A professional studio photograph of the Freud 16-098 mortising router bit, highlighting its bright red Perma-SHIELD coating on the cutting head, sharp silver TiCo carbide edges, and a polished 1/4 inch steel shank.
A technical diagram for the Freud 16-098 bit, illustrating a cross-section of a wood block with a red path indicating a precise straight-walled mortise that is exactly 15/32 of an inch wide and 1/2 of an inch deep.
A technical instructional diagram demonstrating the precision of the Freud 16-098 mortising bit. The illustration shows the bit cutting a clean recess in a wooden block, a metal door hinge, and the final result of the hinge sitting perfectly flush within the routed mortise.
A professional studio photograph of the Freud 16-098 mortising router bit, highlighting its bright red Perma-SHIELD coating on the cutting head, sharp silver TiCo carbide edges, and a polished 1/4 inch steel shank.
A technical diagram for the Freud 16-098 bit, illustrating a cross-section of a wood block with a red path indicating a precise straight-walled mortise that is exactly 15/32 of an inch wide and 1/2 of an inch deep.
A technical instructional diagram demonstrating the precision of the Freud 16-098 mortising bit. The illustration shows the bit cutting a clean recess in a wooden block, a metal door hinge, and the final result of the hinge sitting perfectly flush within the routed mortise.
Freud

Freud Router Bit 16-098 15/32 Inch Mortising Down Shear (1/4 Inch Shank TiCo Carbide Perma-SHIELD 24000 RPM Plywood Hinge Dadoes Grooves)

Only 1 left
SKU: 16-098
$20.49 USD

Description

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Freud 16-098 15/32 Inch Mortising Down Shear Router Bit

The Freud 16-098 is a 15/32-inch overall cutting diameter down-shear mortising router bit engineered to rout precise, splinter-free hinge recesses, underside dadoes, and shallow hardware pockets in 1/2-inch nominal plywood. Built with a 1/4-inch shank and downward shearing 2-cutter geometry, this tool forces surface wood fibers downward into the cut to eliminate top-veneer tearout and chip edge fraying. Tipped with TiCo™ Hi-Density Micrograin Carbide and protected by a heat-resistant Perma-SHIELD® non-stick coating, it operates at speeds up to 24,000 RPM across solid hardwoods, softwoods, veneers, plywood, and composites in CNC machinery, handheld routers, or router tables.

Best Used For:

  • 1/2-Inch Nominal Plywood Dadoing: Milling snug 15/32-inch joinery dado channels and shelf slots into undersized 1/2-inch cabinet plywood.
  • Flawless Surface Hinge Mortising: Cutting flat-bottom mortises for cabinet hinges and hardware in veneered sheet goods without surface splintering.
  • Clean-Edge CNC Pocketing: Executing high-speed interior cutouts and shallow recess routing across abrasive laminate sheets and composite boards.

Key Performance & Safety Features

  • Down-Shear Angle Cutting Action: Downward shearing carbide geometry pushes top wood fibers down to prevent surface veneer tearout and splintering.
  • Undersized 15/32-Inch Diameter Sizing: Specially dimensioned to match the actual metric thickness of standard 1/2-inch cabinet plywood for tight joints.
  • Deep Center Evacuation Gullets: Precision-milled center gullet clearance facilitates rapid chip ejection without heat accumulation or cutter clogging.
  • TiCo™ Hi-Density Micrograin Carbide: Industrial-grade titanium-cobalt carbide formulation maintains high edge retention under heavy production friction.
  • Perma-SHIELD® Non-Stick Coating: Protective red fluoropolymer coating guards against pitch buildup, resin adhesion, and thermal corrosion.
  • Computer-Balanced Anti-Vibration Body: Precision body balancing ensures vibration-free tracking at rotational speeds up to 24,000 RPM.

What's Included

  • (1) Freud 16-098 15/32" Mortising Down Shear Router Bit with 1/4" Shank

Technical Specifications

Brand Manufacturer Freud® Tools
Model Part Number OEM SKU 16-098
Overall Cutting Diameter (D) 0.469 inches (15/32" / 11.9 mm)
Shank Diameter (A) 0.250 inches (1/4" / 6.4 mm)
Carbide Cutting Height (h) 0.500 inches (1/2" / 12.7 mm)
Overall Tool Length (H) 2.000 inches (2" / 50.8 mm)
Shear Angle Cutting Direction Down-Shear Action (Downward Fiber Pressure)
Number of Carbide Cutters 2 Flute Carbide Cutters
Maximum Operating Speed 24,000 RPM
Body Protective Coating Red Perma-SHIELD® Non-Stick Fluoropolymer
Cutter Metallurgy Material TiCo™ Hi-Density Micrograin Carbide Tipped
Primary Machine Compatibility CNC Routers, Handheld Routers, Router Tables

Pro-Tip: Because down-shear cutters push wood chips downward into blind mortises, clear deep mortise grooves using multiple shallow passes or compressed air to ensure optimal cutter cooling and flat-bottom accuracy.