Router Lift Selection

[Warren Wilson]

Can anyone offer some thoughts on the quality of the Jess-Em Rout-R-Lift?

I use my router table from time to time to build projects so I don’t need industrial strength, but at the same time I don’t want to buy something flimsy or otherwise de-featured to the point it might frustrate me.

The alternate is the Mast-R-Lift, that costs twice as much and does seem more heavily built.

Thanks for any insights.

[Brett Luna]

I considered the Rout-R-Lift and if all you'll ever use are 3½" router motors, I think you'd be happy with it. I went with the Mast-R-Lift II and have it outfitted with the big 3¼ hp PC router. I've been very satisfied with it.

[glenn bradley]

I think Brett has a typo and means 2-1/2 HP in the first phrase. One thing you don't want from a lift is any flex. Many people are happy with what look like light weight lifts. Even the Mast-R-Lift looks light compared to things like the original Woodpecker PRL's and Bench Dogs. I believe that technology may have replaced sheer mass in this arena.

[Earl McLain]

Glenn--I think Brett is referring to the motor diameter for the PC 690, Bosch 1617, Dewalt 61?, etc. Lot of 1.5 to 2.5 hp motors in that diameter. The 3 HP and up are bigger in diameter and generally will not fit the Rout-R-Lift but would fit the Mast-R-Lift.
earl

[Bill McNiel]

I have the Incra with the large PC and am very happy.

[glenn bradley]

Glenn--I think Brett is referring to the motor diameter for the PC 690, Bosch 1617, Dewalt 61?, etc. Lot of 1.5 to 2.5 hp motors in that diameter. The 3 HP and up are bigger in diameter and generally will not fit the Rout-R-Lift but would fit the Mast-R-Lift.
earl

Doh! Totally missed the inch marks. Thanks :)

[Aaron Conway]

I have the Incra with the large PC and am very happy.

Same here.

[Randy Heinemann]

Love it. Bought mine as part of my Incra router table/fence combo. (Incra sells the lift as the Incra Master Lift, but I believe it is the Jessem lift, just made for Incra.) Since I also bought the PC 7518 router motor, the mounting was easy since the Jessem lift is set up for that router motor by default. However, it works for many other routers. The lift is accurate and really allows fast and precise setup for cuts. I have never been sorry. Mine works with a crank and, as far as I'm concerned, this mechanism is far superior to others in terms of accuracy and precision. Other mechanisms will allow faster raising and lowering but this one is more precise because each full circle of the crank raises or lowers the router a small increment, thus allowing more control of depth.

[Brian Holcombe]

I have a master lift. I made a spacer for under the lift, removed two of the set screws and replaced them with bolts coming up from the bottom of the table. That stopped the annoying movement of the set screws.

[ChrisA Edwards]

O have the Jessum Master Lift II in the table at the end of my SawStop and a standalone router cabinet with the Woodpeckers PRL V2.

I bought the Woodpeckers unit first and have used it for about 3+ years. I recently had to send it back to Woodpeckers to have the fine adjust gearing replaced. It was done free of charge other than me paying shipping one way, but it took 3 weeks from the day I UPS'd it to them to get it back. They are in OH and I'm in TN

When I added the router table to the end of min SawStop, I decided to go with the Jessum Master Lift II as that seemed to have the best reviews.

The Woodpecker does have a quick height adjustment, but honestly I think I prefer the method Jessum uses with cranking it up and down.

The Jessum has laser cut marks on the table surface that stand out a lot clearer than the idents in the aluminum plate on the Woodpeckers.

Both are sold and well built. I have a PC 7518 router in the Woodpeckers and a Bosch 1617 Jessum.

[Ben Rivel]

IMO the Incra is the only option I considered after comparing all of the ones available due to the magnetic inserts that offered dust collection ports. The dust collection is so good on the router table I built its awesome and those CleanSweep magnetic inserts definitely help with that.

[Brett Luna]

Doh! Totally missed the inch marks. Thanks :)

:rolleyes: Sounds like something I'd do, what with old eyes and all.


IMO the Incra is the only option I considered after comparing all of the ones available due to the magnetic inserts that offered dust collection ports. The dust collection is so good on the router table I built its awesome and those CleanSweep magnetic inserts definitely help with that.

While I have been quite pleased with the JessEm Mast-R-Lift, I admit that I've been eyeballing the Incra version. Incra offers the plate and inserts as a retrofit and it's on my list.

