Product Description
CMT 311.052.12 Dowel Drill - 5.2 x 35 x 70mm Left-Hand is a precision-engineered, left-hand rotation boring tool built for blind hole drilling in panel processing and furniture manufacturing applications. Constructed with a tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head mounted on a super-strength steel body, this 2-flute dowel drill delivers clean, flat-bottom bores ideal for dowel joinery in chipboard, MDF, solid wood, laminates, and coated panels. The spiral portion is coated with P.T.F.E. to resist pitch and adhesive buildup during high-volume production runs, keeping the tool cutting efficiently through extended use. Designed for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines and CNC panel processing centers, this long-series drill at 70mm overall length reaches deeper boring depths where standard-length drills fall short.
Key Features
- Tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head - provides superior hardness and edge retention compared to high-speed steel, allowing the drill to maintain sharpness through demanding production boring cycles in abrasive engineered panels.
- 2 precision-ground HW cutting edges - deliver a consistent, repeatable bore diameter of 5.2mm with minimal deviation, critical for tight-tolerance dowel connections in cabinet and furniture assembly.
- 2 negatively ground spurs (V2 configuration) - score the panel surface ahead of the cutting edges to produce clean bore walls and tear-out-free entry points, preserving the face of laminates and coated panels.
- P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral portion - reduces friction and prevents glue or resin buildup on the flutes, extending tool life and reducing the need for frequent cleaning during continuous production runs.
- 2 spiral flutes - efficiently evacuate chips and debris from the bore, keeping the hole clear and reducing heat buildup during deep blind hole drilling at the 35mm cutting height.
- Left-hand (LH) rotation - engineered specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines, ensuring correct cutting geometry and preventing tool loosening during operation.
- 10 x 30mm parallel shank with driving flat and length adjusting screw - provides secure, repeatable tool holding in standard boring machine chucks or adapters, with precise depth adjustment for consistent blind hole depth.
- Precision balanced centre point - self-centers the drill on contact with the workpiece, reducing walking and ensuring accurate hole placement without pre-drilling or marking.
Why This Product
- The 70mm overall length and 35mm cutting height make this drill the right choice when panel thickness or machine geometry requires deeper reach than short-series dowel drills can provide, without sacrificing bore quality or dimensional accuracy.
- The combination of negatively ground spurs and a precision-ground carbide cutting head means both the entry face and the bore wall are cleanly cut in a single pass - reducing secondary finishing operations on visible or laminated panel surfaces.
- Left-hand rotation is a direct match for the left-hand spindle positions found on most multi-row CNC boring machines and horizontal panel processing centers, eliminating the risk of incorrect spindle direction and the tool damage or bore defects that result.
- The P.T.F.E.-coated spiral actively resists the adhesive resins present in MDF, chipboard, and coated panels - materials that quickly load conventional uncoated drills - keeping cycle times consistent across long production runs.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 311.052.12
- 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 Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
- Blade Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
- Body Material: Super-strength steel
- Coating: P.T.F.E. on spiral portion
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel connections in panel furniture
- Dowel boring in cabinet carcass and face frame assembly
- Panel drilling on multi-spindle CNC boring machines
- Left-hand spindle positions on horizontal boring centers and panel processing centers
- Production boring in chipboard, MDF, HDF, hardwood, softwood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels
- Furniture manufacturing and custom cabinetry production
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this dowel drill have left-hand (LH) rotation, and how do I know if my machine needs it?
Left-hand rotation means the drill cuts when spinning counter-clockwise, as viewed from the shank end. Multi-spindle boring machines place spindles in rows on both sides of center, and spindles on one side must rotate left-hand to cut correctly. Check your machine's spindle specification for each position - a right-hand drill placed in a left-hand spindle will rub rather than cut, damaging the tool and producing an unusable bore. This drill, CMT 311.052.12, is built exclusively for LH spindle positions.
What does "negatively ground spurs" mean, and why does it matter for laminated or coated panels?
Negatively ground spurs are sharpened so their cutting angle scores the panel surface with a slicing action as the drill enters the workpiece. This severs the surface fibers cleanly before the main cutting edges remove material, preventing the tearing or chipping that can occur when drilling through laminates, melamine coatings, or veneer faces. The result is a clean bore rim with no visible breakout on the face of the panel - important wherever the drilled surface will be visible in the finished piece.
What is the purpose of the P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral, and does it affect bore diameter?
The P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral flutes creates a low-friction surface that resists adhesion of resins, glues, and wood pitch that are released during boring - especially in MDF and chipboard, which contain high concentrations of binders. Buildup on uncoated flutes reduces chip evacuation efficiency and increases heat, leading to premature dulling. The coating is applied to the spiral body only, not the cutting edges or spurs, so it does not affect the 5.2mm bore diameter.
Can this drill be used in a hand-held drill or standard drill press?
This drill is designed for use in multi-spindle boring machines, CNC boring centers, and panel processing centers that accept a 10 x 30mm parallel shank with a driving flat. The left-hand rotation also means it will not cut if rotated in the right-hand (clockwise) direction typical of most hand-held drills and standard drill presses. It is a production tooling component intended for dedicated horizontal or vertical boring machinery.
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