Product Description
The CMT 374.080.12 4 Flute Through-Hole Dowel Drill is a precision boring tool engineered for clean, accurate through-hole drilling in solid wood, chipboard, MDF, and laminates. Designed for left-hand (LH) rotation and built with tungsten carbide (HW) cutting material, this 5/16 in. dowel drill delivers consistent hole quality with minimal blowout - making it a reliable choice for cabinet assembly, furniture production, and panel processing applications. Its 10x20mm shank provides a secure fit in multi-spindle CNC boring machines and compatible boring centers, while the through-hole tooth geometry ensures precise entry and exit on coated and uncoated panels alike.
Key Features
- Tungsten Carbide (HW) Cutting Material - hard-wearing carbide construction maintains a sharp cutting edge through demanding production runs in hardwood, softwood, MDF, chipboard, and laminates, reducing the need for frequent tool changes.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - engineered specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines, ensuring correct chip evacuation and a clean bore wall without requiring adapter modifications.
- Through-Hole 60 deg. Tooth Geometry - the 60 deg. point angle on through-hole sharpening is optimized to produce a clean entry and exit, preventing blowout on the back face of the workpiece and protecting finished panel surfaces.
- 5/16 in. Diameter with 30mm Cutting Height - the cutting height of 30mm accommodates typical panel and solid wood thicknesses found in cabinet and furniture production, delivering full through-hole performance in a single pass.
- 10x20mm Shank - the robust 10x20mm shank provides a secure, vibration-resistant grip in standard CNC boring heads and multi-spindle chucks, contributing to hole-position accuracy and consistent results across repeat cycles.
- 2 Cutting Teeth - the dual-tooth configuration balances cutting speed with chip clearance, supporting smooth material removal and reduced heat buildup during production boring.
- 57.5mm Total Length - the compact overall length minimizes deflection and keeps the drill stable during high-cycle boring operations, which translates to tighter positional tolerances in dowel-joint assembly.
Why This Product
- Through-hole boring in panels and solid wood demands a drill that exits cleanly without tearing the back face - the through-hole 60 deg. tooth geometry on this bit is specifically designed for that outcome, making it the appropriate choice when surface quality on both sides of the workpiece is critical.
- Left-hand spindle compatibility is a hard requirement on many multi-spindle CNC boring machines - this drill is purpose-built with LH rotation, so it works correctly in those positions without improvised workarounds.
- Tungsten carbide (HW) construction provides the hardness and wear resistance needed to maintain cutting precision over extended production runs in abrasive materials such as chipboard, MDF, and laminates - reducing downtime from premature edge failure.
- The 5/16 in. diameter is a standard dowel sizing used throughout cabinet and furniture joinery - having a dedicated through-hole drill in this size streamlines the boring process for dowel-joint assembly on common panel dimensions.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 374.080.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 5/16 in.
- Cutting Height: 30mm
- Total Length: 57.5mm
- Shank: 10x20mm
- Number of Teeth: 2
- Tooth Geometry (Sharpening): Through holes 60
- Rotation: Left-hand (LH)
- Blade Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
- Series: Through Hole Series
Approved Applications
- Chipboard and particle board through-hole boring
- MDF and HDF panel drilling
- Hardwood and softwood dowel-joint through holes
- Plywood and multi-layer panel boring
- Laminates and coated panel surfaces
- Cabinet and furniture panel processing
- Multi-spindle CNC boring machine applications
- CNC boring center and panel processing center operations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a through-hole dowel drill and a blind-hole dowel drill?
A through-hole dowel drill, like this CMT 374.080.12, is sharpened and geometrically configured to bore completely through the workpiece - entering one face and exiting the other - with minimal blowout on the exit side. A blind-hole drill is designed to stop at a precise depth without exiting the material. This bit uses a through-hole 60 deg. tooth geometry specifically to achieve a clean exit cut.
Does this drill require a specific machine type?
This drill is designed for machines that accept a 10x20mm shank, including multi-spindle CNC boring machines, CNC boring centers, and panel processing centers. It can also be used in a boring machine equipped with a compatible adapter or chuck. Because it is left-hand (LH) rotation, it must be installed in a left-hand spindle position to cut correctly.
Why is left-hand rotation important for this drill?
Multi-spindle boring machines use both right-hand and left-hand spindles arranged in a fixed pattern to allow simultaneous drilling across a panel. This CMT 374.080.12 is designed for LH spindle positions - installing it on an LH spindle ensures the cutting edges engage the material in the correct direction, producing clean bore walls and proper chip evacuation. Using an LH drill on a right-hand spindle would cause the bit to rub rather than cut.
What materials can this through-hole dowel drill be used on?
This drill is suitable for solid hardwood and softwood, chipboard, MDF, HDF, plywood, laminates, and coated panels. The tungsten carbide (HW) cutting material provides the hardness needed to maintain edge sharpness in abrasive engineered wood products such as chipboard and MDF, which wear plain steel tools more rapidly.
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