[GUNNYSKI]

True by all means but I believe that all the views I can see were meant in a positive opinion oriented view point. I for example have similar personal problems and could possibly benefit by a lift somewhat although I happen to have the PC7518 reflected earlier. It is currently on an old, real old, Craftsman industrial router table which is too small to handle the work piece and the power of the PC. I am looking at building a table modeled after his Normness for not only its practical use, storage areas, and need for routing smaller items but because of my physical limitations. Not to mention I just feel like building something no matter how rarely used, that I can admire. At my age, the feeling of accomplishment and knowing my daughter will use more than me when I'm gone makes me happy. No time soon though. Isn't that what it's all really about, doing something we all love. Some for a living, some for a hobby, and some for both.

 

[Roger Leclercq]

I just bought a router raizer kit for $89 and am waiting for delivery when I started making raised panel doors i bought a Porta Cable 7539 and the other lifts are not compatible. I am tired of having to pull the router out of the table to change bits. I also cant justify paying $400 for a lift plus a new 7518 router

I received my router raizer and now have it installed and i love it. I installed it on a incra magna-lock plate and also used a extreme extender made by the same company. The only suggestions I have for the manufacture is the lead screw could be about 2" longer as you loose 2" of downward stroke. (I like to be able to lower the bit under the table when not in use without removing the bit.) The manufacture support desk was very helpful and instructed me to make a 3/4" extension spacer for the mounting. in my opinion this lift works as well as any lift at a third of the cost.

The next thing I can see coming is a electric digital lift with a keypad that you select the height you want and it adjusts it for you. the biggest thing would be zeroing the bit height. But if your going to spend that much why not just buy a CNC mill.

 

[pikespeakgtx]

"I bought a router lift because the magzines said the ultimate table had one. I don't know which router will work in it, can you help me?"
This is a very common situation. People you do not need to spend all that money. Magazines are paid to promote high dollar items. Stop drinking the KoolAid. There is one style of router which benefits from a router lift: This is because the motor twists in the base to make height adjustments. IE.. the PC 7518. The Triton 3-1/4 hp router is designed for table mounting only. When you crank it up all the way it locks the spindle for bit changes. Total cost should be under $300. All the combo kits have above the table height adjustments in the fixed bases, no lift required. Having seen lifts in action I can assure you I change my bits and make height adjustments faster by popping the router out of the table. This is why mounting plates were developed.

If you want a lift fine, study up before you buy. Know which routers will work so you do not have to hassle with returns. I will be spending the extra cash for router bits.

Mike,

Sure am glad I read your post. You wrote that about me, right?

Before using 'em, I put the Kool-Aid down, and returned the $170 router lift and the $190 2.25hp router that fits it.

I bought a 3.25hp Triton on sale for $210.

Im not loosing any functionality, gaining 1hp, and saving $150.

Its going here as an insert on a Ridgid r4510 table saw.

Thanks again,
Michael LeCompte

 

[Mike]

Michael, the reason I started this thread was to get people to think before they spent their hard earned money. Everyone should work with what feels best to them. I have never owned a lift and I change bits or make adjustments by popping my router out of the table. This is second nature to me, quick and easy. Many people like using a lift. What ever makes you happy but don't do it because someone who is paid to promote items tells you to. Spend the time to look at options before you buy and you will be happiest with the results.

 

[steamingbill]

Mike,

I bought a 3.25hp Triton on sale for $210.

Im not loosing any functionality, gaining 1hp, and saving $150.

Its going here as an insert on a Ridgid r4510 table saw.

Thanks again,
Michael LeCompte

Hello,

Interesting photo, I assume that the 180 degree scale means you can change the angle of the router bit relative to the Table ?

Is it one of those routers that pop the bit up out of the table to let you change the bit ?

And it mounts in a conventional saw table ? Can you just pull the saw out and put the router in like on the Triton workstations ?

I am keen to learn about the new Triton Routers, my experience is limited to a 20 year old Makita - and to be honest there nothing wrong with it - just hasn't got any bells and whistles..


Regards

Bill

 

[greenacres2]

Hello Bill--The router you see pictured is mounted in the wing of a table saw. The 180 degree scale looks actually to be the saw's miter guage sitting in its holder on the side of the saw cabinet. It is a very good optical illusion--it does appear to be part of the router set-up.

earl

 

[pikespeakgtx]

Bill,

Earl is correct. Optical illusion.

And Yes, The router does lock the spindle at full bit height so above the table bit changes are easily done.

Plus the router has dust collection @ the cut like the festool.

 

[BobcatBob]

I went without a lift in my router table for years and finally broke down and purchased it and heve never regretted it. It is amazing the precision I get with it; if I need the bit 1/64 inch higher, it's just a partial crank. However, do your research to see what routers fit with what lifts.

Bob

 

[BRAVOGOLFTANGO]

I went without a lift in my router table for years and finally broke down and purchased it and heve never regretted it. It is amazing the precision I get with it; if I need the bit 1/64 inch higher, it's just a partial crank. However, do your research to see what routers fit with what lifts.

Bob

I couldn't agree more Bob, I think they are incredible, but I also totally understand where Mike is coming from here.

