Router table position on new Jet cabinet saw??

[GaryA]

It looks to me like it's 9/16" from the main surface that mates to the base casting of the router.

That's not bad, but you'll also have to take into account how far a given router can lower its collet through the router's base opening.

Yep...thats right...I measured from the side and took a "visual" from the incra ruler in picture and also took a smaller flat ruler in the center and got the same measurement...the plate is flat across and we are talking about where the router would intercept the plate... I guess I wont know until the M12V2 comes in, and I imaging it'll depend on the bit too, huh?

[LarryG]

I just remembered that I have a reprint of a WOOD Magazine test of a flock of router lifts. They tested both the JessEm Rout-R-Lift and the virtually identical JET XACTA lift, although the comments for the latter basically just referred the reader back to the former. The relevant passage there (not good news, alas):

"You can't raise the collet high enough to change bits from above, but a finger hole helps when removing the lift to change bits."

It appears this model's main claim to fame is what Jeff already mentioned: it will accept almost any model router on the planet.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

and I imaging it'll depend on the bit too, huh?

Not really. Shanks are pretty uniform. You want the shank seated properly in the collet. Then the bottom of the profile must be above the table. Really changing the bit is the thing that is going to be affected.

[GaryA]

I just pulled my DeWalt out of my other router table...without the sub-base attached, and the bit raised all of the way up in the fixed base, I put it up against the XACTA plate...I've got a good 3/16" below the profile of the bit (this is with the bit lifted 1/8" from the bottom of the collet) to the table top. I should be good there, right??? I guess the question will be on the Hitachi...

[LarryG]

Sounds okay, Gary. As I recall the DW618 has a spindle lock ... can you get your fingers in there to operate it?

[GaryA]

Sounds okay, Gary. As I recall the DW618 has a spindle lock ... can you get your fingers in there to operate it?

I can from below, but can't really get to the collet nut without dropping the motor out of the base (easy enough by flipping the latch and squeezing the tabs on the base)

[GaryA]

I just posted at http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...324#post273324 regarding my new Hitachi. It looks like it'll clear without an extender...BUT...cant get to spindle lock without retracting the plunge. Let me know what you guys think

[davidtu]

"Because the base of the router mounts to the plate of the carriage, the Rout-R-Lift can accept both fixed-base and plunge routers. But because the router ends up sitting well below the surface of the table, bit changes are awkward. Above-the-table changes are possible with some routers. For example, with a Bosch 1617 fixed-base router in the lift, a wrench can reach the collet nut from above; the second wrench to hold the shaft must be positioned under the table. JessEm plans to release a heavy-duty version of the Rout-R-Lift that allows easier bit changes from above."

from Tauton's FineWoodworking.com http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworki...t.aspx?id=5358

"With the lift fully raised, the router baseplate is still 13mm (½ inch) below the table surface, which means lift and tabletop together steal 13mm of usable height from the bit. This could be a problem when using bits with short shanks. ... Thanks to the removable insert ring, it is quite easy to fit a wrench on the router collet and change cutters from above the table – much more civilised than crawling in the sawdust beneath. You can lock the ring in place or remove it from its bayonet fitting with the aid of the supplied plastic insert wrench. "

-from Independent Review of the Jessem Rout-R Table (Router Table)

© John Bullar 2003 previously published in The Router magazine http://individualfurniture.com/maker...er%20Table.htm

[drumpriest]

I have a rout-r-lift fx in my table w/ a PC 890 motor, and sometimes a Bosch 1617 motor. Either is fine as the lift pushes the motor high enough to clear for above the table bit changes.