After looking through catalogs and saving my pennies, I finally located the perfect plunge router for my router table or so I thought. After mounting it in the table, it became obvious that depth adjustments were difficult because I had to fight both the motor weight and the stiff plunge springs.

Using an automotive scissor jack is the solution that I’ve found. I place the jack below the router on a fixed shelf, mounting a small pad of wood on the top of the jack to protect the router. The only other change is to screw the drop-in insert to the table so that the jack wouldn’t push it out of the hole. Now I can set the depth of cut easily and accurately by turning the jack screw with my fingers. When I have the right depth, I lock the router’s plunge mechanism in that position and get on with routing.

Mark G. Carls, Juneau, Alaska

Fine Woodworking Magazine, August 1993 No. 101

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Double Sided Tape

A thin woven core makes XFasten tape strong yet not too thick (0.008 in.), and helps it hold powerfully without being difficult to peel off.

Buy at Amazon

Veritas Standard Wheel Marking Gauge

A wheel-type gauge is the easiest to use, and this wonderful Veritas model is a steal at $38.

Buy at Lee Valley

Sawstop Miter Gauge

It has a toothed angle-setting rack that is extremely solid, accurate, and easy to use, and it offers all of the features I love in a miter gauge, including the ability to add an auxiliary wood fence, and a flip-stop that will accommodate it.

Buy at Amazon