Product Description
CMT 308.120.12 Dowel Drill - 15/32" x 1-3/16" x 2-17/64" Left-Hand Rotation is a precision-engineered, carbide-tipped boring tool from CMT, purpose-built for clean, flat-bottom blind hole drilling in panel processing and cabinetry production. Turning left-hand (LH), this short-series dowel drill is the correct tool choice for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle CNC boring machines, panel processing centers, and gang-boring equipment. With a 12mm cutting diameter, 30mm cutting height, and a 10x20mm parallel shank with driving flat, it delivers repeatable accuracy in solid wood, chipboard, MDF, and laminated panels - making it a reliable component in high-throughput furniture and cabinet manufacturing workflows.
Key Features
- Tungsten Carbide (HW) Cutting Material - hard carbide construction maintains a sharp cutting edge through extended production runs in abrasive materials like chipboard, MDF, and coated panels, reducing downtime from frequent tool changes.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - engineered specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring heads, ensuring proper chip ejection and hole geometry when installed in the correct spindle orientation.
- Negatively Ground Spurs (2 spurs) - precision-sharpened spurs score the material surface ahead of the cutting edge, producing clean bore walls and splinter-free entry points with no tearout on laminates or veneered panels.
- 2-Tooth Cutting Geometry - the 2-flute (2-tooth) configuration promotes efficient chip clearance in deep blind holes, helping maintain hole quality and tool temperature during continuous boring cycles.
- Short-Series Profile (57.5mm total length) - the compact 57.5mm overall length and 30mm cutting height are optimized for tight spindle spacing on multi-spindle boring machines, allowing close center-to-center hole patterns without interference.
- 10x20mm Parallel Shank with Driving Flat - the standardized 10x20mm shank seats securely in boring machine chucks and adapters, preventing slippage under the rotational forces of production boring and ensuring consistent hole positioning.
Why This Product
- The LH rotation designation makes this drill the purpose-correct choice for left-side spindles on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and gang borers - using a right-hand drill in a left-hand spindle position produces poor hole quality and premature tool wear, so matching rotation to spindle direction is critical.
- Negatively ground spurs combined with carbide cutting edges mean the drill performs cleanly across a wide range of panel materials - from raw softwood and hardwood to abrasion-prone MDF, chipboard, HDF, and laminated surfaces - without changing tools between material types.
- The short-series 57.5mm total length fits the tight spindle pitch requirements common in production boring heads, allowing high-density hole patterns for shelf pin rows, dowel joints, and hinge cup layouts in one pass.
- With a 12mm (15/32") cutting diameter and standardized 10x20mm shank, this drill aligns with common doweling and shelf-pin boring standards used in flat-pack and custom cabinet production, reducing setup time and simplifying tooling inventory.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 308.120.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Product Type: Dowel Drill
- Diameter: 12mm (15/32")
- Cutting Height: 30mm (1-3/16")
- Total Length: 57.5mm (2-17/64")
- Shank: 10x20mm
- Number of Teeth: 2
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Spur Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
- Rotation: LH (Left-Hand)
- Series: Short Series
Approved Applications
- Chipboard and particle board panel boring
- MDF (medium-density fiberboard) boring
- HDF (high-density fiberboard) boring
- Solid hardwood dowel hole drilling
- Solid softwood dowel hole drilling
- Plywood boring
- Laminated and coated panel boring
- Blind hole drilling for dowel joints
- Shelf pin hole boring in cabinet panels
Compatible Machines
- Multi-spindle CNC boring machine (left-hand spindle positions)
- CNC boring center
- Panel processing center
- Boring machine with adapter or chuck
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does rotation direction matter for a dowel drill, and how do I know if I need a left-hand model?
Multi-spindle boring heads use both left-hand and right-hand spindles positioned side by side. Each spindle rotates in a fixed direction, and the drill installed in it must match that rotation to cut correctly and eject chips properly. Installing a right-hand drill in a left-hand spindle position causes the cutting edges to rub rather than cut, producing rough holes, burning, and rapid tool wear. Check your boring machine's spindle layout diagram to confirm which positions require LH tooling before selecting this drill.
What does "negatively ground spurs" mean and why does it matter for laminated or veneered panels?
Negatively ground spurs are precision-sharpened scoring edges set at a negative angle that slice cleanly through the surface fiber of the workpiece before the main cutting edges remove the core material. This scoring action severs the surface cleanly and prevents the laminate, veneer, or wood grain from lifting or splintering at the hole entry. The result is a clean-edged bore wall that requires no secondary cleanup - particularly important for finished cabinet panels and coated board surfaces.
What shank size and type does this drill use, and is it compatible with standard boring machine chucks?
This dowel drill uses a 10x20mm parallel shank with a driving flat. The 10mm shank diameter and 20mm shank length is a widely used standard on multi-spindle boring machines and panel processing centers. The driving flat engages the chuck's locking screw to prevent the tool from rotating independently under load, ensuring the drill stays locked at the correct angular position during high-cycle production boring.
Can this drill be used for through-hole drilling as well as blind hole boring?
This tool is designed and optimized for blind hole drilling - producing flat-bottom holes to a defined depth - which is the standard requirement for dowel joinery, shelf pin holes, and hinge cup preparations in panel furniture and cabinet construction. The 30mm cutting height and short-series 57.5mm total length are sized for this blind-bore application. While the drill will physically pass through thin panels, its geometry is optimized for precise, clean blind holes rather than through-boring applications.
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