The Freud 04-112 Double Flute Straight Bit is a carbide-tipped straight router bit built for grooving, edge-routing, and general-purpose routing in wood and composite materials. This is a straight router bit designed for clean plunge cuts, grooves, and edge work in hardwood, softwood, plywood, and sheet goods. Model Number: 04-112. With a 9/32 inch cutting diameter, 1 inch carbide height, 2 inch overall length, and 1/4 inch shank, it fits the kind of jobs where you need a narrow, accurate cut without stepping up to a larger bit.

What makes this bit useful on the job is not just the size. The two-flute design, paired with Freud's stated hook and shear geometry, is there to cut efficiently and leave a smoother finish. That matters when you are routing grooves, trimming edges, or making repeated passes in plywood and veneered stock where tear-out and fuzzed edges slow everything down. The relieved tip is also made for plunge cutting, so you can drop into the work more cleanly for stopped grooves, dados, and similar cuts.

Freud uses its TiCo Hi-Density Carbide on this bit, which is one of the reasons pros reach for the brand when they want a bit that stays sharp longer than bargain options. For a router bit in this size range, edge retention matters because smaller profiles do not give you much room for slop. When the cutting edge stays cleaner and sharper, the cut stays closer to size and you spend less time cleaning up the groove after the pass.

This bit is also a flexible fit for different router setups. Freud specifically lists it for CNC routers, hand-held routers, and table-mounted routers. That gives you options depending on whether you are batch-cutting parts, working on edge profiles at a router table, or making on-site cuts with a portable router. The 1/4 inch shank keeps it in the wheelhouse of common trim routers and many compact and midsize routers, which is handy for cabinet work, light joinery, and general shop tasks.

Material range is another strong point. Freud calls out solid wood, plywood, composites, MDF, OSB, particle board, laminate, cellular PVC, and composite decking among the supported applications. That broad use range matters if your work jumps between cabinet plywood, shelving parts, trim stock, and man-made panels. One bit that can move across those materials without changing your process is always more useful than a specialty cutter that only comes out once in a while.

From a build standpoint, the 04-112 is a straightforward working bit, not a gimmick bit. No bearing, no complicated profile, no extra setup headaches. Just a narrow straight cutter with two flutes and a plunge-friendly tip. It also has a Perma-SHIELD non-stick coating, which is there to help reduce pitch buildup and drag. That is worth having when you are cutting plywood, resin-heavy softwoods, or composite materials that tend to leave more mess on the tool.

Who should buy it? This bit makes sense for woodworkers, cabinet installers, finish carpenters, and serious DIY users who need a true in-between size for grooves or edge-routing work. If 1/4 inch is too small and 5/16 inch is too large for the fit you need, this 9/32 inch profile solves a real problem. It is also a practical choice for anyone running multiple router platforms and wanting one Freud straight bit that can move from a router table to a hand-held router to a CNC setup.

Freud 04-112 Double Flute Straight Bit fills a size gap that actually matters

If you need a true 9/32 inch straight router bit for grooves, dados, or edge work, this is the kind of specialty size that saves you from settling for a close-enough cut.

• Who it's for: Woodworkers, cabinet guys, trim carpenters, and serious DIY users who want a narrow straight bit for plywood, hardwood, composites, and router table or CNC work.
• Why it stands out: The useful in-between diameter, plunge-friendly tip, double flute design, and Freud TiCo carbide make it a practical working bit rather than a one-job throwaway.
• Worth knowing: This is a single router bit, not a set, and like any smaller-diameter straight bit it is smartest when you let the cutter work in shallow passes instead of forcing a heavy full-depth cut.

• What type of router is this bit designed for? Freud lists the 04-112 for CNC, hand-held, and table-mounted routers.
• What shank size does it use? It has a 1/4 inch shank diameter.
• What materials can it cut? Manufacturer information lists hardwood, softwood, plywood, composites, MDF, OSB, particle board, laminate, cellular PVC, and composite decking.
• Is this a plunge-cut capable bit? Yes. Freud states the relieved tip design allows efficient plunge cuts.