Router lift

[Chippygeoff]

I finally got my router table assembled and this morning finally got the router fitted to the insert plate. I wanted a router that had a height adjuster and the one that is on the new Makita is next to useless. I cannot physically get under the table to push the router up every time I need to use it due to a disabilty. I was wondering if I could adapt a car scissor jack to do the job for me.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Plenty of people have done this and report its success. BUT just be aware that many routers have air intake holes in the top, so just be sure not to block these. The air keeps the motor cool. You don't want to have a cheap height adjuster only to have it wreck an expensive router.
S

 

[Glynne]

I made a router lift using a bottle jack from Halfords which worked surprisingly well. I think the fact that I had my table fixed to a workmate made it easier to fix a "box" under the table to house the jack. You can make very fine adjustments but the problem is knowing how much you are raising and lowering the cutter and so you do have to make a lot of test cuts.
I have now moved onto a Router Raizer which allows you to raise and lower the cutter from above the table.
I got mine from: -

http://www.woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/Page7RouterTechnologies.html

Glynne

 

[Steve Maskery]

+1 for the Router Raizer but it is not cheap. Excellent, though.
S

 

[Glynne]

Somebody not a million miles away has invented a very simple guage to allow you to measure the rise and fall whilst using a Router Raizer!

 

[Steve Maskery]

I'd forgotten about that!
Yes, the RR is a 1/16" thread, which is fine if you work in old money, but not very helpful if you work in metric.

 

[Mcluma]

+ for the routerlift

Untitled by mcluma, on Flickr


Untitled by mcluma, on Flickr

 

[John Brown]

I have a RouterRaizer too. I t works well. I bought it when it was on sale in the USA, had it shipped to a brother-in-law and brought it home when we visited shortly afterwards. I'm not sure that I could have justified the cost of of a full price imported one.

 

[inkyblue]

Car jack works perfectly fine. My home made table uses a scissor type jack, and no problems whatsoever.

 

[Chippygeoff]

Many thenks Guys for all your help, its a trip to Halfords now. I have the UJK compact router table from Axy and the top is cast iron and an inch and a half thick, weighs a ton so I am confident that the scissor jack will work now after all you have said. I will be sure to make sure the air intake is clear as it was a very expensive router.

In hindsight it would appear that there are very few routers designed to go under the table, my Makita was advertised as having a fine height adjuster but upside down under the table its useless.

 

[marcros]

geoff,

too late now, but what you needed to look for was "through table adjustment" or similar, rather than fine height adjustment.

have a look at machine mart for a jack- they tend to be cheaper than halfords.

 

[inkyblue]

You wont regret it Geoff, works a treat, saves a fortune!!