Hello Scott,
I see by your post that you are familiar with both Salice and Blum. You know then that your Blum Mini-press can be used to bore for and insert either brand. Your comment about the dowels interfering with finishing is a common challenge for many.
Let me review some choices here.
1. Continue to use the mini press to bore for the hinges. Instead of using the 8mm bits, install 2 - 2.0mm bits (with 3/8” collett) to bore pilot holes for wood screws. This will insure the hinge is installed perfectly perpendicular to the door.
2. Keep the 8mm bits in the machine and chose an alternate attachment instead of dowels or the “fold-down” type. Blum refers to the fold down type as Inserta while the Salice name is “Logica”. I would agree that both the Inserta add Logica add cost.
3. Salice offers a 3rd type called “Rapido”. Price-wise it will be between a doweled hinge and the “fold-down” types.
4. The Rapido cam is pre-attached to the hinge and installs easily by hand after boring the door. Once installed, a simple turn of the cam screw locks the hinge in place. The hinge can also be easily removed by reversing the cam screw turn. This can be repeated multiple times without damaging the hole. It is also a very strong attachment method.
5. The boring pattern is the same as it is for a Salice or Blum doweled hinge.
6. For the same reasons, the Rapido hinge is also a good choice if using a CNC to bore the doors.
7. The Rapido attachment is available
on practically all Salice hinges.
Here is an illustration.
Best of luck,
Dennis