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Router Lift's

2K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  dustforbrains 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
So, i have an older router (Freud) which is on its way out, which is being lifted by a universal lift i bought years ago along with the router. The lift works ok but what I lower or raise the bit I have to clean it out due to it being packed with saw dust. With the majority of the lifts on the market today having the same type/kind of configuration, raise and lower from top of table, are any of you experiencing the same thing? I have looked at three others that raise and lower from under the table with the handle on the side of the routing table. A couple are in about the same price range and one is definitely way more expense (Jessem Master-R-Lift $700.00) but man it looks REALLY nice. Truthfully I would pay that if it would fit on my table but I just build re-did my entire table saw station and added my router to the side table and Jessem is 5" to wide. So back to the story if anyone could give some advise it would be much apricated. Thanks!
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
I think they all seem to be pretty much the same. I have a Woodpecker. I just hit it with a shot of compressed air every couple of months or put the vac nozzle over it when I'm cleaning the shavings off of the router table.

Edit-Re-reading your post are you saying that the hole the handle goes in gets packed with dust?? If not, disregard my post.
 
#6 ·
Ok, so I read what I posted and doing proof reading is legit!!! I have the "Router Raizer" from Rockler and I'm not hating on Router Raiser it does a fine job of raising and lowering the bit, don't even have to lock it in, but the socket/hole what ever you want to call it, where the hex key goes into (Fig. 1) fills with dust and shavings and yes I have a dust collector running but this "socket" is located where the red "x" is (Fig. 2) and no matter what, it fills with dust and I latterly have to clean it every time I raise or lower it. What I'm asking is if anyone else with different router plates is experiencing the same thing and what models are they? I went to Woodcraft yesterday and looked at the "SawStop" lift, the chain driven one, and the socket, which is on top like mine, goes all the way through to the underside meaning the dust would drop out and not fill BUT my concern with this model is the chains getting filled with dust and then not work properly.
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#7 ·
Even my Mast-R-Lift II gets filled with dust on occasion. I clean the openings out maybe every few months, certainly not every time I use it. I use a can of compressed air with the long red tube that comes with it. It gets down in there and lifts the dust out. My regular compressor just blows air into the hole and doesn't get under the debris.
 
#8 ·
...
A couple are in about the same price range and one is definitely way more expense (Jessem Master-R-Lift $700.00) but man it looks REALLY nice. ...
- dustforbrains
I can't figure out what Jessem lift you are considering that costs $700. That seems way too high for any of their lift products that i have seen, or can find. I'd like to know more about that one!
Thanks
 
#10 ·
Even my Mast-R-Lift II gets filled with dust on occasion. I clean the openings out maybe every few months, certainly not every time I use it. I use a can of compressed air with the long red tube that comes with it. It gets down in there and lifts the dust out. My regular compressor just blows air into the hole and doesn t get under the debris.

- Rich
How does it get filled with dust? The lift mechanism is under the table?
 
#11 ·
My woodpeckers PRL has a similar recessed hex socket for the lift wrench and also gets filled with sawdust. It still works fine, but since pushing the wrench into the socket is what releases the lock, it takes a bit more thought to adjust the height then when it's clean.

I'm considering the "sidewinder" attachment which basically is a remote bit height crank that can be mounted on the side of the table. Sometimes I have jigs mounted to the table top which cover the height adjust socket and this would eliminate that problem.

As to the question of why even buy a lift (they are expensive!), My Milwaukee router can be adjusted from the bottom through a router table mounting plate, just like Mr. Steele's Triton, but I find the precision and utility of the PRL lift mechanism much more satisfying to use.
 
#12 ·
Here is the link for it…..it is called the Mast-R-Lift II model #02202 Woodcraft, Amazon has them. I said $700 but looking again both sites have it for $729
http://jessem.com/mast-r-lift-excell.html
- dustforbrains
Interesting and thanks. I have not searched before in a way that er turned that one up. I believe from the photos that is a a lift already integrated into a table stop. I could not find the dimensions of the top, but it looks really nice for those able and willing to spend that amount.
 
#13 ·
Here is the link for it…..it is called the Mast-R-Lift II model #02202 Woodcraft, Amazon has them. I said $700 but looking again both sites have it for $729
http://jessem.com/mast-r-lift-excell.html
- dustforbrains

Interesting and thanks. I have not searched before in a way that er turned that one up. I believe from the photos that is a a lift already integrated into a table stop. I could not find the dimensions of the top, but it looks really nice for those able and willing to spend that amount.

- jimintx
 
#14 ·
I bought my Router Raizer directly from them. It has a small metal "coin" that covers the hole, and there is a magnet on the key which lifts it out for making adjustments. Did the rockler version not come with the same "coin" set up?
 
#16 ·
honestly, i don't know, very well may have and i didn't realize what it was. More over the decision to go away from that set up is the router itself is going bad or the speed control is bad and that why i'm looking.

I finally made the decision yesterday and purchased the Kreig PRS5000 lift and the PowerMate 4.2 motor. I've looked at all of them and they each have their draw backs whether its price or design. I liked a lot of things that the Jessem models brought to the table and i feel that the Kreig is very similar (minus a couple of things) so for the price which was about $100 less expensive i went with that one. The motor had a couple of good reviews and we'll see on that one but i really wanted the Porter-Cable but again price beat it our at $100 less expensive. Now, as my dad always told me "you get what you pay for"!!! Hope i made the right decisions and i will post my experiences with them…...fingers crossed……:)
 
#17 ·
I bought my Router Raizer directly from them. It has a small metal "coin" that covers the hole, and there is a magnet on the key which lifts it out for making adjustments. Did the rockler version not come with the same "coin" set up?

- ChefHDAN

honestly, i don't know, very well may have and i didn't realize what it was. More over the decision to go away from that set up is the router itself is going bad or the speed control is bad and that why i'm looking.
I finally made the decision yesterday and purchased the Kreig PRS5000 lift and the PowerMate 4.2 motor. I've looked at all of them and they each have their draw backs whether its price or design. I liked a lot of things that the Jessem models brought to the table and i feel that the Kreig is very similar (minus a couple of things) so for the price which was about $100 less expensive i went with that one. The motor had a couple of good reviews and we'll see on that one but i really wanted the Porter-Cable but again price beat it our at $100 less expensive. Now, as my dad always told me "you get what you pay for"!!! Hope i made the right decisions and i will post my experiences with them……fingers crossed……:)
- dustforbrains
 
#18 ·
so its been over a year since i purchased the Kreig PRS5000 lift and the PowerMate 4.2 motor. i've been very happy with both so far and i have worked both in the last year pretty hard making cabinet door for my re-model of my bathroom, closet and just finished my bedroom set, king bed, dresser and two night stands. The lift hasn't given me any problems and it is enclosed with a dust collection connected to it. Just as a note, if you machine MDF make sure you clean it out!!! I found out the hard way, it got into the switch of the motor and i had to completely take it apart to fix the issue!!! Other than that, really like the lift
 
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