I have the Woodpecker PRL-V2 and like it. One thing to consider, Woodpecker provides a life time warrantee.
I have the Woodpecker PRL-V2 and like it. One thing to consider, Woodpecker provides a life time warrantee.
Ken
So much to learn, so little time.....
DRO? What does that stand for?
Robert Hazelwood: Incra Mast-R-Lift II is a rebranded Jessem Mast-R-Lift II?
DRO = digital readout
Regards,
Kris
OK! As usual, this august community has come through promptly with well informed insights. Although I didn't quite follow everything on first read, after combining a bit of research it all now makes sense. In less than a day I'm able to feel good about a decision: I'm going to go with Jessem's Mast-R-Lift II.
– I like the aluminum plate idea after using the slightly crowned phenolic from Rousseau (hence no Rout-R-Lift).
– While I think Incra's inserts are a bit sexier, I think I can make do with the three from Jessem. I don't mind a little extra gap around the bit. In fact, I collect dust from below the bit as well as from the fence.
– Maybe the red inserts will keep me awake.
As I said, I'll need to build a new table extension that fits the plate and is flatter than my 20-year-old Formica and MDF one, so it should take me a little while to get to it. By the time I'm finished I'll have a greatly upgraded tool.
Many thanks to you fine folks. You're the best! I spend most of my time over with the Neanderthals, but I'll see you again some time down the road.
Bob
Last edited by Bob Jones 5443; 12-05-2019 at 12:27 AM.
I have had the Jessem for over 10 years. No issues other than one time MDF dust got in the threads and the mechanism was hard to crank up and down
I have a home made router lift in my router table that is based upon plans from an old American Woodworker article. The lift bolts to the back of the cabinet and the top of the table is hinged to make bit changes really easy. I like the arrangement. You make a cradle for the router so which you use is really flexible. I have an old Ryobi R500 plunge router motor on mine. The router moves on machined steel rods on oilite bearings. It is smooth and precise. Parts are considerably less than a commercial lift.
Just another option. I bought a Triton 3-1/4 hp router which allows you to use the plunge feature as a router lift when installed in a router table. It has a handle that you put through the insert plate to raise
and lower. You use the lock on the plunge base once you get your height adjusted. When.you raise the router to change the bit it locks the spindle so you only need one wrench to loosen and tighten so you have one hand free to hold the bit from bottoming out in the collet.
I had to replace the insert plate with a Kreg which I bought pre drilled for this router IIRC. It has various changeable inserts for the bits.
The motor cooling fan blows air towards the bit so when you turn on dust collection, air flow part the motor actually increases. I have had it for about 4 years and it works great. I have made 10 sets of raised panel doors with it.
I replaced a Freud router. I didn’t know how bad that router was until it died and I replaced it with this one.
Last edited by Rich Aldrich; 12-06-2019 at 2:01 AM.
I too have a Rousseau plate in my router table currently. I got the bug for a lift recently and went with the Kreg, mostly because the feature/price ratio was the most attractive to me. You certainly can’t go wrong with the Jessem. Unfortunately the Rousseau plate as you’ve seen is about 1/2” larger in the long dimension, and also differs in the short dimension, vs any of the router lifts. So consequently, to install my new lift I’ll have to make a new top for my table as well.
Last edited by Marc Fenneuff; 12-06-2019 at 6:56 AM.
Today I saw a Porter Cable 75182 router mounted in an Incra Mast-R-Lift II in my Rockler store. I noticed they had removed the variable speed slider knob and wondered why. Then I measured the knob on a free machine and the darn thing doesn’t clear the steel shafts! I ordered the Jessem (Rockler doesn’t carry Jessem’s brand because the Incra version makes a plate to fit Rockler’s table), but I assume the Incra version uses the same shaft dimensions and clearances. Has anyone run into this? I don’t want to remove the speed slider if I move up to the 75182. It’s probably not going to be a problem, because I’ll likely stay with my variable speed PC 690.
Hey, by the way, I saw a Rockler “Pro Lift” model in the store. I didn’t even know that existed. It’s been out about a year and a half, I guess. It looks more robust than their entry model, but side by side with the Incra it looked slightly wimpier. For example, the shafts are simply screwed to the base instead of whatever hydraulic pressing process Jessel and Incra use. Another minus for me is that you need an adapter collar to fit a 690.
What caught my eye, though, was that it has a sealed 4:1 gear enabling 4x speed raising and lowering. That’s what I was asking about in my initial post. Seems like a simple addition. I wonder why others don’t do it. One more mechanical system to fail, maybe?
Anyway, Rockler is clearly aiming at the Jessem/Incra Mast-R-Lift with its form factor and matching Jessem’s $370 price.