simple router lift

[mike s]

hi
i am in the process of making a router table and im considering making a simple router lift like this:

does anyone use a similar set-up?
thanks

 

[9fingers]

It should be OK provided that you lock the router each time before cutting.

Bob

 

[MickCheese]

I would think you need a second support for your threaded rod. As it extends I fear it would skew sideways. Just another board 100 - 150mm above or below should be enough. That assuming you are not attaching the rod to the base of the router in a secure manner.

Mick

 

[marcros]

a bottle jack might be easier- sit it on the shelf or floor

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... tle%20jack

 

[theartfulbodger]

Or a scissor jack? might give smaller increments of adjustment?

I've been thinking about this myself and came to the conclusion that bottle jacks wouldn't be accurate enough.

 

[mike s]

thanks for the replies
the drawing isn't to scale, the threaded rod would really only be extending about 10cm from the shelf.
i have seen the bottle jack method, but each pump lifts the router quite a substantial amount - no micro adjustment
the scissor jack seems like the best option but the method i have drawn will cost me about £3 opposed to the £10 on machine-mart for the jack
what would be the difference in operation between the method drawn and the scissor jack?
thanks

 

[theartfulbodger]

your method will potentially give finer degrees of lift, the thread on a bit of threaded bar is finer than that on a scissor jack I'll bet

you'd be able to adjust the scissor jack from the front of the router cabinet...might be easier

 

[mike s]

im a teenager so crawling around on the floor to adjust the depth is no problem for me so thats not an issue
i think i will go with the threaded rod method and see how that works out until a better alternative pops up
thanks

 

[Den Dezyn]

i use a scissor jack and it works fine

 

[marcros]

im a teenager so crawling around on the floor to adjust the depth is no problem for me so thats not an issue
i think i will go with the threaded rod method and see how that works out until a better alternative pops up
thanks

for £3 worth of materials, give it a whirl. just make sure that you report back how successful it is!

 

[beech1948]

maybe try this one

http://woodgears.ca/router_lift/index.html

Al

 

[mickleuk]

I too use a scissor jack. Easy to adjust, works a treat.

 

[beech1948]

Let us know how it works out. I'm interested wether you will need to lock the router in a position, how easy it is to wind up/down and how accurate.

Al

 

[dickm]

Just one caveat - mind you don't close off any ventilation holes in the top (or bottom when it's in the table) of the router.

 

[mike s]

im a teenager so crawling around on the floor to adjust the depth is no problem for me so thats not an issue
i think i will go with the threaded rod method and see how that works out until a better alternative pops up
thanks

for £3 worth of materials, give it a whirl. just make sure that you report back how successful it is!

will do!

Let us know how it works out. I'm interested wether you will need to lock the router in a position, how easy it is to wind up/down and how accurate.

Al

i will lock the router in position every time, doesnt take long and keeps everything rigid

Just one caveat - mind you don't close off any ventilation holes in the top (or bottom when it's in the table) of the router.

i will make a small platform attached to the bottom of the router that separates the router and the rod
as-well as ventilation ports, there is a variable speed nob on the bottom that needs to be accessible


thanks for all the replies!

 

[baldpate]

I too use a scissor jack. It supports a router by the handles (I was concerned about blocking the air-flow, as a previous poster mentioned). The table is fitted to a 'workmate' style bench.
With the large wheel spokes fitted (see pictures) I find you can make quite fine adjustments without bending down too far - useful when you are trying to match the cutter hight to the workpiece on the table. My router has a built-in fine-height adjuster, which functions when the lock is applied; I find I rarely have to use it (the fine-height adjuster, I mean - I always lock the router).
Here are some images.

I'm sure your idea can be made to work, but watch out for blocking the air-flow, and stabilizing the screwed rod.