Hi –
I’m considering buying the Rout-R-Lift. It seems like a much more convenient way to deal with a router in a table. Does anyone have any experience with this product that they could share? I also understand that Milwaukee has a newer router that has a height adjustment from the top when mounted in a table. Maybe you can talk me into getting a new router!
-R.
Replies
I have one with a 3.25 HP Porter-Cable router in it. I wonder how I ever lived without it. Go buy one now.
I'm waiting.
No, I really mean it. Now.
loyd :)
R
I just bought the Milwaukee 5625 with the 3 1/2 HP. Yes, it has a built-in adjust that can be used through the table without adding any extra cost. $305 at Amazon currently on sale, free shipping and no sales tax. Bottom line $305. It's a hoss and a half.
The PC you mentioned is also an excellent table mount. Add the router raizer or lift and you got another hoss. You add to the cost when you do, though.
Both are great table mounts. Do the numbers and see which if better for you.. As far as getting the job done, both are win-win.
Good Luck...
sarge..jt
I was building my setup before this new crop of lifters came out. I took an idea from one of the shop tip books and installed a $5 pawn shop scissor jack, added a simple crank and stuck a wrench onto the locking lever nut so I could continue to lock it tight. It's been about 7 years now, and so far I've had to oil the jack twice. That's it. However, it is really ugly. Looks homemade. I love it, 'cuz that's sort of how I look. ;)
Have fun.
I've got the Jessem router-raiser and like it very much. Adjustment from the top with the removable crank. I bought an extra PC router, body only for dedicated use in the table.
On the other hand, I think if you can afford it an extra router for dedicated table use is worthy of serious consideration so perhaps that opens up the discussion beyond just the raising mechanism itself. Depends on the budget. Doing it all over again, I'd give serious consideration to limiting the number of mechanical contrivances associated with the setup.
Dennis in Bellevue WA
[email protected]
Dennis, you lost your 02!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Buy a shaper instead.. $225.00 and it will do everything a router and lift will do and do it better..
Frenchy -
It seems to me if I were to buy the Milwaukee 5625 (now $329 at Amazon!) I would get a router and a shaper (with the router mounted in a table). This seems like more bang for the buck ie: versatility. But tell me about this $225 shaper......how many horses? fence? table size? how does the height adjust? Shapers seem a bit mysterious to me. If it is a better way to solve the problem, then I'm ready to be convinced. Thanks to everyone for their two cents worth. Now if I could just get some more responses to my question in Finishing about "Sunburned Mahogany" I'd be really stoked.........
-R.
Well if all you want is a little shaper (that's what a router in a lift table is) you can buy one for $89.00 from grizzley. If you'd like a little bigger one that will do more stuff.. get the full shaper from them at $225.00 ($55 shipping charge but no sales tax (at least here in Minnesota)
I tried a decent router and table before I bought my shaper.. It was a 3 hp one and while it was ok if I took my time and worked slowly, (things like milling up tongue and grove flooring was definatly a two pass {really should have been three} and a raised panel was worse.
I bought a Jet Shaper like the grizzley I spoke of and now everything is a one pass and much faster and safer..
What I like is how much quieter it is then the screaming router, how much more stable it is and how easy it is to adjust..
I bought a Jet before I was turned onto Grizzley.. I swear it's the twin of the Jet JWS18 that I have and I paid almost $500.00 for it while grizzley sells it for $225..
If you like used tools bring by $150.00 and it's yours..(I might evan toss in a few cutters to sweeten the deal.. Bigger is better so I'm gonna buy the Grizzley G1026 so I can add a power feeder to it.
Frenchy -
Well, now you've given me alot more to think about. It is kind of amazing to think I could spend $199 on a router lift or $225 for an entire shaper. I'll check out grizzly's site. I just bought a new TS and jointer from them and I'm pretty happy with both.
-R.
I get that fixed mentality thing once in a while too.. thinking a certain way and forgettting to check out the big picture..
I notice those who are most vocal in their defence of their lift tables already have them and don't feel justified in buying another tool.
While I'm very happy with my shaper, you could try each to see which you'd prefer.. Or just keep your router moble and get a shaper.. they both really do differant things..
frenchy
In defense of the shaper, if I had a production cabinet shop, ran thousands of linear feet of moulding, flooring or used large 2" or better bits for the majority of my work; I wouldn't hestitate to get a shaper. It's the tool for the job.
In defense of the router table, it can accept smaller 1/4" and 1/2" bits that are less expensive. The average small home shop will not need the bigger 1 1/2" plus bits except on occassion. The table coupled with a 3 HP plus variable router can handle those situations when they arise.
I got the Milwaukee because I don't have to add at least another $100 for the lift. It is on-board in the Milwaukee. The beauty for us amuteurs is if we can't afford to have several routers, we unscrew it from the base and we got a hand-held ready and willing. I do personally have another 2 1/4 HP plunge an a 2 1/4 fixed base for free-hand. Some can't afford several an probably can't justify with the amount of WW they do.
I think your last post nailed it. The shaper has it's place and so does the router table and free-hand router. One just has to analyze his particular situation to see what fits their needs, budget and style. This big roof we call WoodWorking covers an enormous range of occupants an personal needs under-neath.
Post a picture of that cabin you're building and all will know why you prefer a shaper. ha..ha..
Highest Regards to the WoodAholic...
sarge..jt
You're correct Sarge,
Like most others my solutions seem to be so correct that I cannot fathem another solution..
