A professional studio photograph of the Freud 36-138 beading router bit, featuring a bright red-coated head with four Quadra-Cut carbide cutting edges, a top-mounted ball bearing pilot, and a polished 1/2 inch steel shank.
A technical diagram for the Freud 36-138 bit, showing a wood cross-section with a precise 1-3/8 inch radius decorative beading profile that includes a distinct inset bead at the base of the curve.
A technical diagram illustrating the bit's versatility; it shows a beading profile created with the standard bearing on the left and a standard round-over profile on the right, achieved by swapping to a 1/8 inch smaller ball bearing and step washer.
Freud Quadra Cut Router Bits promotional video
A professional studio photograph of the Freud 36-138 beading router bit, featuring a bright red-coated head with four Quadra-Cut carbide cutting edges, a top-mounted ball bearing pilot, and a polished 1/2 inch steel shank.
A technical diagram for the Freud 36-138 bit, showing a wood cross-section with a precise 1-3/8 inch radius decorative beading profile that includes a distinct inset bead at the base of the curve.
A technical diagram illustrating the bit's versatility; it shows a beading profile created with the standard bearing on the left and a standard round-over profile on the right, achieved by swapping to a 1/8 inch smaller ball bearing and step washer.
Freud Quadra Cut Router Bits promotional video
Freud

Freud Router Bit 36-138 1-3/8 Inch Radius Beading Decorative Edging (1/2 Inch Shank TiCo Carbide Perma-SHIELD 12000 Max RPM Woodworking)

Only 1 left
SKU: 36-138
$147.79 USD

Description

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Freud 36-138 1-3/8 Inch Radius Beading Decorative Edging Router Bit

The Freud 36-138 is a 3-1/4-inch overall diameter beading decorative edging router bit engineered to rout a 1-3/8-inch radius rounded edge profile with a distinct inset shoulder bead on furniture and architectural millwork. Built with a heavy-gauge 1/2-inch shank and a 3/8-inch pilot ball bearing, this 4-cutter tool executes smooth, tearout-free decorative borders along straight or curved wood stock. Tipped with TiCo™ Hi-Density Micrograin Carbide and protected by a heat-resistant Perma-SHIELD® non-stick coating, it operates safely at speeds up to 12,000 RPM across solid hardwoods, softwoods, plywood, and composites in handheld or table-mounted routers.

Best Used For:

  • Architectural Millwork & Trim Profiling: Routing large 1-3/8-inch rounded beads with decorative inset shoulders on solid hardwood mantels, casings, and baseboards.
  • Tabletop & Furniture Edge Softening: Shaping crisp, tearout-free radiused bead borders onto solid wood dining tables, desk tops, and cabinet components.
  • Plywood & Composite Sheet Finishing: Carving smooth decorative edge profiles into cabinet-grade plywood, MDF, and composite wood boards.

Key Performance & Safety Features

  • Four-Cutter Blade Configuration: Four-wing carbide cutter geometry doubles the cuts per revolution for exceptionally smooth surface finishes.
  • Decorative Inset Bead Profile: Precision-ground geometry creates a 1-3/8-inch radius curve bounded by a clean bottom inset shoulder.
  • TiCo™ Hi-Density Micrograin Carbide: Custom-formulated carbide tips deliver high wear resistance and retain razor sharpness on abrasive materials.
  • Perma-SHIELD® Non-Stick Coating: Protective red fluoropolymer coating resists pitch buildup, resin adhesion, and thermal corrosion.
  • Precision Pilot Ball Bearing: Includes a 3/8-inch outer diameter steel ball bearing for smooth, uniform edge tracking without a router fence.
  • Rigid 1/2-Inch Steel Shank: Heavy-gauge shank diameter minimizes vibration, chatter, and cutter deflection under heavy rotational loads.

What's Included

  • (1) Freud 36-138 1-3/8" Radius Beading Router Bit with 1/2" Shank
  • (1) 3/8" Outer Diameter Pilot Ball Bearing

Technical Specifications

Brand Manufacturer Freud® Tools
Model Part Number OEM SKU 36-138
Profile Radius Dimension (R) 1.375 inches (1-3/8" / 34.9 mm)
Overall Cutting Diameter (D) 3.250 inches (3-1/4" / 82.6 mm)
Shank Diameter (A) 0.500 inches (1/2" / 12.7 mm)
Carbide Cutting Height (h) 1.563 inches (1-9/16" / 39.7 mm)
Overall Tool Length (H) 3.375 inches (3-3/8" / 85.7 mm)
Pilot Bearing Diameter (B) 0.375 inches (3/8" / 9.5 mm)
Number of Carbide Cutters 4 Flute Carbide Cutters
Maximum Operating Speed 12,000 RPM
Body Protective Coating Red Perma-SHIELD® Non-Stick Fluoropolymer
Cutter Metallurgy Material TiCo™ Hi-Density Micrograin Carbide Tipped
Primary Machine Compatibility Router Tables, Handheld Routers

Pro-Tip: Due to the large 3-1/4 inch cutting diameter, reduce your variable-speed router down to a maximum of 12,000 RPM and take shallow multiple passes to ensure operator safety and produce a glassy finish on dense hardwoods.