Axminster Routalift

[Richard Findley]

Hi Guys,

I'm setting up my own workshop and want to put in a router table. I saw in the Axminster catalogue their Routalift http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-Routalift-23154.htm I thought it seemed like a good idea/product but wondered if anyone else has experience of this product and can advise if it's worth the money or if I should just build a more standard table?

Thanks,

Richard

 

[LarryS.]

Richard,

I considered the same, after a lot of research I bought the Triton Router (on sale at B&Q for £99) which is designed to be table mounted and has a couple of unique features. As a result its easy to adjust the height and also you can change the bits from above the table, therefore negating the need for a routalift.

paul

 

[Waka]

Richard

If you are going down the route of a routalift,you might want to consider the Unilift from Woodpecker, link below

It really is a superb piece of equipment and with the Xtreme extension router bits can be changed from above the table.

The other alternative is the triton router, but I have no experience of this

 

[p111dom]

Or if you've not bought the router yet your could considder a Trend T11 which IMHO is a better machine than the Triton if not more expensive. This has a raising mechanism built in so you could use a relatively inexpensive router plate and drill a hole through it. I made an insert myself from a scrap of 8mm perspex so cost me nothing.

 

[philb]

I bought the Axminster Routalift about 3 years ago and fitted it to my home made router table. Very easy and smooth to adjust and accurate

 

[p111dom]

As an add on to Waka I would say that the woodpekkers lift is a better product. It's certainly better engineered although it is more complex. I concidered the routerlift at one point but spoke to some people who said they had experienced 'chatter' when using large panel raising cutters. This I guess is due to the router being only held on one side. The woodpeckers model is supported on both sides eliminating this. That said I have spoken to those who have never had this problem with the routerlift. The only concern I would have with the woodpecker is dust clogging up the chain mechanism. Having not owned it I don't know if its an issue. The routerlift is belt driven and this is self shrouded to a certain extent and is set quite a bit back from the router so possibly wouldn't suffer this.

 

[Mike.C]

Richard I asked the same sort of question a while ago so this may help

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... ft&start=0

I ended up getting the Triton TRB001 and this insert

http://www.woodpeck.com/aluminsert.html

which together IMHO make a excellent router lift.

You will notice in the link that Tim had to send 3 Trend T11's back so if you do think of going down this road I would check this out first.

Also I believe you need something like the Xtreme Xtension to change router bits above the table but with the Triton you don't need any extras.

Cheers

Mike

 

[seaco]

I've had the Axminster Routalift and table about three years it's a great bit of kit no problems at all, no warping what so ever...

You won't be dissapointed...:wink:

 

[Harbo]

I use a RouterRaizer bought from Woodworkers workshop.
Much cheaper than the other alternatives and has worked fine for several years now.
I use it with my DW625 and have not found the need to fit the Xtreme extension.

Rod

 

[andycorleone]

I think a router lift (or similar) is a luxury that you can easily live without it, I think £170 would be better expended in a TREND Mortice &Tenon jig or in a Leigh Super 18

 

[stuartpaul]

I used to have a routalift and found it a very good piece of kit.

Swapped to a Triton and to be honest I wish I'd kept the routalift due to a few problems with the height adjustment on the Triton. The routalift is much more adjustable.

For me the Triton really scores for above table bit changing, - a real plus. but I do miss the the 'adjustability' of the routalift.

If I could find a way of having both then I would