Freud RP2000: 5-1/2" (Dia.) Performance System® Panel Raising System with 1-1/4" bore

The packaging is a bit cheesy (plastic case and flimsy molded insert) but the cutter and the knives were perfect. I will be using this set for a very long time.

This set from Freud is top quality. Blades are razor-sharp and sit securely on a well machined hub. The good folks at Amazon were kind enough to open the box and secure the blades with added packing before shipping. This is the second time we have ordered this product because on the first go around all the blades were scattered in the box and chipped. If Freud's packaging department cared as much as their sharpening department I would've given five stars.

After have done numerous raised panel jobs, I'm very pleased with this head. I admit I had my reserves about the two knife system. I was really looking to buy a three knife system which would have cost around $150. or so more than the Freud. This head has no problem machining oak and maple panels in single pass. I run it on a three horse Delta utilizing a small power feeder. I really like the variety of panel shapes available. Plus the price of the inserts are very reasonable, around $30.00. The carbide is super thick, can probably get a couple sharpening out of them. The only negative thing I can think of is that because it is a two knife system I find I get better results at slower feed rates. Plus on the same note the inserts will dull quicker than on a three knife head. This is really a mute point because of the greater cost of a three head system. Take a Byrd panel head for example, the set of three inserts will run you $75.- 85.00. Byrd makes a great head, but if your not into high production the Freud is a great head at a great price.

I have been using shaper cutters for 20 years and thought this set would be a good investment compared to regular cutters I had to get resharpened. After the first small poplar panel the knives were chipped and left grooves in the panel. I tried 3 different sets of the knives all with the same result. These knives are of the cheapest quality i have ever seen. Save your money and do not buy this product. I have used Freud products for years and no complaints, but this one is not what I had come to expect of Freud.I returned the set and was promptly refunded, at least customer service was good.

Being a professional woodworker for thirty years and having purchased many tools, blades, cutters, machines, etc. I was very disappointed when I received this item. Due to the cheap packaging, the insert cutters were all loose in the packaging during shipping, and as we all know , carbide is very brittle, very fragile. All of the insert cutters were absolutely trashed during shipping, having a lot of chipped areas in the cutting edges. Not Amazon's fault, but Freud's fault because of the cheap-ass packaging. The first and subsequent pieces of wood that was cut using this raised panel system was thrown into the dumpster and now I'm in a real pickle as what to do. Order new inserts and hope they arrive undamaged? Try another brand? I've never been more disappointed in a purchase and I'm probably through with Freud products unless they can improve their packaging.

Like others who have left a review, the kit arrived with the cutters loosely clanging around in the box, 5 out of them with chipped cutting edges. The back cutter has a huge chunk missing from the edge of the carbide cutter. Though there is a foam insert in the kit, it doesn't seem to hold the cutters in place during travel. Clearly Freud needs to address this issue. What a pain, I'm trying to get a project finished, and now have to wait again for the set. Not Amazon's fault, but Freud packaging engineers. Go back to the drawing board, learn from those who create such sharp edges, they have down pat

We build lots of cabinets. I order in a lot of doors. We do have tooling and machines to build any door we want. This set gives alot of options at a very great price. I would buy it again. Knives were sharp and worked as they should. If you hand feed your product and have trouble with burning this head is ideal. This set is smaller diameter than some shaper cutters. That and the fact that its only two wings means it performs much better on hand feed operations.

I usually don't take the time to go back and review a product once I received it but this one really deserves a little effort on my part.I have been among many things a cabinet maker my entire life. I design and build custom kitchens, built-ins and furniture. It was a part time thing for years but now after taking early retirement from my day job I'm doing it full time. I'm always looking for ways to make the work quicker, easier, faster, better... This cutter does it all. I have a grizzly 3/4" spindle (3hp). Up until not I've been using grizzly 3 wing carbide cutters. They work ok. But this cutter is so much better. The raised panel cutter cuts clean. Even on the end grain. I use to spend countless hours sanding panel profile end grain. I just cut nearly 60 raised panels. The end grain required far less sanding. My son and I sanded thru them all in approximately 3 hrs. These are cherry wood panels and no matter how slow i went there was no burning. I could feed the material at a good rate with out gouging or burning. I bought 1.25" dia to .75" reducer bushings and ran the cutter at my machine's slower speed with the cutter facing down (panel facing up).I took a rough cut followed by a finish cut and the cutter was a joy to use. When the inserts get dull I'll prob just replace them and bill it to the job...I'd buy this cutter again in a heart beat.

I use this on a 3 h.p. general shaper with a 1 1/4 spindle, and I can easily cut raised panels in hard maple in 2 passes, could likely even do it in 1. Produces a very nice finish. Expensive set but good quality.

I received my freud rp set in perfect order , on time and in great condition,actually in better condition than described, i would recommend the service and the product to anyone wanting quality and punctuality. BK