / Tungsten Carbide)
- Coating: P.T.F.E. on spiral portion
- Rotation: Right-Hand (RH)
- Product Class: BBDD
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel joint connections in furniture and cabinet assembly
- Panel drilling on chipboard, MDF, HDF, plywood, and coated panels
- Boring in hardwood and softwood solid lumber
- Laminate and plastic panel processing
- Multi-spindle CNC boring machine operations
- CNC boring centre and panel processing centre applications
- Boring machine setups using a parallel-shank adapter or chuck
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the negatively ground spurs on this dowel drill?
The 2 negatively ground spurs scribe a clean circle at the perimeter of the hole before the main cutting edges remove material. This severs surface fibres and laminate layers ahead of the bore, preventing chip-out and tear-out at the entry point - particularly important on coated panels, MDF face veneers, and melamine-surfaced chipboard where a clean, chip-free hole edge is required for a professional finish.
What does the P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral do, and why does it matter in production use?
P.T.F.E. (polytetrafluoroethylene) is applied to the spiral portion of the drill body to create a low-friction surface. This prevents resin, pitch, and adhesive residue from bonding to the flutes during continuous boring cycles. By keeping the flutes clear, chip evacuation stays consistent, heat buildup is reduced, and the tool maintains cutting performance for longer between cleaning or regrinding intervals - an important factor in high-volume furniture and cabinet production.
What shank does this drill use, and how is boring depth controlled?
The CMT 311.052.11 uses a 10 x 30mm parallel shank with a driving flat and a length adjusting screw. The driving flat indexes the tool against the spindle to prevent rotation slippage under load. The length adjusting screw allows the operator to set and fine-tune the drill's projection from the spindle nose, enabling precise blind-hole depth control without removing the drill from the machine.
Is this drill suitable for use in CNC boring centres as well as manual boring machines?
Yes. The 10 x 30mm parallel shank with driving flat is a standard geometry compatible with multi-spindle CNC boring machines, CNC boring centres, and panel processing centres. It is also suitable for use in conventional boring machines fitted with an appropriate adapter or chuck. The right-hand rotation matches the standard spindle direction used in the vast majority of these machines.
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