Hi everyone, this is my first post. I have been into woodworking since I was in seventh grade. I'm now 42 and have learned a few tricks along the way. I recently decided to purchase a router lift but I need advise on which one works the best. I have a Dewalt DW618. Thanks!!
bigdogmedia66
Greetings (your name here) and wilcome to the router forums. Don't have a lift, mine already has one. However I am sure you will get good information here on the forum from the pro's.
Hello and welcome to the forum.
I had this one a while back and really liked it. Expensive, but worked very well.
Router Raizer - Rockler Woodworking Tools
I had this one a while back and really liked it. Expensive, but worked very well.
Router Raizer - Rockler Woodworking Tools
I have a Jessem for my DW625. It is really great.The ease of use is amazing. Accuracy of cutter height is so precise.
Welcome!
Can't go wrong with the Jessum if you get a new one, the older models aren't near as good.
Things to look at are
1: what does it take to adjust the height?
2: How do you change the bit?
3. Will your router fit their holder?
5. Is it easy to add a vac?
I"m sure the members here can add more, but these are what I look for. And with me "It's can I justfy the cost to the little lady!"
Harry
Can't go wrong with the Jessum if you get a new one, the older models aren't near as good.
Things to look at are
1: what does it take to adjust the height?
2: How do you change the bit?
3. Will your router fit their holder?
5. Is it easy to add a vac?
I"m sure the members here can add more, but these are what I look for. And with me "It's can I justfy the cost to the little lady!"
Harry
Came with the table. Package deal, set up to fit my table saw. Got a fence that can be offset in 100ths of an inch, profile inserts, vacuum ports, hold down fingers and bridged feather boards, plus the 3 hp PC router motor. All for less than my F250 cost.:dance3:
Built in
Hi, I faced the same situation. I answered the question by buying a Freud 1702 with an above the table setup built in. It allows me to lift the router without going under the table. It seems to do everything the lift would have done. I am sure that as I get more into this I might want to demand the higher accuracy that the lifts seem to claim. So far so good. I don't think that the lifts justify the price.
Don
Hi, I faced the same situation. I answered the question by buying a Freud 1702 with an above the table setup built in. It allows me to lift the router without going under the table. It seems to do everything the lift would have done. I am sure that as I get more into this I might want to demand the higher accuracy that the lifts seem to claim. So far so good. I don't think that the lifts justify the price.
Don
I bought the Benchdog Pro and paired it up with Porter Cable's 7518 Speedmatic 15 Amp 3-1/4 HP Fixed Base 5-Speed Router, with fuel injection and turbocharger (okay, maybe the couple thins were exaggerations).
Before buying, I did a lot of reading and concluded, if price were not an issue, this was the one I wanted. Every opinion I reviewed indicated individuals were happy with their purchases.
With a remote switch installed, and speed changes aside, it can be operated entirely from above. Bit changes are a breeze and are actually quicker than on my hand held units.
This thing is built to last. and then some. You'd use it decades, then pass it on. The base plate is machined steel. One of the things that pushed me toward it. I've managed to kill three of the plastic base plates. Two just getting them level to their tables (the hold down screws were farther in than the mount screws, which allows enough pressure to crack the phenolic).
Everything was ready to go out of the box and installing the PC router was a drop in affair. Others might require an adapter.
Now that I have my table up and going, I find myself doing things, without a second thought, I would have avoided them before.
Before buying, I did a lot of reading and concluded, if price were not an issue, this was the one I wanted. Every opinion I reviewed indicated individuals were happy with their purchases.
With a remote switch installed, and speed changes aside, it can be operated entirely from above. Bit changes are a breeze and are actually quicker than on my hand held units.
This thing is built to last. and then some. You'd use it decades, then pass it on. The base plate is machined steel. One of the things that pushed me toward it. I've managed to kill three of the plastic base plates. Two just getting them level to their tables (the hold down screws were farther in than the mount screws, which allows enough pressure to crack the phenolic).
Everything was ready to go out of the box and installing the PC router was a drop in affair. Others might require an adapter.
Now that I have my table up and going, I find myself doing things, without a second thought, I would have avoided them before.
For 20 plus years, I have used wood table tops without a plate, height issues (lack of height, depth of cut). Polycarbonate plates, not bad, but no reducing rings, so you have to take care corners don't dip. and then alloy plates. All adjustments were from below with a home made height adjuster. Then I bought the Jessem router lift. There are not many products available in U.K. I put off making a table for both the Jessem and the Incra Ultimate for a while and then built 2 this year. The Jessem is great to use, setups are easily repeatable, it is safe and sturdy. A cranked spanner would be an advantage, but for bits up to 22mm dia I use a box spanner.
I haven't used the Pinnacle but have the Incra Mast-R-Lift (made by Jessem with Jessem's lift mechanism and Incra's large rare earth magnet "Magna-lock" reducing rings. With those large rings, the Jessem mechanism and a PC7518, the router raises far enough above the table to not only permit bit changes but the lower wrench lays flat on my router table, so no need for cranked neck on the wrench.
Hey there Bigdog..
take a look at woodpeckers/Inca PRLv2. I've gone one of these and I got to tell ya, the thing is just great! The thumb wheel micro adjustment feature is very cool. The lift itself is solid, well build. I've got a milwaukee 5625 sitting in it and have yet to meet its match..Good luck with whatever you choose!!
take a look at woodpeckers/Inca PRLv2. I've gone one of these and I got to tell ya, the thing is just great! The thumb wheel micro adjustment feature is very cool. The lift itself is solid, well build. I've got a milwaukee 5625 sitting in it and have yet to meet its match..Good luck with whatever you choose!!
