Drew Eckhardt

What (if any) is the difference between red Freud and black Freud "Industrial" bits?

I bought a 99-036 Adjustable Tongue & Groove Bit Set which is black not red.

I have a couple of the black "Diablo" HSS Forstner bits which aren't carbide like my red carbide Forstners, but in this case the part numbers seem to be the same for red and black.

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Hamlin

Hi Drew,

You may wish to contact Charles M. He works for Freud, I'm sure he can explain the difference between the two.

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bobj3

HI Drew

I did ask Charles M. the same question but I don't recall what he came back with for sure, but you can read his posted items and you may find it..

I think it was they are all made the same way but some are painted black.

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BUT you can wait and he will log in on Monday I'm sure, the normal is about 7:00 AM Denver time...and with luck he will see your post or you can PM him if you have 10 or more posted items..

Red and Black bits from Freud plus Avanti bit set

http://www.amazon.com/Freud-99-041-3...915897&sr=1-82
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-61-102-8...915897&sr=1-84
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-99-472-B...915897&sr=1-79
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-99-039-V...915897&sr=1-88
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-88-100-9...915897&sr=1-89
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-99-267-I...16132&sr=1-102

http://www.amazon.com/Freud-A91220-A...16132&sr=1-105
http://www.amazon.com/Freud-98-318-P...16132&sr=1-112


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Mike

The short answer is the red bits are the top of the line. Anything else is lesser quality/cost. The Avanti bits from Freud is one example. Same basic design but the carbide is not as thick and no red coating which is their answer to build up and friction. This holds true of saw blades as well. You will find Freud blades in a plain silver finish, again these are the lower quality/cost versions.

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Mike
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Drew Eckhardt

Those bits/blades are marked Avanti/Diablo and are a great way to reach a broader, price conscious market without diluting the Freud brand.

In this case we have the same "Freud Industrial" branding on both bit flavors and same customer-visible part number (99-036 in my case) being used by retailers, the Freud web-site, packaging, and even the bit-shanks. That's a product labeling problem especially when people are ordering on-line.

I work and sleep during the week. Given a choice between using a half hour of my limited free time to drive to and from a decent tool store and having a package waiting for me when I get home I nearly always choose the on-line order.

I'm only mildly disappointed here - the bits are sharp, the adjustable groove cutter is unique at the price point, and the opposing shear angles on the tongue cutter mean both sides of the plywood are more likely to stay nice. At the rate I get things done I doubt I'll wear either bit out soon eough to care about life time.

As an edit - the most likely explanation is that Freud slot cutters are now painted black - all of the other slot-cutters(stacked or single; separate or affixed to a panel raiser) on Freud's web site and that Bob pointed out are black and IIRC the production date on my bits was in the last couple of months. If that's the case, I don't care. If the black paint is cheaper than the plastic-like red coating and doesn't touch the wood (there's a lot of clerance between the slot cutter body and carbide edges) it's a smart cost reduction.

Charles M

Drew,

The 99-036 is an example of the bits that we produce that are not PermaSHIELD coated. Currently we do not coat bit components that are stacked to ensure accuracy. The quality of these bits and their components is identical to that of the red bits. This is also true of the slot cutters that are available for arbors as well as those that are integral to the rail and stile bit sets.

As mentioned in this thread, we also offer the Avanti bits that are uncoated and these have slightly thinner carbide tips so they represent a lower price point. Diablo bits are the same as the standard bits but currently have gold coating instead of the Freud red.

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Charles M
Freud America, Inc.