Product Description
CMT 313.050.42 Dowel Drill for Through Hole - 5 x 27 x 57.5mm Left-Hand Rotation is a solid carbide boring bit engineered for clean, precise through-hole drilling in furniture manufacturing, panel processing, and cabinetry production. Built entirely from premium super-micrograin carbide, this 5mm left-hand drill delivers the cutting clarity and long-term durability demanded by high-speed boring units and CNC routers working with hardwood, MDF, particle board, plywood, and veneered panels.
Key Features
- Solid carbide (HW) construction - the entire bit is made from premium super-micrograin carbide, allowing an almost infinite number of resharpenings and providing extra safety compared to tipped designs, which lowers long-term tooling cost.
- Curved, negatively ground spurs at the tip - produces exceptionally clear bore walls with no rough edges or tear-out, resulting in ready-to-assemble hole quality right off the machine without secondary cleanup.
- Centre point balanced design - the plunge edge runs all the way to the centre of the bit, reducing drilling resistance and increasing production speed so more panels can be processed per shift.
- Larger-than-standard cylindrical head - the oversized head is extremely resistant to prolonged use, meaning the bit stays in service longer between changes and maintains consistent bore quality over extended runs.
- 2 precision-ground cutting edges (Z2) with 2 spiral flutes - dual flutes evacuate chips efficiently during through-hole drilling, keeping the bore clear and reducing heat buildup for longer edge life.
- Left-hand (LH) rotation - purpose-matched to left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers, ensuring proper cutting geometry and clean hole exit on every cycle.
- 10 x 27mm parallel shank with driving flat - the driving flat locks the bit securely in the collet or chuck, preventing slippage under load and maintaining positional accuracy during high-volume production runs.
- Rated for extreme sharpening - the solid carbide body supports aggressive resharpening cycles without sacrificing structural integrity, making it a cost-effective choice for shops that service their own tooling.
- Optimized for hardwood and difficult composites - performs on particle board, MDF, HDF, and veneered wood where consistent bore quality is critical for dowel joinery and flat-pack furniture assembly.
Why This Product
- Shops running left-hand spindle positions need a bit matched to LH rotation - this drill is purpose-built for that configuration, eliminating the cutting-direction mismatch that causes poor bore quality and premature wear.
- The solid carbide body means the tool does not lose a carbide tip under vibration or heat - the entire cutting zone is carbide, which translates to more consistent performance on abrasive materials like particle board and MDF over thousands of holes.
- The centre-balanced plunge geometry reduces drilling resistance, which matters on high-cycle CNC boring centers where spindle load directly affects throughput and machine wear - faster plunge, less resistance, more parts per hour.
- Because the bit supports repeated resharpenings, it suits production environments where tooling is maintained in-house - the initial investment continues to deliver value across multiple sharpening cycles rather than requiring full replacement.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 313.050.42
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 5mm
- Cutting Height: 27mm
- Total Length: 57.5mm
- Shank: 10 x 27mm
- Number of Teeth: 2
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
- Material: HW (Solid Carbide)
- Sharpening Rating: Extreme
- Drill Type: Dowel Drill for Through Hole
Approved Applications
- Through-hole dowel drilling for furniture assembly and panel joinery
- Panel processing on multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers
- Flat-pack and ready-to-assemble furniture manufacturing
- Drilling hardwood, particle board, MDF, HDF, plywood, and veneered panels
- High-speed production boring on industrial boring units and CNC routers
- Coated panel and laminate drilling where clean bore exits are required
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this drill use left-hand (LH) rotation instead of right-hand?
Multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers use both right-hand and left-hand spindles simultaneously to drill multiple holes in a single pass. The LH designation matches this bit to left-hand spindle positions specifically, ensuring the cutting edges engage the material in the correct direction. Using a right-hand bit on a left-hand spindle would cause the tool to cut backwards, producing rough bores and accelerating tool wear.
What is the difference between this through-hole dowel drill and a standard flat-bottom dowel drill?
This bit is designed specifically for drilling completely through a panel or workpiece. The through-hole geometry - including the curved, negatively ground spurs and the centre-balanced plunge edge that runs to the centre of the bit - is optimized to produce a clean exit on the back face of the material with no blowout or rough edges. A blind-hole dowel drill, by contrast, is configured to stop at a precise depth and produce a flat-bottom bore for stopped dowel connections.
Can this solid carbide bit be resharpened, and how many times?
Yes. Because the entire bit is made from solid super-micrograin carbide rather than a carbide tip bonded to a steel body, it can be resharpened an almost infinite number of times according to the product specifications. The solid construction also means resharpenings remove material evenly from a uniform carbide mass, maintaining cutting geometry longer than a tipped bit. CMT rates this bit's sharpening capability as "Extreme."
Is this bit suitable for CNC routers as well as dedicated boring machines?
Yes. The CMT 313.050.42 is specified for use on both high-speed boring units and CNC routers. The 10 x 27mm parallel shank with driving flat is compatible with standard collets and chucks used on CNC boring centers and panel processing centers. Its solid carbide construction handles the speeds and feed rates typical of CNC production environments on materials including hardwood, MDF, particle board, and veneered composites.
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