I've been using the Benchdog Pro lift since last fall and am still very happy I bought it. Like Dejure, I'm using a 75182 motor with the lift. Today was the 1st time I took it out of the shop and brought it to the job.
No question the price is/was high for the unit, even higher now since I bought mine, but the tool makes my work faster and more accurate, I still make a test and adjust for the right profile, but it's so bloody fast. I'm able to justify the lift cost because of the amount of work/time the tool saves me from the system I was using for so many years.
The BD PL is a heavy duty beast, but it moves smoothly, no jerky motion even when the elevator rod threads fill up with dust and chips. The lift lock is easy to get at and use and secures the elevator without overly tightening the knob, due to the large footprint area of the lock rod. The on/off switch and the speed lever are easy to get at too. The elevator nut is recessed just enough so that most times a deep breath and blow clears it out for the speed wrench which is marked with .001 increments.
There are a number of lifts offered, some have table top thumb wheels for micro adjustments I think I like that idea but have no experience with the operation to know if it works as good as it sounds.
As Bobj3 knows some people have the router before the lift, so unless you want a 2nd, 3rd or 4th router, (how many routers you got Bobj3?) buying another router for the built in lift isn't cost effective. In my case if the 75182 dies I could use my old 7537 motor in the lift as back up. Know that like most of the quality lifts the BDPL also has adapters to accommodate smaller diameter router bodies
No question the price is/was high for the unit, even higher now since I bought mine, but the tool makes my work faster and more accurate, I still make a test and adjust for the right profile, but it's so bloody fast. I'm able to justify the lift cost because of the amount of work/time the tool saves me from the system I was using for so many years.
The BD PL is a heavy duty beast, but it moves smoothly, no jerky motion even when the elevator rod threads fill up with dust and chips. The lift lock is easy to get at and use and secures the elevator without overly tightening the knob, due to the large footprint area of the lock rod. The on/off switch and the speed lever are easy to get at too. The elevator nut is recessed just enough so that most times a deep breath and blow clears it out for the speed wrench which is marked with .001 increments.
There are a number of lifts offered, some have table top thumb wheels for micro adjustments I think I like that idea but have no experience with the operation to know if it works as good as it sounds.
As Bobj3 knows some people have the router before the lift, so unless you want a 2nd, 3rd or 4th router, (how many routers you got Bobj3?) buying another router for the built in lift isn't cost effective. In my case if the 75182 dies I could use my old 7537 motor in the lift as back up. Know that like most of the quality lifts the BDPL also has adapters to accommodate smaller diameter router bodies
Ron...
the thumb wheel does work as well as desribed. I will add however that there is a little bit of freeplay between swings of up and down... no biggie, but does show up as a couple .001's on the indicator. I base this on watching the dial indicator on the lift and compare it to the digital readout i have attached. I finished up my table a month or so ago and so far, (with limited use) not an issue at all...
the thumb wheel does work as well as desribed. I will add however that there is a little bit of freeplay between swings of up and down... no biggie, but does show up as a couple .001's on the indicator. I base this on watching the dial indicator on the lift and compare it to the digital readout i have attached. I finished up my table a month or so ago and so far, (with limited use) not an issue at all...
A gruding thumbs up
Like many, I find myself inclined to defend my purchases, whether they deserve it or not (you know, the "my Ford/Chevy is better than your "Ford/Chevy" thing). However, after looking at your Wood Pecker units, I have to admit it would have been a tough choice between it and my Bench Dog, had that unit been around when I was choosing.
Though I wont be trying to swap out my set up any time soon, they look pretty darn impressive and it appears someone looking for a good unit would do well to consider them.
The ads I looked at don't indicate what the Wood Pecker is made of, but it looks like its using a thick (solid) aluminum plate. I don't see that as a draw back from the iron used in the Bench Dog, since most of us won't be using them for anvil bases. I still like being able to use a standard speed wrench or ratchet to raise and lower the bench dog, but it looks like the Wood Pecker may make up for that sin in other ways. It sure is purty (yeah, that's a complement).
Like many, I find myself inclined to defend my purchases, whether they deserve it or not (you know, the "my Ford/Chevy is better than your "Ford/Chevy" thing). However, after looking at your Wood Pecker units, I have to admit it would have been a tough choice between it and my Bench Dog, had that unit been around when I was choosing.
Though I wont be trying to swap out my set up any time soon, they look pretty darn impressive and it appears someone looking for a good unit would do well to consider them.
The ads I looked at don't indicate what the Wood Pecker is made of, but it looks like its using a thick (solid) aluminum plate. I don't see that as a draw back from the iron used in the Bench Dog, since most of us won't be using them for anvil bases. I still like being able to use a standard speed wrench or ratchet to raise and lower the bench dog, but it looks like the Wood Pecker may make up for that sin in other ways. It sure is purty (yeah, that's a complement).
A speed wrench is a good productivity tool but my Incra/Jessem lift uses a 1/4 hex key. This sounds bad until you remember that's the standard hex bit size... so any bit, turned 180* and inserted in my power screwdriver (run slowly)...
It, and a position indicator like TwoSkies57 has makes it easy for me to lower the router and bit when I take a break or quit for the night and returning it to its former position is just as easy. I'm a fan of things that make being safe quick and easy.
I finished my table saw router table cabinet combo. I'm very happy with the outcome. I've been playing with the router, and it is to easy to change bits. I'm going to enjoy working with the router even more now. I would post pictures but I'm not allowed to post any until I've 10 posts. Sorry.
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