Jessem vs Woodpecker Router Table Lift

[Justin Rapp]

I am considering an router table upgrade from my old basic rockler. I have been looking at Woodpecker's router lift/table for years and never pulled the trigger, but I am a bit turned off by their shipping costs. So I also started looking at JessEm's Mast-R-Lift with the Master-R-Fence 3. Ironically, pricing them out, the Woodpecker is $18 cheaper for the table, lift, fence and insert pack. However ordering direct from JessEm, they are not tagging on any shipping costs or even tax, saving me about $130 for the same 'parts' from Woodpecker.

So - i'd like to hear from anyone who's used either one of these systems but more important, someone who might have used both and which one you like better and why.

[Tom Bain]

Justin — I have the woodpeckers set-up. I really like the large phenolic table and the superfence with the micro-adjust is great. I will say I don’t love the PRL lift, as I find the height adjustment to be cumbersome and would prefer the Jessem crank style system.

[Bob Jones 5443]

JessEm Mast-R-Lift II is a dream to adjust. There are marks for each 0.002”, but there is enough distance between the marks that I can easily, reproducibly make bit-height adjustments of 0.001”. I have used this ability when that level of precision mattered. This lift has elevated my router to the precision level of my hand planes. Does this help?

[Lisa Starr]

I can't comment on the rest of the system, because I use a router installed in my table saw right hand wing, but I wouldn't trade my Mast-R-Lift. It was easy to install, works well and the lifting mechanism accurate and repeatable.

[Earl McLain]

I agree with Lisa on my Mast-R-Lift--very nice. I have the Incra version which is the same lift but with the MagnaLock rings. I added a set of the Clean Sweep rings--which i use most of the time for very good dust collection, but still use the non-slotted rings on some cuts. Easy swapping those rings.
earl

[Todd Trebuna]

I have the Jessem table and lift. I've had the Bosch 1617 mounted in it for awhile. I haven't had any problems. I'm not someone who uses it a ton, but it's always a joy to use.

[ChrisA Edwards]

My initial router table was the Woodpecker's with the PRL-2 lift. I like the table and the fence micro adjust, but the PRL-2 is okay.

I also have a Jessum Master-Lift-2 in the right end of my sawstop.

Of the two different lifts, if having to buy another, I would pick the Jessum.

Both work well, but the quick up/down of the Woodpeckers is not a super smooth operation unless you are constantly cleaning the tubes the lift rides on. On the WP, i've also had the fine adjust mechanism fail, it uses nylon gears, and had to send it back to WP for (free) repair, it cost be shipping one way, but was gone for 5 weeks, and that was prior to Covid. I had that small fine adjust gearbox apart to determine the problem, but WP would not send me a couple of replacement parts.

[Malcolm McLeod]

I always recommend people look at the General Excalibur lift. It is rock solid, easy height adjust, and so far as I know, it may be the only 4-post design available. FWW did a review in 2010(?) and tipped me into purchase for panel raising with the big PC router.

A 2-post design can work a little like a hinge aligned with the posts if the post attachment or the lift's table are not strong enough.

I use a TS wing for router table, so can't speak to General's table / fence systems.

[George Yetka]

https://jessem.com/collections/router-table-packages/products/ultimate-excel-ii-package I have this one without the casters. It is a nice table Added a couple drawers and a box for dust under table.



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[Joe Hendershott]

I recently purchased a Jessem package with the Master-Lift and all the other goodies. Impressed with the level of finish and the ease in putting it together and using it. Really well thought out product and great quality. Would recommend without hesitation- and I'm not easily pleased.

Their shipping at this time is a little slow, so you might need to be patient. It took about 8 weeks for mine that I ordered at the end of the summer.

[Andy D Jones]

I also cannot comment on the Woodpeckers lift, or compare it to the Jessem/Incra Mast-R-Lift II.

But I do have the latter, and am very happy with it in an extension on my TS.

-- Andy - Arlington TX

[Drew Bernat]

I've got the Woodpecker lift and I love it. Going from a crank system to the Woodpecker "insert handle and move" has been fantastic; I used to keep a drill nearby to adjust the height and now I can rough in quickly and then fine tune.

