A studio product shot of the Freud 12-544 double flute straight router bit, featuring red-coated cutters and a 1/2-inch polished steel shank.
A technical diagram of a wood workpiece showing the dimensions of a cut made by the router bit, labeled with a 16mm width and a 1-1/4-inch depth.
A 3D illustration of a wooden block featuring a clean, deep U-shaped groove routed into the center of the grain.
A top-down diagram of the router bit's cutting head, showing the orientation of the two high-density carbide flutes designed for balanced material removal.
A studio product shot of the Freud 12-544 double flute straight router bit, featuring red-coated cutters and a 1/2-inch polished steel shank.
A studio product shot of the Freud 12-544 double flute straight router bit, featuring red-coated cutters and a 1/2-inch polished steel shank.
A technical diagram of a wood workpiece showing the dimensions of a cut made by the router bit, labeled with a 16mm width and a 1-1/4-inch depth.
A 3D illustration of a wooden block featuring a clean, deep U-shaped groove routed into the center of the grain.
A top-down diagram of the router bit's cutting head, showing the orientation of the two high-density carbide flutes designed for balanced material removal.
A studio product shot of the Freud 12-544 double flute straight router bit, featuring red-coated cutters and a 1/2-inch polished steel shank.
Freud

Freud Straight Router Bit 12-544 16mm Carbide Shaper (1/2 Shank 24000 Max RPM 1.25 Height Plunge Grooving Hardwood Woodworking)

In stock
SKU: 12-544
$24.99 USD

Description

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Industrial Double Flute Carbide Straight Tool for High-Speed Plunge Grooving and Structural Joinery

The Freud 12-544 16mm Double Flute Straight Router Bit delivers professional-grade mechanical shearing precision when processing deep dado channels, mortise cuts, and edge profiles in natural hardwoods, softwoods, and composite sheet goods. Engineered with a 0.629-inch (16mm) cutting diameter and a rigid 1.25-inch carbide height, this industrial woodworking bit utilizes precision hook and shear angles to accelerate material waste evacuation while securing splinter-free surfaces. The computer-balanced steel core matches seamlessly with hand-held routers, table mounts, or automated CNC machinery running safely up to a 24,000 RPM maximum velocity ceiling. Featuring specialized end-relieved cutting tips, this high-performance routing accessory facilitates smooth vertical plunge entries to eliminate bit burning and maximize edge alignment parameters on heavy-duty cabinetry and furniture layout lines.

Best Used For:

  • Commercial Dado and Groove Layouts: Milling precise 16mm (0.629-inch) channels through cabinet sheet stock to receive partition walls and structural box backings.
  • Deep Mortise and Tenon Joinery: Executing clean vertical plunge sequences into structural frame rails to establish interlocking joint paths for high-end furniture assemblies.
  • Automated CNC Sheet Processing: Running high-speed perimeter edge profiling and template cutouts across composite materials, dense plywoods, and natural lumber.

Key Performance & Safety Features

  • TiCo Hi-Density Carbide Composition: Premium industrial-grade tungsten carbide formulation resists edge abrasion, chemical breakdown, and thermal micro-fracturing under intense loads.
  • End-Relieved Cutter Tips: Precision-ground bottom clearance angles allow the tool to bore vertically into raw lumber without binding or overheating the bit face.
  • Double Flute Shear Geometry: Dual high-precision cutting wings deliver balanced rotational operation, cutting down harmonic vibration and surface chatter.
  • Multi-Platform Drive Versatility: Micro-balanced construction is fully certified for high-torque deployment across handheld, table-mounted, or industrial CNC router spindles.
  • Heavy-Gauge 1/2-Inch Shank: Thick structural steel shank provides rigid resistance against lateral deflection to ensure true tracking tolerances at maximum depth limits.

What's Included

  • (1) Freud 12-544 16mm Double Flute Straight Router Bit with 1/2" Shank

Technical Specifications

Specification Value
Brand Freud
Model Number 12-544
Overall Diameter (Metric) 16 mm
Overall Diameter (Imperial) 0.629 in
Shank Diameter 0.500 in (1/2")
Carbide Height 1.250 in (1-1/4")
Overall Length 2.750 in (2-3/4")
Number of Cutters 2 Cutters
Maximum Rotational Velocity 24,000 RPM
Bit Material Grade TiCo™ Hi-Density Carbide
Flute Design Type Double Flute Straight
Primary Workpiece Application Grooving, Edge-Routing, Plunging

Pro-Tip: When routing deep 1.25-inch blind dados or grooves, do not attempt to clear the full tool height in a single pass. For optimum tool life and to maintain pristine edge alignment parameters, execute the layout using multiple progressive depth steps of 1/4 inch per pass, allowing the high-speed flutes to pull wood chip loads clear of the groove cavity.