Product Description
CMT 317.180.12 Hinge Boring Bit - 18 x 57.5mm Left-Hand Rotation by CMT is engineered for precision drilling of flat-bottom hinge cup holes in cabinet doors and face frames. This 18mm diameter boring bit delivers the flat-bottom bore geometry required for European-style concealed hinge installation, making it an essential tool for cabinet makers and woodworking professionals. Built with a tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head and PTFE-coated body, it combines durability with clean, accurate results in hardwood, softwood, MDF, chipboard, and plywood. The left-hand (LH) rotation design pairs this bit with the correct spindle direction on multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers equipped with adaptors or chucks.
Key Features
- HW (Tungsten Carbide) Cutting Head with Precision Balanced Centre Point - the carbide construction maintains a sharp, accurate bore entry even through dense materials, reducing tearout and ensuring repeatable hole placement for hinge cup fitting.
- 2 Precision Ground HW Cutting Edges (Z2) - dual carbide cutting edges produce a clean, flat-bottomed hole in a single pass, which is exactly what European concealed hinges require for a flush, stable seat.
- 2 Negatively Ground Spurs (V2) - negatively ground spurs score the material perimeter cleanly before the cutters engage, minimizing chip-out and delivering smooth bore walls for a professional finish on cabinet door faces and frames.
- PTFE-Coated Cutter Body (Orange or Black Coating) - the P.T.F.E. coating on the cutter portion resists pitch and glue buildup, reducing friction and extending tool life in production environments where the bit is used repeatedly.
- Super-Strength Steel Body - the high-strength steel construction absorbs the rotational forces of high-cycle boring machine use without flex or vibration, contributing to consistent hole quality across large production runs.
- Parallel Shank (10 x 26mm) with Driving Flat and Length Adjusting Screw - the parallel shank with driving flat ensures positive engagement in boring machine adaptors or chucks, while the length adjusting screw allows precise depth setting for consistent hinge cup depth across every door.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - designed specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines, ensuring the bit cuts correctly and ejects chips efficiently when mounted on the correct side of the machine.
Why This Product
- The 18mm diameter is the standard cup size required for 35mm European concealed hinges - using a bit specifically dimensioned for this application eliminates the guesswork and rework associated with adapting general-purpose bits to hinge boring work.
- The negatively ground spurs combined with the precision-ground HW cutting edges mean both the perimeter and floor of the bore are cut cleanly in one operation - critical for achieving the tight fit that keeps concealed hinges seated correctly and operating smoothly.
- The parallel shank with driving flat and length adjusting screw gives the operator direct control over bore depth, which is essential when boring multiple cabinet doors to the same specification in a production run on a boring machine with adaptors or chucks.
- The PTFE coating and carbide tipping work together to resist the buildup and wear that shortens bit life in continuous cabinet shop use - this means fewer tool changes and more consistent results over the life of the bit.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 317.180.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Product Type: Hinge Boring Bit
- Diameter: 18mm
- Total Length: 57.5mm
- Shank: 10 x 26mm
- Rotation: LH (Left-Hand)
- Number of Cutting Edges: 2
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Spur Geometry: Negatively ground spurs
- Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
- Shank Features: Parallel shank with driving flat and length adjusting screw
Approved Applications
- Drilling flat-bottom hinge cup holes for European concealed hinge installation
- Cabinet door hinge mortise boring
- Face frame hinge cup drilling
- Use on boring machines equipped with adaptors or chucks
- Compatible with solid hardwood
- Compatible with softwood
- Compatible with chipboard
- Compatible with MDF
- Compatible with plywood
Frequently Asked Questions
What machines is this hinge boring bit compatible with?
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 allows it to be mounted securely in standard boring machine chucks and adaptors used on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and boring centers.
Why does the rotation direction matter, and how do I know if I need a left-hand bit?
On multi-spindle boring machines, spindles are oriented as left-hand (LH) or right-hand (RH) depending on their position in the machine configuration. Using a bit with the correct rotation for its spindle position ensures the cutting edges engage the material properly and chips are evacuated efficiently. The CMT 317.180.12 is specifically a left-hand (LH) rotation bit and should only be used on left-hand spindle positions.
What is the purpose of the negatively ground spurs on this bit?
The 2 negatively ground spurs score and sever the wood fibers at the perimeter of the bore before the main cutting edges remove material. This sequencing prevents tearout and splintering at the edge of the hole, producing clean bore walls - an important quality consideration when boring visible cabinet door faces for concealed hinge installation.
What does the PTFE coating on the cutter portion do?
The P.T.F.E. coating applied to the cutter portion of this bit resists the adhesion of pitch and glue residue that can accumulate during boring operations, particularly in engineered wood products like MDF and chipboard. By preventing buildup, the coating helps maintain cutting performance and extends the working life of the bit between sharpenings.
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