Freud’s Quadra-Cut™router bits, with four cutting edges instead of two, are slated to be available later this fall in 1/4″ shank sizes, to go along with the current 1/2″ shanks in the line. Two of the Quadra-Cut bits’ carbide cutters have an upshear angle to remove most of the stock, while the pair of downshear cutters then makes a final cut to produce a clean edge, with no fuzz, splinters, or need of sanding. The bits are made from TiCo™ Hi-Density Carbide with titanium and also feature a Perma-SHIELD® permanent non-stick coating to reduce friction and resin adhesion. Copper sandwiched between two layers of silver alloy creates an impact-resistant bond between the carbide and the bit, while multi-axis grinding provides consistent relief angles on the entire cutting edge to reduce burring. Pricing is not yet available for the 1/4-inch shank bits (pricing for the current available 1/2-inch shanks ranges from the $27 range to around $100).
