Router lift recommendations

I like my Jet Xacta Lift. It's really a JessEm Rout-R-Lift in drag, but I still like it. The only fault I have with it is that it doesn't fit a "standard" table. The plate is something like 11-3/4" X 14-3/4" (rather than

I have that one and love it. Very precise, easy to set.

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------------------------------------ SFWIW, Cerritos College equipped ALL of their router stations with Bench Dog units for their Wood Manufacturing Technologies units.

NICE.

Lew

BTW, I was looking at router table tops in the Atlanta Rockler store last weekend (none fit my Xacta lift) and the sales guy there commented that "since they'd bought Bench Dog..." (they didn't make tops for other lifts). True? Bench Dog is now a Rockler house name?

I have it ... excellent unit!

I have had this one for a few years and as far I can tell, they make them for several other folks:

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:

WAY too much money. Buy a shaper already!

Are you adding in the cost of the sharp things?

Shapers can run 1/2" router bits.... in fact, they do so quite well. A set of cutters, the insert kind, don't have to cost an arm and a leg either. One nice thing is the induction motor of a shaper. quiet and constant speed. Usually pretty nice fence (two piece) dust collection, and a nice sturdy table. This looks like a lot of machine:

WAY too much money. Buy a shaper already!

Or one of the above table adjustable routers. There is always this option

the router is more versatile. I'll stick with the router. ...at least for now. ;-)

Those huge 3.5" dia blades scare the hell out of me.

I'll stick with the router, also. Somewhat limited but more versatile.

B.I.L. worked on a shaper professionally and made a vest of 1 x 2 pine, in a ribs like fashion. He tooks some ridicule for a long time until a few years later a shaper did throw a blade and it stuck in the vest. WHEW !

A lot of what a router (in table) is asked to do really is a shaper's job but the router is more versatile. I'll stick with the router. ...at least for now. ;-)

If you have to have one, a router is a better choice. But many people I know will mount their router in a table and leave it there. In that case, I think a shaper is a better investment.

I now have four. Am I allowed to leave one in the table (lift)?

If you have to have one, a router is a better choice. But many people I know will mount their router in a table and leave it there. In that case, I think a shaper is a better investment.

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Or several routers ... :)

Amazon.com prices: Bench Dog ProLift - $325 Triton 3-1/4-HP router with built-in lift $270 Triton 2-1/4 HP router with built-in lift $220 Check the customer reviews, Tritons get high raves. I bought the smaller router myself, it came with both 1/4 and 1/2 collets. I installed it with a Rockler aluminum router table plate, total cost still far less than the Bench Dog. The set-up is rock solid. I can now accurately adjust my router up/down in .001 increments (confirmed with a digital height gauge) in mere seconds, couldn't be easier. I also like how the Triton automatically locks and unlocks the collet when I raise and lower the router for bit changes.

On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:16:12 -0700 (PDT), Robatoy wrote the following:

If router elevators ever drop below the "price contains a comma" level, let me know, eh? They're getting Festering prices for that crap, mon. UFR!

On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:45:47 -0700, "CW" wrote the following:

Cdub, I prefer this one:

Ok. I'm impressed.