When I handle wide boards or long boards the idea of trying to do that with a router table turns my stomach. (in fact doing just that is why I bought a shaper in the first place) .. only after I had mine did I find out how wonderfull a decent machine is..
Carefull. that could be misunderstood..
I don't mean that a router table is a piece of crap or anything like that.. if you are into making jewery boxes and knick knacks it's probably fine.. but working with big stuff it's nice to have a machine that is sturdy enough to stay in place.
Sure you can bolt down a lift table and for small stuff it's probably fine. granted it may be a bit more awkward to adjust but for occasional use that shouldn't be too much of a hinderance.
As for the noise it makes compared to a shaper a good set of ear muffs take care of that.
A router is almost the first power tool someone gets.. so it's natural to add a lift table... I mean you have the router already and setting it up in the table doesn't take all that much time.. OK once in a while you need it and it's in the table or not and that can get to be a problem, but it's not impossible to live with..
The cost of shaper bits is, about ten bucks more than the same bit in a router.. Oh, of course you can buy those kits from harbor frieght and others with the six most popular bits for $19.95 and they don't sell 'em for the shaper market.. Now the fact that a shaper bit outlasts the router bit by a ton or anything isn't important when you don't use them all that much..
Edited 7/11/2003 10:17:41 PM ET by frenchy
frenchy
Well said..... Now go make that "little cabin" < G > ( what is it, about 4000 sq. ft.) with those thousands of board feet of hard-wood sitting out front. An don't forget to bring the shaper.... you need it in a big way. ha..ha..
sarge..jt
Hey, check your email on this. If you're willing to ship it to Idaho, I could really use this one.
Then you can buy a bigger toy.<G> Er. . . . . tool.
I got the Milwaukee as well. http://www.northwestpowertools.com had it cheaper than Amazon.
It uses the same mounting hole pattern as the PC 7518, BTW, so you just need to buy the mounting plate for the PC, drill a hole for the height adjustment, and you're ready to go. Alot cheaper than buying both a router plus one of those expensive router lifts.
Only downside is that the adjustment isn't as fine as that of a lift (i.e., you change more change in height per turn). Good enough for me, though (1/8" per turn).
Hey Barry -
Thanks for your info. The Amazon site's blurb about the Milwaukee said something about 1/8" AND 1/64" adjustments. Do you know what they are referring to?
BTW - the router is $309 here http://www.internationaltool.com/milwrouters.htm
-R.
Edited 7/10/2003 10:45:06 PM ET by RodriguezDesigns
Rodriguez
Sorry to butt in on Barry, but I think I could shed some light on the 1/8"-1/64" thing. What Barry stated was that on the actual router height knob, one turn is acutally 1/8" to lower the bit (raise if the router is mounted upside down in a table). Actually it's a little more than that.
The Milwaukee height dial is about 1" in diameter. The scale reads from *0* to 5/32 before there are no more numbers. There are 8 lines between the *0* and 1/8" setting. After *0* there is an un-marked line then 1/32". Then another un-marked line and 1/16". Un-marked line and 3/32", etc, etc. until 5/32".
Each of those eight lines represents 1/64". If you adjust the dial mark 1/2 of a mark between each line it would represent a bit lowering of 1/128". The lines are large and easy to read. So are the numbers. You could actually adjust to 1/248" if your eyes are better than mine. I believe that 8/64" reduces to 1/8". So yes, you can micro adjust with the crank handle supplied with the router from above the table without an added lift.
All Barry was stating is you can get very mirco with one of the expensive lifts as a WoodPecker, Jess-Um or Rout-R-Lift. If you require more accuracy than say, 2/148" I would suggest the more expensive lift coupled with the router to get you there. You may be building wooden heat re-entry shields for a NASA Space Capsule an require that accuracy.
Hopefully, that will answer your concerns about the adjustment setting as the written text in Amazon an elsewhere is a little deceiving. If you look at the router dial setting, I think it would explain itself.
Caution: This poster is not a professional, only a 30 year amateur WW. He also does not have a PhD in mathmatics or does he have or has never had a shaper. ha..ha..
Good Luck...
sarge..jt
thanks, Sarge. That definitely answers my question. Appreciate it.
FWW: I'm pretty much sold on this Milwaukee - the shaper sounds O.K. too, but then I'd be looking at a new investment in cutters - which aren't cheap. Also, the Grizzly that Frenchy is interested in will not take the adapter collet that Grizzly offers so you can use your existing router bits. It also has a 1/2" spindle which limits the cutters that Grizzly offers. Seems like if one were to buy a shaper from Grizzly, the better investment would be the next one up from $225 which costs $425. Yes, that's alot more, but it seems you get a lot more versatility for your money.
-R.
Sounds like you now qualify as a 30 year woodworker and a 1 year mathe-magician to me. He he. Thanks for explanation. Have a good day.
P.S. NASA said that after I get those joints made from rail and stile bits to actually fit together correctly to give them a call about the space shuttle.
Ed
Now I don't know about that mathe-magician part. I have to figure all those fractions with the old math. I bought one of those new-fangled hand-held calculators, but like my skills with this computer I can't figure it out. It must be a one of the cheap models. I can't get it to work.
If you buy a calculator anytime soon, don't waste your money with that Solar Calculator Co. They are so cheap, they didn't make a provision for anyplace to put the batteries. I guess I'll have to stick with doing the fractions in my head.
Have a good evening...
sarge..jt
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