I got the Woodpeckers specifically because the insert rings screw in and lock. I have a router table dovetail jig and with the Incra magnetic rings there was just enough slop that the dovetails were never quite right - I wanted to eliminate the slop.

[Chuck Saunders]

We had 3 Woodpecker lifts at our Guild. The good; fast height changes, Woodpeckers will repair free with quick turna around. The bad; started having issues with lift not holding position, we were sending them in monthly. Replaced with Woodpecker table tops matched with Jessem Master lifts And Jessem Master fences. Jessem is a little slower with the cranking but all-in-all I think they are the preferred choice.
Chuck

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I have had the Woodpecker's PRL-V2 for several years and enjoy using it.

[Justin Rapp]

I am leaning towards the Jessem. I'd love to have seen it in person as I have seen the woodpecker system many times and always felt it was 10-fold quality over my rockler setup.

[Brian Holcombe]

I have the Incra which is made by Jessem, very nice lift.

[Ryan Leduc]

I am leaning towards the Jessem. I'd love to have seen it in person as I have seen the woodpecker system many times and always felt it was 10-fold quality over my rockler setup.

I went through the same comparison and long process deciding and ultimately grabbed the JessEm. Couldn’t be happier, have it mounted in my cast iron wing on a sawstop contractor.

[Michael Drew]

I was using a rebranded PRL V2 lift. I liked it well enough, but it did have a couple quirks that frustrated me enough to look into other options. The biggest issue I had, is slop in the height adjustment, and that drove me nuts. And while the quick raise / lowering function is handy, I do not miss it. The lift I replaced it with is the Jessum lift that Incra sells. I wanted the magnetic inserts. I've been using this Incra lift for a few months now, and I love it. Very accurate, simple, and I can't think of anything to complain about.

[Andy D Jones]

I am leaning towards the Jessem. I'd love to have seen it in person as I have seen the woodpecker system many times and always felt it was 10-fold quality over my rockler setup.

If you have a Rockler store nearby, they carry the Incra Mast-R-Lift-II-R, which is made by Jessem, and is identical except in anodization color, and the throat plates/retention (steel & magnetic) vs Jessem (plastic and included pin-spanner). The -R suffix fits the narrower openings in Rockler and some other brands of tables (8.75 vs 9.75 inches, IIRC), but is otherwise identical to non-R lifts.

-- Andy - Arlington TX

[Ed Gibbons]

I just got the Jessum. It’s a game changer!

[Justin Rapp]

If you have a Rockler store nearby, they carry the Incra Mast-R-Lift-II-R, which is made by Jessem, and is identical except in anodization color, and the throat plates/retention (steel & magnetic) vs Jessem (plastic and included pin-spanner). The -R suffix fits the narrower openings in Rockler and some other brands of tables (8.75 vs 9.75 inches, IIRC), but is otherwise identical to non-R lifts.

-- Andy - Arlington TX

I wish I had a Rockler near by. The closest is 260 miles away up near Boston, or about 350 miles. I am however smack in the middle of 3 woodcraft stores, 83, 84 and 85 miles away each. There is a remote possibility based on wood crafts website inventory that 1 store might have the lift in store (only a few left call to verify). I might need to take a ride this weekend.

[Joe O'Leary]

I don't see it for sale anywhere.

[Justin Rapp]

I don't see it for sale anywhere.

It says 'only a few left' in their Allentown, PA location

[Darrell Bade]

I pieced mine together the way I wanted it. Got a steel cabinet base with a drawer from Peachtree, cast iron top and incra mastr lift from rockler and a fence from Jessum. Made a nice setup.

[Steve Coley]

I have the Rockler version of the Jessem in my cast iron router table. It is excellent! Rockler has a picture of my router table on their web site on the page showing their steel router cabinet. You can see what it looks like mounted in the cast iron table.

[Lewis Mills]

I can't speak to the tables or fences since I built my fence and have the lift in an extension of the TS table. But I have been using the Woodpecker lift for years and have always found it easy to use, accurate, and reliable. Just one more data point if you're still deciding.

[Randy Heinemann]

The Jessem Lift is great! I have a Master Lift that I ordered with and installed with an Incra table/fence. Mine uses a crank to raise and lower and is so accurate that I can literally change depth by as tiny an amount as needed to get precise fit to an exact thickness when routing. I realize that this kind of precision/accuracy.