Problem with Freud Raised Panel Bit, please help!

Take a look at this photo:

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is with a Freud 2+2 raised panel bit, nearly brand new. Only ran made 15 feet of board through this.

I'm taking off small passes, but I still get this light line on the board. When it gets stained, the light line turns darker than the rest of the board.

The board is white oak, and the bit ends up getting some pitch on it. I've tried this at all different router speeds (in a router table, of course) and different feed speeds. The problem only happens against the grain. It also won't sand out.

Reply to
Larry Bud
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Look at the cutting edge(s) carefully, and look for any imperfections, maybe one wing is chipped, but if you can't sand it out, this may not be the problem. I'm thinking here that 1 of the three wings is not doing its job, leaving a bit a the grain standing, where it would stain darker (maybe).

The pitch build up....this is a large cutter that generates a lot of heat that could be depositing the pitch back onto the material. More heat on end grain, then with the grain. Try waxing (auto wax would do) the back of the cutter to see if you get less pitch build-up and better results.

I've just finished a small library, 40+ raised panels, red oak, very little sanding was required using the Freud 2+2. I run my 3hp router at 12,000rpm, I take about 1/8 each pass, with a final pass of 1/16 or less, and I check and clean the bit before making the final pass. I also use a feather board. I have a special fence for my router table where I connect my DC to maximize chip extraction, and keep this operation as clean as possible.

Hope some of this helps.

-nick

Reply to
Nicky

imperfections, maybe

(maybe).

I emailed Freud tech support with the photo, and they responded within an hour. I answered their questions, sending them a couple more pictures, and they said to send the bit back to them and they'll send me a new one. I had the tech support guy stumped. He said it might have been ground wrong, though he had never seen that happen (just my luck!).

Great support! They never even asked when I bought it!

Reply to
Larry Bud

I've heard this about Freud support, but I've not needed their services, yet. I've become a creature of habit, buying Freud bits and blades, and have never looked back.

I'm really curious as to "root cause", if you ever find out, please post.

Reply to
Nicky

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