[Bill McNiel]

IMO the Incra is the only option I considered after comparing all of the ones available due to the magnetic inserts that offered dust collection ports. The dust collection is so good on the router table I built its awesome and those CleanSweep magnetic inserts definitely help with that.

Love the CleanSweep inserts and I have the Incra fence which also aids in dust collection.

[Nick Lazz]

I have the JessEm Mast-R-Lift. I love it. This was my third router plate and lift also...

I think if you invest in a dedicated router motor ( I have the PC) and a quality lift, you'll be done with it and be glad you did.

[Bob Potter]

I have the Rout-R-Lift and a Bosch 2 1?4 hp router and it works great.

Bob

[Charles Lent]

Get a Triton router and you don't need a lift.

Charley

[Greg Parrish]

I bought the jessem version and swapped out the top aluminum plate for the incra version for dust collection. Works awesome. Glad I did it and only wish I’d bought the incra version from the start to save money.


:rolleyes: Sounds like something I'd do, what with old eyes and all.



While I have been quite pleased with the JessEm Mast-R-Lift, I admit that I've been eyeballing the Incra version. Incra offers the plate and inserts as a retrofit and it's on my list.

[ChrisA Edwards]

I bought the jessem version and swapped out the top aluminum plate for the incra version for dust collection. Works awesome. Glad I did it and only wish I’d bought the incra version from the start to save money.

You are not alone in this, did exactly the same thing, although I was a little disappointed that the Incra version wasn't etched the same as the Jessum.

[glenn bradley]

Now that I am paying attention :), the Milwaukee 5625's that I run are just over 4" as are the PC 7518's.

[Kim Gibbens]

I have a Jessem Mast-R-Lift II sitting new in the box and would like to check in to the Incra version of the top plate to get the dust collection plates. Can you give me a link for this product? I didn't see it on the Incra site. Thanks
Kim

[Kim Gibbens]

I found it. Here is the link in case anyone else is considering the switch.

https://www.incrementaltools.com/INCRA_Mast_R_Lift_II_MagnaLOCK_Conversion_Kit_p/inc-mrl2conv.htm

[Guy Belleman]

+1 for the Triton. Have two router table setups, one with the 2 1/4 hp and one with the 3 1/2. Love both. Quiet. Much more so than the PC, Dewalt and Milwalkee that sit on the shelf unused.

[Dave Cav]

I got the Jess-Em Master lift a year ago and it's increased my router table usage about 1000%. I hated using my old home made router table but with the lift it's much easier. I didn't even know about the Incra version when I bought the Jess-Em and would probably have bought it if I had. The magnetic inserts look nice, but I have enough invested in my Jess-Em and don't think I'll be spending any more money on it.

[ChrisA Edwards]

I have a Jessem Mast-R-Lift II sitting new in the box and would like to check in to the Incra version of the top plate to get the dust collection plates. Can you give me a link for this product? I didn't see it on the Incra site. Thanks
Kim

Here's how you change it over


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsqYUxC7vhQ

[Warren Wilson]

Thank you for the thoughts and insights. Lee Valley now has my money and I will be joining the ranks of the router-table-on-the-table-saw crew.

[Phil Stone]

I have a master lift. I made a spacer for under the lift, removed two of the set screws and replaced them with bolts coming up from the bottom of the table. That stopped the annoying movement of the set screws.

Sorry for the long-delayed reply, but I am interested in more detail on this. Is it possible to take a photo of your modification?

I think the adjust-from-under set screws that Bench Dog supplies with their cast iron table are a nightmare, and I'd like to find a better alternative.

Thanks, Brian.

[Brian Holcombe]

Replied to the PM, but I'll post the photo here too:

You will also learn from this photo...that I have a crappy air compressor.

https://brianholcombewoodworker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1Z2Cv0oxTz2iBujpZ2Fb8g-424030670-1542230257412.jpg

[Phil Stone]

Thanks for posting that, Brian. I can't tell from the picture, is that just a strip of wood acting as the spacer? Are there corresponding strips on the other three sides? Do the bolts go through those strips? I hope I'm not overthinking this.

As I said in PM, and you acknowledged, you must have planed the strips to get the exact thickness needed to make the router plate flush with the table.

Nice solution!

[Brian Holcombe]

Yes, exactly. I don’t remember if I cut holes in them, probably. I just used two bolts, the others remained leveling screws.