Kreg router lift?

[Mark Daily]

Does anyone own or know if this router lift is any good?

https://www.kregtool.com/store/c41/routing-accessories/p457/precision-router-lift/

426349

I’m looking for my first lift for a PC690. The Jessem master lift looks really nice but is out of my price range.

Any constructive comments good or bad are appreciated.

[Pat Marinari]

I have one and I like it. Bit changes are very convenient and the lift works smoothly. The ability to make very fine, measurable height adjustments is very useful. Good value, in my opinion.

[Ben Rivel]

Wow! I just looked up the price of the Kreg lift and thought: What?! Why on earth would someone spend that much on the Kreg with you can get the Incra with the CleanSweep magnetic inserts for that price!? Then I looked up the Incra! Dang have prices gone up A LOT since I bought a few years ago!

[Andy D Jones]

Wow! I just looked up the price of the Kreg lift and thought: What?! Why on earth would someone spend that much on the Kreg with you can get the Incra with the CleanSweep magnetic inserts for that price!? Then I looked up the Incra! Dang have prices gone up A LOT since I bought a few years ago!

That was my thought too; I'm glad I got mine when I did! I bought the Incra Mast-R-Lift-II-R (the '-R' version sized to fit Rockler tables), and like it a lot. It is made by Jessem, and is basically the same, except for Incra's tool-free magnetic insert plates. I like that there is no unique tool required to remove/swap insert plates, as is required for the Kreg & Jessem lifts.

The Kreg looks like a pretty nice lift, but I have not read any reviews on it.

Andy - Arlington TX

[Mark Daily]

I have one and I like it. Bit changes are very convenient and the lift works smoothly. The ability to make very fine, measurable height adjustments is very useful. Good value, in my opinion.

Thanks Pat- that’s good to know.:)

[Mark Daily]

Wow! I just looked up the price of the Kreg lift and thought: What?! Why on earth would someone spend that much on the Kreg with you can get the Incra with the CleanSweep magnetic inserts for that price!? Then I looked up the Incra! Dang have prices gone up A LOT since I bought a few years ago!
Haha- my thought exactly!

[Mark Daily]

That was my thought too; I'm glad I got mine when I did! I bought the Incra Mast-R-Lift-II-R (the '-R' version sized to fit Rockler tables), and like it a lot. It is made by Jessem, and is basically the same, except for Incra's tool-free magnetic insert plates. I like that there is no unique tool required to remove/swap insert plates, as is required for the Kreg & Jessem lifts.

The Kreg looks like a pretty nice lift, but I have not read any reviews on it.

Andy - Arlington TX
Incra makes good stuff but their prices are tough to handle if you’re retired and living on a fixed income.

[mike stenson]

Then I looked up the Incra! Dang have prices gone up A LOT since I bought a few years ago!

Wow, this made me go look. They sure did!

[Tom Dixon]

The JessEm Rout-R-Lift II to fit a PC690 (https://www.amazon.com/JessEm-Rout-R-Lift-Router-Diameter-Motors/dp/B004U7B6IE) is value priced at close to half the price of the Kreg lift. I used it's predecessor the Rout-R-Lift FX for close to 10 years before I upgraded to the Master Lift II when I went with a larger router. The same template I bought for the Rout-R-Lift FX fit the Master Lift II. When you are ready for a bigger router you can likely sell this plate for 3/4 of what you paid for it Like I did my 10yo FX and upgrade to the MasterLift, Incra or Kreg. A good lift taken care of holds its value.

[Bob Jones 5443]

The JessEm Rout-R-Lift II to fit a PC690 (https://www.amazon.com/JessEm-Rout-R-Lift-Router-Diameter-Motors/dp/B004U7B6IE) is value priced at close to half the price of the Kreg lift. I used it's predecessor the Rout-R-Lift FX for close to 10 years before I upgraded to the Master Lift II when I went with a larger router. The same template I bought for the Rout-R-Lift FX fit the Master Lift II. When you are ready for a bigger router you can likely sell this plate for 3/4 of what you paid for it Like I did my 10yo FX and upgrade to the MasterLift, Incra or Kreg. A good lift taken care of holds its value.

Tom's point hits me where I live this week. I'm about to finish building a whole new table saw extension table for my new JessEm Mast-R-Lift II. I needed a new table because my trusty 20-year-old extension has a router-plate recess that fits my old Rousseau plate, but NOT the sizes that seem to be standard today: 9-1/4" x 11-3/4" or the Rockler version, 8-1/4" x 11-3/4".

So, Mark, if you can envision yourself wanting to move up to a higher power router someday you can reuse your router table, even though you'll need a new lift.

[David Buchhauser]

I have one and I like it. Bit changes are very convenient and the lift works smoothly. The ability to make very fine, measurable height adjustments is very useful. Good value, in my opinion.


+1 on that!! I have the Kreg installed in my Kreg router table and I think it is fabulous! Very precise, smooth, well built, and a pleasure to use.
David

[Rich Aldrich]

Maybe I am missing something with these router lifts but I bought a Triton plunge router along with a Kreg router plate a few years ago. It’s the 3-1/4 hp and was actually designed to go into a router table. It comes with the handle to raise and lower the router. Raise it all the way up, and the spindle licks for a one wrench bit change.

[Tom Dixon]

Maybe I am missing something with these router lifts but I bought a Triton plunge router along with a Kreg router plate a few years ago. It’s the 3-1/4 hp and was actually designed to go into a router table. It comes with the handle to raise and lower the router. Raise it all the way up, and the spindle licks for a one wrench bit change.

The OP has a PC690 so he appears to primarily be interested in a lift for what he already has.

In all actuality a lift is more flexible than the Triton plunge router in that a good one allows you to change to a different router if you decide to upgrade. My JessEm MasterLift II adjusts to hold practically any router made today or the past 10 or more years.

[Mark Daily]

The JessEm Rout-R-Lift II to fit a PC690 (https://www.amazon.com/JessEm-Rout-R-Lift-Router-Diameter-Motors/dp/B004U7B6IE) is value priced at close to half the price of the Kreg lift. I used it's predecessor the Rout-R-Lift FX for close to 10 years before I upgraded to the Master Lift II when I went with a larger router. The same template I bought for the Rout-R-Lift FX fit the Master Lift II. When you are ready for a bigger router you can likely sell this plate for 3/4 of what you paid for it Like I did my 10yo FX and upgrade to the MasterLift, Incra or Kreg. A good lift taken care of holds its value.
Thanks Tom, I wasn’t aware of that. If I read the specs on the Kreg correctly, it will handle larger routers than the PC690 so it is “upgradeable” if I decide to move up.

[Mark Daily]

+1 on that!! I have the Kreg installed in my Kreg router table and I think it is fabulous! Very precise, smooth, well built, and a pleasure to use.
David
Thanks David, I appreciate your input!

[Rich Aldrich]

Fair enough.

[Mark Daily]

Tom's point hits me where I live this week. I'm about to finish building a whole new table saw extension table for my new JessEm Mast-R-Lift II. I needed a new table because my trusty 20-year-old extension has a router-plate recess that fits my old Rousseau plate, but NOT the sizes that seem to be standard today: 9-1/4" x 11-3/4" or the Rockler version, 8-1/4" x 11-3/4".

So, Mark, if you can envision yourself wanting to move up to a higher power router someday you can reuse your router table, even though you'll need a new lift.
Thanks Bob- definitely something to consider.