Product Description
CMT Hinge Boring Bit 17 x 57.5mm Left-Hand Rotation is a precision carbide-tipped boring tool engineered for drilling flat-bottom hinge cup holes in cabinet doors, face frames, and panel-based furniture components. Designed by CMT for use with boring machines equipped with adaptors or chucks, this left-hand rotation bit delivers the clean, flat-bottomed bore geometry required for European-style concealed hinge installation. The 17mm cutting diameter and hardmetal (HW) carbide construction make it a dependable choice for production woodworking environments where accuracy and tool life are critical.
Key Features
- Hardmetal (HW) carbide head with precision-balanced centre point - maintains accurate bore positioning and reduces runout, so every hinge cup hole is centered and consistent across high-volume production runs.
- 2 HW precision-ground cutting edges (Z2) - dual carbide cutting edges share the cutting load evenly, extending edge life and producing a cleaner bore floor with less heat buildup.
- 2 negatively ground spurs (V2) - the negatively set spur geometry severs wood fibers ahead of the cutters, preventing tearout at the bore entry and producing crisp, splinter-free hole perimeters in hardwood, softwood, MDF, chipboard, and plywood.
- Super-strength steel body with PTFE coating on the cutter portion - the orange or black PTFE coating reduces pitch and resin adhesion, keeping the bit running freely and reducing cleaning downtime in production cabinet shops.
- Left-hand (LH) rotation - purpose-built for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines, ensuring the correct cutting geometry engages the workpiece and delivers a flat-bottomed, true-diameter hinge cup hole.
- Parallel shank (10 x 26mm) with driving flat and length adjusting screw - the driving flat prevents shank slippage under torque load, and the adjusting screw allows precise depth setting, giving operators repeatable bore depth without re-measuring between setups.
Why This Product
- The 17mm cutting diameter matches the standard hinge cup specification required for European concealed hinges, eliminating the need for secondary sizing operations and ensuring direct hinge fitment.
- The left-hand rotation designation makes this bit a direct replacement for LH spindle positions on multi-spindle CNC boring centers and panel processing equipment - pairing it with the correct spindle direction prevents premature edge wear and maintains bore quality.
- The combination of HW carbide construction and PTFE coating is well-suited for abrasive engineered materials such as MDF, chipboard, and coated plywood, where uncoated steel bits tend to dull rapidly and accumulate resin buildup.
- The parallel shank with built-in length adjusting screw simplifies depth calibration on boring machines equipped with adaptors or chucks, reducing setup time and the risk of through-boring errors in thin panel stock.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 317.170.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 17mm
- Total Length: 57.5mm
- Shank: 10 x 26mm
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Number of Teeth: 2
- Tooth Geometry: Negatively ground spurs
- Material: HW (Hardmetal Carbide)
- Product Type: Hinge Boring Bit
Approved Applications
- Drilling flat-bottom hinge cup holes for European-style concealed hinges
- Cabinet door hinge cup boring
- Face frame hinge mortise drilling
- Panel processing on multi-spindle CNC boring centers and boring machines equipped with adaptors or chucks
- Boring in solid hardwood, softwood, MDF, chipboard, and plywood
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does rotation direction matter for a hinge boring bit?
Hinge boring bits are ground specifically for either right-hand or left-hand rotation. Using a left-hand bit on a left-hand spindle ensures the cutting edges and negatively ground spurs engage the material in the correct direction, producing a clean flat-bottomed bore. Installing an LH bit on an RH spindle would cause the edges to rub rather than cut, resulting in poor bore quality and rapid tool wear.
What machines is the CMT 317.170.12 compatible with?
According to CMT, this bit is designed for boring machines equipped with adaptors or chucks. The 10 x 26mm parallel shank with driving flat and length adjusting screw is the standard interface for these machine types used in cabinet and panel processing applications.
What does the PTFE coating on the cutter portion do?
The orange or black PTFE coating on the cutter portion resists pitch and resin adhesion. In practice, this means the bit sheds glue and wood resins rather than accumulating them on the cutting surfaces, which helps maintain cutting performance and reduces the frequency of cleaning between operations - particularly beneficial when boring MDF or coated chipboard.
Can this bit be used in solid hardwood as well as engineered wood panels?
Yes. The HW (hardmetal carbide) cutting edges and negatively ground spurs are suited for boring in solid hardwood, softwood, chipboard, MDF, and plywood. The carbide material provides the hardness needed to maintain a sharp edge in both natural and engineered wood products encountered in cabinet and furniture production.
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