The Freud 16-109 15/32-Inch Mortising Router Bit is a carbide-tipped mortising router bit built for cutting grooves and mortises sized for 1/2 inch plywood. This is a mortising router bit designed for routing clean grooves and mortises in plywood, hardwood, softwood, composites, and melamine. Model Number: 16-109. If you do cabinet work, jig work, hardware mortising, or plywood joinery, this size makes sense because it is aimed at sheet goods where a standard 1/2 inch nominal panel often measures just under true size.

What matters most here is cut quality. Freud calls out a down shear design on most bits in this line, and the practical benefit is simple: cleaner top surfaces with less splintering at the edge of the cut. That is especially useful when you are working in veneered plywood or melamine where tear-out shows up fast. The 15/32 inch cutting diameter is matched to common plywood applications, making this a strong choice for dados, grooves, and mortises where fit matters.

The bit uses two cutters and a 1/2 inch shank, giving you a more stable setup in routers that accept 1/2 inch tooling. The 1/2 inch carbide height is sized for controlled mortising and groove work rather than oversized hogging. Freud also lists deep center gullets for fast chip removal, which helps keep the cut moving without loading up as quickly in longer passes or when working in composite materials.

On the build side, this bit is made for serious router use across multiple setups. Freud specifies that it can be used on CNC machines, hand-held routers, and table-mounted portable routers. That makes it a flexible shop bit if you move between freehand work, router table operations, and guided CNC cutting. The Perma-SHIELD coating is there for a reason too: it helps reduce heat, pitch buildup, and corrosion, which is worth having on a bit that may see plywood glue lines and abrasive composite materials.

Speed matters with router bits, and this model carries a maximum speed of 24,000 RPM. That gives you enough headroom for common router setups, but the real advantage is pairing the bit with the right feed rate and a solid hold-down so the cutter can do its job cleanly. With an overall length of 2-1/4 inches and a 15/32 inch diameter, it is sized for precise joinery and hardware mortising instead of broad surfacing work.

Who should buy it? Woodworkers, cabinet installers, trim carpenters, and shop users cutting consistent grooves in plywood are the main crowd. If you need a router bit for mortising hinges or hardware, cutting plywood grooves that fit better than a loose 1/2 inch slot, or working across hardwood, softwood, and sheet goods, this Freud bit earns its place. If you only need a general straight bit for rough work, there are cheaper options. If you care about fit and cleaner top edges, this is the better tool for the job.

A smart size for plywood work

The Freud 16-109 15/32-Inch Mortising Router Bit is the kind of bit that saves you from fighting sloppy plywood grooves and chipped-up top faces.

• Who it's for: Cabinet shops, finish carpenters, and woodworkers cutting grooves, dados, and mortises in plywood, veneered panels, and melamine.
• Why it stands out: The 15/32 inch diameter is better matched to 1/2 inch plywood, and the down shear style is a real advantage when surface quality matters.
• Worth knowing: This is a specialty router bit, not a do-everything straight bit. Make sure your router accepts a 1/2 inch shank before you buy.

• What is this bit mainly designed to cut? It is designed for grooves and mortises for 1/2 inch plywood, and Freud also lists hardwood, softwood, composites, veneered plywood, and melamine as suitable materials.
• What size shank does it use? This router bit uses a 1/2 inch shank.
• What is the maximum speed rating? The maximum listed speed is 24,000 RPM.
• Can it be used in a CNC router? Yes. Freud specifies use on CNC, hand-held, and table-mounted portable routers.