I've been able to see through the rifraf with most advertisers, magazines, etc, with most things in life in general let alone woodworking, but getting into this hobby I've learned there is a HUGE push from woodworking sites, magazines, and even on forums.

I'm all for advertising, marketing and promoting a business, company and all that good jazz. Seems with the woodworking genre there is an intense push for everyone to own the best of everything when it's not what makes (in my opinion) a good woodworking project. I believe skill comes first and the finer tools make it easier is all.

 

[JohnMess]

I am going to be making a new router table but for my old one I have been using a modified car jack we call them scissor jack it gets me millimeter accuracy and I have never had any bother with the router trying to move ect.

I welded the jack to a base plate then made and welded a cup on the top to fit the router all in cost me under $20 and it will be going onto my new router tabel once I have the time to build it. Not sure if this helps anyone but it is an inexpensive router lift.

The only problem of course with my lift is there is no way to tilt the router its a striaght up and down job and nothing else.

 

[rwl7532]

I was fortunate that a friend recommended Triton. He even said he would buy it from me if I didn't like it!! I had done enough research to determine that I wanted to adjust the bit height from the top of the table. The Triton (2 1/4 HP) fit the bill.

I knew that stooping under the table to adjust the bit height would get old very quickly.

My table is simple MDF. I made a long dowel that takes the place of the hand crank.

Next I have bought a Craftsman router (combo kit). I'll be using that hand held primarily.

 

[CR1]

Here is my router lift. It's free.

 

[MasterSplinter1]

Very Nicely said

 

[Farmington]

Good info Mike. I was looking over the "ultimate" and glad to know I can do without it.

 

[Maxmilon]

I have been using a modified car jack we call them scissor jack

Can you post a picture that for us?

 

[JulianLech]

I haven't made my router lift yet but the ability to make minor height adjusts from the table top is the the best feature. The only other thing to consider is a way lock in that adjustment.

 

[Mike]

Julian, most combo kit routers have above the table height adjustment features so a lift is really not needed. Adjusting a bit above the table is not as big an advantage as you might think. Many lifts do not lock in position; the new Incra does and it is adjustable so it will work with many routers with no adapter. Keep in mind that for the cost of a lift you can buy a lot of bits.

 

[jkbixby]

Solved the router lift question - for now

Thanks to this thread I've come up with the answer to whether I need to buy a lift to go with the new PC router and Incra combo setup - I'm not going to have to morgage the house to add one as I can wait and see if it's really needed despite the advertising hype. I just knew it would pay off joining the Router Forum - it has and will answer a lot of my questions.

 

[Nbowes]

router table on table saw

I made a 7.5" square plate out of 3/8 lexan, and mounted that to my router. Routed a 7" hole in a 16" wide piece of scrap counter top. with a 3/8" lip. Bolted this to my table saw right side extension. Router drops right in. to change bits, just pop it out, change the bit and pop it back in. No reaching under the table. power cord plugged into a power bar. Turn that off. every thing is off.

If I need to use the router by hand, I just pop it out of the table and go to it, because the lexan also acts as the base plate and I can see through it.

If I was doing a lot of routing with different bits, I would have a couple routers already set up. to change, it would then be pop one out, and pop the other back in.

This also allows me to use the rip fence on my table saw if I need to.

 

[JI808]

"I bought a router lift because the magzines said the ultimate table had one. I don't know which router will work in it, can you help me?"
This is a very common situation. People you do not need to spend all that money. Magazines are paid to promote high dollar items. Stop drinking the KoolAid. There is one style of router which benefits from a router lift: This is because the motor twists in the base to make height adjustments. IE.. the PC 7518. The Triton 3-1/4 hp router is designed for table mounting only. When you crank it up all the way it locks the spindle for bit changes. Total cost should be under $300. All the combo kits have above the table height adjustments in the fixed bases, no lift required. Having seen lifts in action I can assure you I change my bits and make height adjustments faster by popping the router out of the table. This is why mounting plates were developed.

If you want a lift fine, study up before you buy. Know which routers will work so you do not have to hassle with returns. I will be spending the extra cash for router bits.

I know I'm new to the forum, but every other forum I've been on that have stickied topics, those topics are typically Tech threads with legitimate data and info in them.

This sticky seems to be more of an opinion than anything. I understand a need to tell people (especially newcomers) that they don't NEED a router lift, but there are many instances where router lifts are a very nice item to have.

I worked in a car audio shop and there was nothing that was made that didn't see it's way to the router. Having a router lift with depth of cut adjustment at the table surface was a HUGE time saver. Bit changes were also much faster than is possible to remove the router from the table.

I honestly don't see how a person can say that they can change bits and make height adjustments faster without a router lift. Your first step is to start removing the router. My first step is actually adjusting depth of cut. Extra steps in the process mean more time spent executing those steps.

If you're working at home you likely don't NEED a router lift. You'll still get the job done, but it WILL take longer to get it done.

Once using a router lift and getting used to the speed and efficiency afforded by one, most people will find it hard to go back to the "old ways".


And the word "ultimate" bugs me. There is no "ultimate" anything - especially when it comes to tools and YOUR shop. What is considered by one person to be the "ultimate" is probably mediocre to someone else. Do research and see what's best for you. Don't listen solely to a magazine or a single individual. Research, research, research - then make your decision.