Freud 3-1/2" (Dia.) Raised Panel Bit w/Backcutters with 1/2"

Finally got this router bit due to shipping delays but was expected due to Christmas. Tried to find this router bit in Canada (KMS, Elite, Home Depot) but couldn’t find one or order it. Exactly what I needed to make raised panel doors with a back cutter

3 1/2 Diameter is a lot larger than you think! Most important thing I would point out to perspective buyer is to be sure your router table can support this bit. My opening barely worked. My adjustable MDF fence faceplates would not adjust enough to avoid the bit so i removed them, and clamped them in place. I will craft some new faceplates for this bit to avoid that stress in the future.Router table aside, the bit does great work. As with every Freud bit i've purchased i have no tear out and don't need to sand or fix anything. fantastic results and super pleased.

As always Freud provides superior machining and sharpness. This raised panel bit work’s excellent so far. I’ve only cut 4 panels but the edges are very crisp with no tear out. Adjust router speed accordingly and you will be happy with this bit.

The bit looks wonderfully made, but a note to buyers, there is no bearing on this bit! (I did not see that fact in the description, though the picture clearly does not show one)If you are using a fence, that is great, but if you have to route a cathedral top panel, this will NOT work, unless you use the collar/spacer as a bearing, which will heat up to wood burning temperatures very quickly.I am unfortunately doing ached top panels.

Because of its size, it was important to me that I pay for assured quality. I made the right choice.The bit is certainly huge and ships in an good case. It was too wide for my 2.25HP Bosch 1613AEVS and so I had to use a 1-1/2 HP adjustable speed Craftsman at its lowest speed. It's installed under a Bosch router table that itself was barely able to accept the bit (it did slightly touch the wood fence inserts, though. No concerns there.) The lower power still proved sufficient for cutting through solid cherry very cleanly.I chose to make three passes of about 3/8" per. It never bogged down and never scored the panel. The lack of a bearing really didn't seem to be an issue for me as it was a minor issue for others, and that's why I chose to stick with a 5-star rating.No doubt it was loud and there was some level of vibration but I attribute that more to my router than the bit. As you might expect, it kicks out a lot of sawdust.I joined the boards with #10 biscuits and, unfortunately too late, forgot that where they're used could be a problem when using this bit. Yeah, a couple of them were slightly revealed as nice now-decorative triangles.The back cutter was the driving reason for choosing this bit over others; a time-saving option, to be sure. You may be able to compromise on other bits, which I sometimes do, but given the special nature of this one, it was the right decision.