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If I needed to invest in a bit set again though, Id buy this one. I havnt used all of the bits yet but, there is always tomorrow. Ive had this set for nearly a year. Excellent quality, freud makes superb products.
The bits had the red paint chipped off on several bits and the of course the CD was unplayable. Now I know where Freud dumps their mistakes. Freud has always made great products so I'll assume it was just a bad day for them. Thank goodness for Amazon replacing this set and a second set in the same shape. The set I ordered came in a wooden box that was in very poor condition. The pastic panel was cracked in several places and broken in a few places.
They are worth the extra cost.Other reviewers have commented about rust, it is true that the shanks develop some surface rust if they don't get used, that seems to be true with all high quality bits. I bought this set in Nov 2006 and haven't been sorry; I would buy it again. I used a 0000 steel wool to clean the rust and now I just keep on top of it. I have some porter-cable bits that have also developed surface rust on the shank. Especially during a Freud discount special.As of yet I haven't used all the bits, but those that I have used have performed flawlessly. What I have notice is that I can remove much more wood per pass and stress the router less with a quality bit verses a cheap one.
Perhaps they were balanced at the factory, but in any case, the quality control is very high. The 1/2" straight bit cuts.507" wide. It is cosmetic only, and I have no need to remove it as reported by another reviewer. There was almost no tearout anywhere.
I spent the day using several of these bits on my router table. I really like this set.Update - 10 months later - After lots of use, especially with the dovetail, straight, and roundover bits, I can say without reservation that these are the best bits I have ever used. I do wish Freud would use a rust inhibitor for shipping.One final detail - these bits vibrate less than my lower cost ones. I cut 3/4" dados in hard maple, 1/2" dovetails in hard maple, and various other cuts in hard maple and white oak.The cut quality is excellent - maybe the best I have ever achieved.
I would give this set 5 stars but for the small amount of rust on the 1/2" shanks. They are still very sharp, and deliver excellent results. The 3/4" bit cuts a dado.755" wide. The 1/2" dovetail was perfectly sized.
I think the versatility of the set would be improved if a core box bit of the same diameter was substituted for the cove bit that comes with the set. The storage box is solidly constructed and well designed, I appreciate the functionality of the tilt-out bit holders, the clear plastic window, the cutting profile etched in front of each bit and being able to hang the box on a wall. One of the bits did have some rust on the shank, despite the package of desiccant that came in the storage box and I was unable to open the instructional CD that came with the set. As soon as received these bits last month, I made several cuts with each bit on scapes of 3/4" plywood, two species of hardwood and several species of softwood. They both cut the same profile and the core box bit would give the extra flexibity of being able to make surface groves, for cuts such as pilaster flutes, etc. They are a beauty to work with. Each of the bits cut flawlessly. Since that time, I have used used three bits several times and I contintue to appreciate the quality of the cut.
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