Which Router lift

[Alan Wright]

Hi guys (and gals),

I'm in the process of building a new route table. I'm tired of fighting my table for perfect results. I am going to buy a router lift to go in it. I have a PC690 router, but I will likely be buying a new one, but haven't decided on which one yet. I'm leaning toward the Milwaukee 5625, or maybe a Triton. It looks like the lift prices run in the $300 range, which I'm OK with. I want to buy it once but I want it to be able to work with any router I put in it for years to come.

I've searched the internet, but I don't see a lot of discussion about which is the one to get. Do any of you have an opinion. Again, I want it to work with any router I might want to put in it. I've looked at Bench Dog, Jessem, Kreg, Incra, and others. I just don't know which one to buy. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...:)

Alan

[Van Huskey]

If they still have them on sale I would get a Woodpecker PRL:

http://www.woodpeck.com/precisionrouterlift.html


For $200 it can't be beat. It would be my second choice at full price as I would get the PRL 2 instead (I have both).

PS the Kreg is the PRL 2 made for them by WP, between the two get the one you get a better deal on or prefer the color.

[Ray Newman]

I have an older Woodpeck lift and couldn't be more satisfied.

If the sale price noted by Van Huskey is still on, I'd jump on it....

[Paul McGaha]

Alan,

I've been looking at the woodpecker stuff. Nice fences, tables, and lifts.

PHM

[Bill Huber]

I am sure you will get a lot of good information, its hard to tell you which one to buy when all I have ever owned was Jessem, I had the FX but wanted to go to a different router which I could not use in the FX so I got the new Master II.

Here is a write up on it I did when I got it, I have now used it for awhile and it is one really nice lift.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=149596&highlight=jessem+router

[Mike Harrison]

Another vote for the original PRL, its the most rugged and best made design out there. For the router, you can buy the big VS, PC motor only, no base, from a couple different places.

[Russell Smallwood]

So....

I've been contemplating the same thing lately. Building a router table and adding a lift.

I guess my question is, all things equal, why would you (proverbial, not the OP) not just buy a 7518 motor and stick it in the lift forever? Seems to me that all of the fancy bells and whistles of a Triton are pretty redundant if you spend the money on a good lift.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better router motor than that monster. I can't imagine they've changed it much in the last 45 years.

As far as a lift goes, the PRL-V2 looks like the cadilac to me, but the Jessum seems a little bit sturdier in that it has 3 posts rather than 2 (hope I'm not wrong about that).

[glenn bradley]

PRL and 5625 for years. Love 'em both. Ordered another PRL as they're on clearance and I couldn't stand the thought of not being able to get another one ;-) The dual guide posts combined with two screws for even adjustment stress of the carriage is rock solid.

The automatic lock is the one feature that really sold me on this machine. I passed on the quick-lift feature as you lose the auto-lock and the dual screw lift but, have heard my thinking was in error from folks who own both. They say that they are happy with both so, listen to their experience, not my guess. :o

My solution to the speed of bit raising was $12 at Costco:

[John Fabre]

I have a eight-seven year old Bench Dog Prolift, very solid American iron, which cannot be beat. If you can find an older one, buy it, Woodpecker would be my second choice.

[Bill Huber]

So....

As far as a lift goes, the PRL-V2 looks like the cadilac to me, but the Jessum seems a little bit sturdier in that it has 3 posts rather than 2 (hope I'm not wrong about that).

The Jessem just has 2 large post, the other one is the screw to raise it or lower it.

One of the really great things about the new Jessem is the fact that it will hold just about any router made today.

[Darcy Forman]

I would sugest the Incra Master R Lift. Solid 3/8" aluminum plate. You'll love the metal center plates that are held in by rare earth magnets. They are also height adjustable. Made from sturdy metal not plastic.

[Russell Smallwood]

The Jessem just has 2 large post, the other one is the screw to raise it or lower it.

One of the really great things about the new Jessem is the fact that it will hold just about any router made today.

Ah, okay. My mistake. Thanks Bill.

[Bruce Page]

I'm very happy with my Bench Dog. It is very sturdy and the plate is nickel plated steel - sag proof with even the biggest router.

[Tom Rick]

PRL-2

Great lift.
I suppose I would get the new iteration with the sidewinder handle if purchasing today.

Under no circumstances would I forgo the quick lift feature of these lifts. My RL is mounted in a TS out feed table/work island. Getting the bit out of the way fast plus pulling up to surface for bit changes and additional cuts is of high value for me. It makes the work flow issues of a multi purpose island fairly seamless.

I have a 2x particle board top with the RL just dropped in. I fit it up nice but had intended putting threaded inserts and screwing it down etc. It's very solid as it. I used a marine engine box soundproofing material in the box and it helps to keep the noise levels down.
I am using the PC 7518 VS and would look no further for a solid unit in a RL.
I have the full set of inserts in AL that Woodpecker offered that one more time a while back. All in all a perfectly faultless setup.

[Will Overton]

I'm happy with a PRL-V2 w/Milwaukee Router

[Dave Houseal]

I've got the Woodpecker PRL and its fantastic. And boy is it well put together. At the sale price of $200 I don't think there is anything else I'd even look at.

That said this is my first and only lift I've ever owned. But I'm very happy with it :D

[John Morrison60]

I have worked with several other combinations.
None have been as overall effective as this one.
The 5625 is a soft start brute, and the V2 with the
quick lift is so easy to use, I can not imagine a better way.

Good Luck
John

[Alan Wright]

Thanks for all the great info. Without the feedback, we're all doing a lot of guessing. I'm going with the PRL. I called them a couple minutes ago and they are still running the sale. Guess I've decided on the Milwaukee Router. I'll mount it and leave it. I've got to go order a new tool :D

Alan

[Van Huskey]

Thanks for all the great info. Without the feedback, we're all doing a lot of guessing. I'm going with the PRL. I called them a couple minutes ago and they are still running the sale. Guess I've decided on the Milwaukee Router. I'll mount it and leave it. I've got to go order a new tool :D

Alan

You move fast! If you have not already decided on a pitch most here seem to prefer the fast (16TPI) pitch with the PRL which makes it twice as fast to lift but is more than adjustable enough. It has been discussed several times. If it weren't for the close out sale I think there would be a LOT more to mull over but for $200 it is hard to argue when you are getting one of the best lifts out there.

[Matt Mackinnon]

I had played around with making my own router table, and looked into a multitude of routers that would make it easy to do so. Well, luck on my side, I never actually got around to it.

I ended up buying a Jessem Rout-R-Lift FX when they had the offshore sale, and I could not be happier. The newer Mast-R-Lift II is an even better design, but it was not available when I ordered.

Jessem makes the Incra model, and the only real difference between them is the magnetic plate vs Jessem has a screw on resin platic.

I bought a referb PC890 for $160 and it fills every one of my needs for a router table.

[Alan Wright]

Van, thanks for the info. When I went to order, I saw that there were two pitch options. I made an executive decison and got the 16 pitch. Lock miter bits need to be dialed in with minor adjustments, but the scale on most of these lists looks like a 1/4 turn only lifts router a fraction, so hopefully I can get the kind of adjustment I will need.
\\Alan (file://\\Alan)

[Cyrus Brewster 7]

Alan... Have you thought about adding the sidewinder accessory? I just put one on and really like it. I had some work that required me to come up 1/8 into a small piece - so plunging would have been difficult. The crank on the side made it very easy.