Product Description
CMT 368.070.12 Dowel Drill for Through Holes is a precision-engineered, left-hand rotation boring bit designed for clean, accurate through-hole drilling in panel processing and cabinet production. Built by CMT with a 2-flute tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head, this 9/32 in. diameter drill handles solid wood, chipboard, MDF, and laminates with consistent results on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers. Its long-series design - with a 1 11/16 in. cutting height and 2 3/4 in. overall length - is purpose-built for thick panel applications where a standard-length drill cannot reach full depth, making it a reliable choice for cabinet box drilling, furniture manufacturing, and industrial woodworking operations.
Key Features
- Tungsten Carbide (HW) Cutting Material - hard-metal construction maintains a sharp edge through demanding production runs on chipboard, MDF, hardwood, and coated panels, reducing tool change frequency and downtime.
- 2-Flute Design - twin flutes provide balanced chip evacuation and a stable cutting action, resulting in smooth bore walls and minimal tearout on both face and exit sides of the panel.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - engineered specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers, ensuring correct engagement and clean cutting without reversing machine setup.
- Long-Series Cutting Height - 43 mm (1 11/16 in.) - extended flute length reaches full depth in thick panels where standard-length dowel drills fall short, supporting through-hole operations without panel repositioning.
- 8x20 mm Parallel Shank - industry-standard shank size fits securely into boring machine spindle collets and chucks, providing rigid tool holding and accurate, repeatable hole positioning across high-volume runs.
- Through-Hole Geometry with 60 deg. Sharpening Angle - point geometry optimized for through-hole drilling exits the panel cleanly, reducing blowout and eliminating the need for backing boards in many panel processing setups.
- 70 mm Overall Length - compact enough for tight spindle spacing on multi-spindle heads while still providing the reach needed for thick-panel through-hole applications.
Why This Product
- The long-series cutting height of 43 mm makes this bit a practical solution for through-hole drilling in thick panels where standard dowel drills cannot complete the bore in a single pass - eliminating the need for panel flipping or secondary operations.
- Left-hand rotation is a specific machine requirement on many multi-spindle CNC boring centers - this bit is built to that spec, so left-side spindles operate with the correct cutting direction for clean, accurate holes without improvised workarounds.
- The 2-flute tungsten carbide construction delivers consistent hole quality across abrasive sheet goods like chipboard and MDF, materials that quickly dull lesser tooling and lead to ragged hole edges in high-cycle production.
- The standardized 8x20 mm shank is a direct fit for common boring machine spindle interfaces, making installation straightforward and keeping setup time minimal on existing equipment.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 368.070.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 7 mm (9/32 in.)
- Cutting Height: 43 mm (1 11/16 in.)
- Overall Length: 70 mm (2 3/4 in.)
- Shank: 8x20 mm
- Number of Flutes: 2
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
- Cutting Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
- Sharpening Angle: Through holes 60 deg.
Approved Applications
- Multi-spindle CNC boring machines (left-hand spindle positions)
- CNC boring centers
- Panel processing centers
- Boring machines with adapter or chuck
- Through-hole drilling in chipboard and particle board
- Through-hole drilling in MDF and HDF
- Through-hole drilling in hardwood and softwood panels
- Through-hole drilling in laminates and coated panels
- Through-hole drilling in plywood
- Cabinet and furniture panel production
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between this through-hole dowel drill and a standard blind-hole dowel drill?
This bit is a through-hole long-series drill, meaning its point geometry and flute length are optimized to pass completely through a panel and exit cleanly on the opposite face. The cutting height of 43 mm (1 11/16 in.) and the 60 deg. sharpening angle are specifically designed for through-hole applications, minimizing blowout at the exit point. A blind-hole drill is configured to stop at a set depth and produces a flat-bottomed hole rather than a complete bore-through.
Why does rotation direction matter, and how do I know if my machine requires a left-hand drill?
On multi-spindle boring heads, spindles to the left of center typically rotate in the left-hand (LH) direction so that each spindle's cutting edge engages the material correctly regardless of its position on the head. Installing a right-hand drill in a left-hand spindle position causes the bit to rotate backwards, producing ragged holes and rapid tool wear. Check your boring machine's spindle specification or operator manual to confirm which positions require LH tooling before installing this bit.
What shank interface does this drill use, and will it fit my boring machine?
This dowel drill uses an 8x20 mm parallel shank, which is a widely used standard on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers. The 20 mm engagement length and 8 mm shank diameter provide secure seating in compatible spindle collets. Verify that your machine's spindle accepts an 8 mm parallel shank before ordering, as some machines use different shank diameters or styles such as 10 mm or Euro-style shanks.
What materials can this carbide through-hole drill be used on?
The tungsten carbide (HW) cutting material makes this drill suitable for a broad range of panel materials commonly used in cabinet and furniture manufacturing, including chipboard, particle board, MDF, HDF, plywood, hardwood, softwood, laminates, and coated panels. Carbide construction handles the abrasive binders and resins found in engineered sheet goods far better than high-speed steel tooling, maintaining cutting sharpness over extended production runs.
Reviews
FAQs
Standard Shipping is free on most orders over $50 within the contiguous US. If the order is under $50.00, the shipping is $9.99 set fee for shipping within the contiguous US.
Most of our products will ship within 1 to 3 Business Days. Some Special order products will ship within 2 to 5 Business Days. Preorders will be shipped to you on a first come first serve basis as soon as available from the manufacturer. Items that are "Made-to-Order" (Custom order products) will be shipped when fabrication is completed, shipping and delivery times will vary and depend on manufacturing.
Products that are shipped directly from the manufacturer will have processing and fulfilment times subject to manufacturer availability.
Preorders are shipped on a first come first serve basis as soon as available from the manufacturer, the sooner you place your Preorder the sooner your order will ship.
Freight shipping Policy:
Orders/Items too large or heavy may require special handling/Shipping and may require to be sent by truck. Someone must be present to accept truck deliveries. Standard truck delivery is to a dock facility designed to receive freight. You will be notified within 24 hours of ordering to confirm delivery. Lift gates for deliveries are available for an additional fee.
We offer Financing options through Clicklease
Please email your Return request to info@FactoryDirectSupplyOnline.com
Include the order number and the reason for your return.
All returns, regardless of their categorization, must include all original parts, be in their original packaging, and in the condition in which they were received. You may not qualify to receive a refund If the returned item is used, damaged, missing any parts, or is damaged during return shipping.
Checkout our complete Return policy
You can contact us through our contact page! We will be happy to assist you.