The Freud 04-528 Double Flute Straight Router Bit is a carbide-tipped straight router bit built for grooving, edge-routing, and general-purpose routing in wood and sheet goods. This is a straight router bit designed for grooving, edge-routing, and plunge routing. Model Number 04-528. If you need a bit that can cut cleanly in hardwood, softwood, plywood, MDF, particle board, and other composite materials, this one is built for that kind of everyday shop and jobsite work.

The core setup is straightforward and useful: a 1/2" (12 mm) cutting diameter, two cutting flutes, a 1-1/4 inch carbide height, a 2-3/8 inch overall length, and a 1/4 inch shank. In real use, that gives you a bit that is sized well for common grooves, dados, trimming tasks, and edge work without stepping up to a larger shank or oversized bit body. The double flute layout helps balance fast material removal with a smoother finish than a more aggressive rough-cutting profile.

Freud also calls out precise hook and shear angles, and that matters more than it sounds on paper. Good geometry helps the bit cut cleanly instead of beating up the edge of the material. On plywood, veneered panels, and laminated stock, that can mean less splintering and a cleaner finished edge. On hardwood and softwood, it helps the bit stay efficient instead of feeling like it is dragging its way through the cut.

This bit uses Freud TiCo Hi-Density Carbide, which is one of the main reasons people buy Freud in the first place. A straight bit gets used for a lot of repeat cuts, so edge life matters. Better carbide means the bit stays sharp longer, holds its profile better, and keeps producing cleaner cuts across more material before it is time to replace or service it. That is especially important if you are using it in production routing, CNC work, or repeated dado and groove work in cabinet parts.

Another practical detail is the relieved tip design. Freud built this bit to allow efficient plunge cuts, so it is not limited to entering only from an exposed edge. That makes it more useful for stopped grooves, pockets, and other routing tasks where you need to start inside the panel. For shop work, that is a real benefit because one bit can handle both straight pass work and more controlled plunge entries.

Compatibility is broad and clearly stated. The Freud 04-528 Double Flute Straight Router Bit is designed for use in CNC routers, hand-held routers, and table-mounted routers. The 1/4 inch shank makes it a practical fit for many compact and midsize router setups, especially when you want a lighter bit for common routing tasks. Just stay within the stated maximum speed of 24,000 RPM and match the bit to a properly sized collet.

Material range is another strong point here. Freud lists this router bit for hardwood, softwood, plywood, veneered plywood, MDF, OSB, particle board, laminate, cellular PVC, composite decking, pressure-treated stock, and general composites. That wide range makes it a good grab-first straight bit when your work moves between solid lumber and sheet material instead of staying in one narrow lane.

Who should buy it? Woodworkers, cabinet installers, trim carpenters, remodelers, and serious DIY users who need a dependable straight bit for clean routing work. If your work regularly includes grooves, dados, edge-routing, or plunge entries in furniture parts, cabinet panels, jigs, and general wood components, this is the kind of bit that earns its place quickly. It is not a specialty profile bit. It is the everyday straight cutter you reach for when clean results and broad material coverage matter.

Freud 04-528 Double Flute Straight Router Bit Gets the Everyday Work Done Right

This is a solid go-to straight bit for anyone who wants clean cuts, broad material coverage, and plunge capability without jumping into a niche cutter.

• Who it's for: Woodworkers, cabinet builders, trim carpenters, and serious DIY users making grooves, dados, edge details, and stopped cuts.
• Why it stands out: The TiCo Hi-Density Carbide, double flute design, and plunge-friendly relieved tip make it more useful than a basic straight bit that only shines in one kind of cut.
• Worth knowing: This is a 1/4 inch shank bit, so make sure your router has the right collet and keep it under the 24,000 RPM limit.

• What type of bit is this? It is a straight router bit with a double flute cutting design for grooving, edge-routing, and general-purpose routing.
• Can this bit be used for plunge cuts? Yes. Freud states that the tip is relieved to allow efficient plunge cuts.
• What routers is it designed for? It is designed for CNC, hand-held, and table-mounted routers that accept a 1/4 inch shank bit.
• What materials can it cut? It is intended for hardwood, softwood, plywood, veneered plywood, MDF, OSB, particle board, laminate, cellular PVC, composite decking, pressure-treated stock, and other composite materials.