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Router Table Setup – Need Advice on Lift + Router Choice

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1.3K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  bfblack  
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#1 · (Edited)
Hi all, new member here!

I'm just getting started on my wood-working journey and I'm addicted to it, and especially all what routing gives you!

I'm looking at building a premium table router for my first setup after saving for a while.

I've spent a considerable amount of time to pretty much lock in on my main table setup from Harvey (see cart screenshot below), which includes:
  • RF-36-I Router Table Fence – $557.10
  • RT-DC Dust Collection Cabinet – $89.10
  • RT-S Router Table Stand – $296.10
  • RT-800 Stainless Router Table – $539.10
Subtotal (with bundle discount): $1,481.40

Although this is pretty expensive, I'm pretty sure that you get value for money with Harvey products — so the only thing left is figuring out which lift + router motor combo to go with.

I’m currently trying to decide between:

Option 1
  • Quicklift 420 HDS (Steel Plate, fits 4.2” motors)
  • Spinrite 3.25 HP Router Motor with Remote Speed Control
    Total: ~$960
Option 2
  • JessEm Mast-R-Lift II – $470
  • JessEm Pow-R-Tek SR Router Motor – $550
    Total: ~$1,020
Putting it together, combining with the Harvey setup, my grand totals would be:
  • Harvey setup + Quicklift/Spinrite = ~$2,450
  • Harvey setup + JessEm lift/motor = ~$2,500
From my research, here’s how I see the main differences so far:
  • Spinrite 3.25 HP – Higher horsepower, remote speed control is a nice feature, but I haven’t seen as many long-term durability reviews.
  • JessEm Pow-R-Tek SR (3.25 HP class) – Slightly less raw marketing HP than Spinrite but JessEm tends to have a reputation for reliability and precision.
  • Quicklift 420 HDS – Steel plate, looks rugged, but not sure how smooth/easy the adjustments are compared to JessEm.
  • Mast-R-Lift II – Proven track record, lots of positive feedback on accuracy and ease of height adjustments.

1. Has anyone here used either of these setups with the Harvey table system?

2. Any pros/cons (reliability, precision, ease of adjustment, dust protection, etc.) I should consider before making the call?

3. Is there a better overall Router Table package for around $2500 that I should take a look at.

Thanks in advance — trying to make sure I choose the right lift/motor combo to match this table investment.

Here's the snapshot of my Harvey cart :
Image
 
#2 ·
That's a heck of a lot of money for a table and router. There are lots of great table tops for sale with fences for about $500. Unless you're making complex projects, like furniture, chairs and tables for example, your list is pretty high priced.

As to routers, many here think the best thing since sliced bread is the Triton TRA001, which is 3.25 hp and has a built in lift. Too heavy for me to use freehand, but perfect for the table.

I have a Rockler table top, fence and stand. Added some side panels and shelves to store bit sets. And their aluminum fence is fine. But there are half a dozen other brands that are just as good.

Building your own top is far easier that you might think, and you can buy a fence or make one. Both are excellent projects and you can make them nice and large or offset the router and plate for added support for your workpiece. I started with the table and a Bosch 1617 with a lift, but repaced it with the far more powerful Triton.

I have no idea what your financial situation is, but spending half what you listed will give you some free cash to buy hardwood and real Baltic Birch plywood for case work. If I had it to do over again, I'd make my own table top, much larger than the commercial one and build a cabinet for it with 4 inch deep drawers to hold bits and other accessories. I'd also set up a chamber below the router to contain dust, even though the Triton pushes dust up and out the top, so it doesn't clog the motor and bearings. You will learn a LOT about woodworking by making your own table.

BTW, look up videos by the late Marc Sommerfeld on YouTube. He uses the Triton so you can see how it works, and his technique is very simple and effective. The videos cover just about everything you can do with a table mounted router.

For hand held work, i have a Bosch Colt with fixed and plunge bases, easy to handle and just enough power for roundovers and such. I have a number of Sommerfeld matched bit sets for making panels and doors. Freud bits are also pretty good, and there are many other bit makers with just about any bit you can think of.

When I got seriously into woodworking, I was working a lot, so spent money for top notch tools, but honestly, I've come to see I barely used many of them. It's easy to buy feature packed new stuff, but in woodworking there are always several ways to do almost anything. Shop-made jigs have been far more useful that fancy and expensive tools.

Here's a pdf on making your own table top:
 

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#3 ·
Thanks Tom, I very much appreciate your response.

I'm in a fortunate position to be able to spend a little more cash over the time it may take to build my own table. Since getting into wood-working I've actually built several workbenches for my mini work-shop and a few pieces of furniture for around the house.

Recently I've been doing home renovations ( flooring+baseboards+coving throughout) and now I'd like to replace my kitchen units and some of the vanity units in the bathrooms, improve/replace mirror frames etc. Most of which I could shortcut by purchasing them but I'd like to give it a go myself - as part of the tech industry I'm looking for a way to escape and build something practical for the house, plus my wife will likely frown if I build yet another item for my workshop even if it saves a bob or two.
 
#5 ·
I would have to search the posts but I mounted the big Triton in a home made table along with a Bosch 1716, so dual routers in an adjustable height table built from scratch and used a Harbor Freight RV jack to make the table top adjustable. The power of the Triton slings the big router bits with little effort while making raised panel cabinet doors.
 

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#13 ·
Since you are considering the Jessem lift, I would suggest you also consider the Incra lift as it is manufactured by Jessem to the Incra specifications. If you are going to have downdraft under the table dust collection, the Incra throat plates will allow more airflow for a given center circle diameter.
 
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