Product Description
CMT 311.060.42 Dowel Drill 6 x 35 x 70mm LH is a left-hand rotation, solid carbide boring bit engineered for high-precision dowel hole drilling in furniture manufacturing, cabinet making, and panel processing. Built from premium super micrograin carbide, this 6mm diameter drill delivers exceptionally clean, flat-bottomed bores with no rough edges - making it the reliable choice for hardwood, MDF, particle board, veneered panels, and difficult composite materials. Its long-series 70mm body and 35mm cutting height make it well suited for deeper blind hole applications where shorter bits fall short.
Key Features
- Solid Super Micrograin Carbide Construction (Material: HW) - the entire drill body is machined from premium quality super micrograin carbide, delivering exceptional hardness and wear resistance that far outlasts conventional steel-tipped tools, especially in abrasive materials like particle board and MDF.
- Curved, Negatively Ground Spurs (2 Spurs) - the unique spur geometry scores the bore perimeter cleanly before the main cutting edge engages, producing smooth, tear-out-free walls and flat-bottom holes with no rough edges - critical for tight-fitting dowel joints and veneered surfaces.
- Centre-Balanced Tip - precise centre point balance reduces vibration and deflection during boring, resulting in accurately positioned holes and consistent bore diameters across high-volume production runs.
- Full-Length Plunge Edge to Centre - the plunge edge extends all the way to the centre of the bit, reducing drilling resistance and increasing production speed so that boring cycles are faster with less strain on the spindle.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - designed specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centres, ensuring proper chip evacuation and clean entry on the correct side of the panel.
- 10 x 30mm Parallel Shank - the larger-than-traditional cylindrical head is engineered for exceptional resistance to prolonged use, seating securely in standard boring unit chucks and adapters to prevent slippage under high-speed operation.
- Solid Carbide Unit - Virtually Unlimited Resharpenings - because the bit is a single solid carbide body rather than a tipped assembly, it can be resharpened an almost infinite number of times without risk of tip separation, offering both long-term cost efficiency and added safety.
- 2-Flute, 2-Spur Geometry - twin flutes and twin spurs work together to balance cutting forces, reduce heat buildup, and produce consistently clean bores at high rotational speeds on CNC routers and multi-spindle boring units.
Why This Product
- Engineered for clean dowel bores in difficult composites - the negatively ground spurs and full-centre plunge edge are specifically designed to handle abrasive materials like particle board, MDF, and veneered wood where conventional bits produce tear-out and rough bore walls that compromise joint quality.
- Built for high-speed CNC and multi-spindle production environments - the centre-balanced tip, solid carbide body, and 2-flute geometry combine to deliver stable, high-speed performance on CNC boring centres and panel processing machines, reducing cycle times without sacrificing bore quality.
- Long service life lowers per-hole tooling cost - solid carbide construction allows for an almost infinite number of resharpenings, unlike carbide-tipped bits that can lose their tips under repeated use; this makes the 311.060.42 a cost-effective choice for high-volume furniture and cabinet production.
- Correct left-hand rotation for paired spindle setups - multi-spindle boring machines require matched LH and RH bits for simultaneous bilateral drilling; this left-hand version pairs directly with its right-hand counterpart to complete full dowel joint layouts in a single boring pass.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 311.060.42
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 6mm
- Cutting Height: 35mm
- Total Length: 70mm
- Shank: 10 x 30mm
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Number of Teeth: 2
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
- Material: HW (Solid Carbide - Super Micrograin)
- Series: 311 Long Series
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel connections and joinery
- Panel drilling on furniture and cabinet components
- Furniture manufacturing and flat-pack assembly production
- Cabinet making and case goods construction
- Boring in hardwood, softwood, and engineered wood products
- Drilling in particle board, MDF, HDF, and veneered panels
- High-speed CNC router and CNC boring centre operations
- Multi-spindle boring machine applications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between left-hand and right-hand dowel drills, and how do I know which one I need?
Left-hand (LH) rotation bits like the 311.060.42 rotate counterclockwise and are used in left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centres. Right-hand (RH) bits rotate clockwise for the opposing spindle positions. On a typical multi-spindle machine, both LH and RH bits are used simultaneously to drill rows of dowel holes across a panel in a single pass. Check your machine's spindle rotation designation - or the direction the chuck turns - before selecting LH or RH tooling.
What makes solid carbide dowel drills better suited for MDF and particle board than standard carbide-tipped bits?
MDF and particle board contain highly abrasive resins and fine wood fibers that wear cutting edges rapidly. Solid carbide - the material used in this bit - is significantly harder and more wear-resistant than the steel bodies used in carbide-tipped bits. Because the entire drill is carbide, there is no bond between a tip and a body that can fail under heat and stress. The result is a longer-lasting edge that maintains bore quality across far more holes before requiring resharpening, which is especially valuable in high-volume production environments.
Can this dowel drill be resharpened, and how many times?
Yes. Because the 311.060.42 is constructed as a single solid unit of carbide rather than a tipped assembly, it can be resharpened an almost infinite number of times. Resharpening restores the cutting geometry - including the negatively ground spurs and plunge edge - without the risk of tip separation that can occur with carbide-tipped bits. This makes solid carbide dowel drills a long-term investment for shops with regular sharpening capabilities.
Is this bit compatible with CNC routers in addition to dedicated boring machines?
Yes. The 311.060.42 is designed for excellent performance on both high-speed boring units and CNC routers, as noted in the product specifications. The 10 x 30mm parallel shank accommodates standard chuck configurations found on CNC machining centres. The centre-balanced tip and solid carbide construction handle the high RPM environments common on CNC routers while maintaining the boring accuracy required for dowel joint work.
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