Replies

1. 
   bones | Aug 25, 2005 03:58pm | #1

   "What is best?"... Boy you opened up a can of worms on that one. The best will be in the eye of the beholder for sure. I can't say what is best, but I can comment on what I have. After a lot of research I got the woodpecker PRL. I looked at them, and the Jessem router lift. Both are fine pieces, but in the end, I liked the machined surface of the PRL and the fact that it was run with a chain, not a rubber belt. It is very accruate (which I'm sure the Jessem is too), fit my PC 7518 out of the box (the Jessum did too).  I built norm's router table with some mods and have nothing but good things to say about it. Good luck on the choice.

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=20473.1

2. 
   RickL | Aug 25, 2005 04:21pm | #2

   AWW-March 2004 has an excellent article on a "homemade" router lift. "Best" is a double edged sword. Best for me might be worst for you. The article listed uses regular hardware store items and can be made for a minimal amount of money. On the other hand you can buy routers like the Milwaukee and Porter Cable where the router lift is a bulit in feature to the base and save a bundle in time and money. Books, magazines,the internet, and classes  are the best tools you can start with.

1. 
   BillyBobRockland | Aug 28, 2005 10:09pm | #4

   Rick,
   Excuse my ignorance but can you explain "...routers like the Milwaukee and Porter Cable where the router lift is a built in feature to the base ..."I have a Bosch 1617EVS. As this is a plunge router (I think), would this qualify as a built in router lift. If so, how would I go about employing this feature? I don't have a router table of any kind and I'm on the fence, so to speak, about building one or buying one. I'm very new at woodworking and get overwhelmed with all of the issues, opinions and ideas about router tables and lifts. Makes me want to go hide in my bed and hope the the Fairy Godmother of Routers will deliver one in my workshop when I wake up.Thanks,
   BillyBob

1. 
   micr03 | Aug 28, 2005 10:21pm | #5

   Billybob,A router lift is a separate unit that your router attaches to.You typically use these in conjunction with a router table.They are very stable and most let you do bit changes from above the table,as well as raise and lower the router from above.This is a great benifit.Search Benchdog then go to products and look at one on the net and you get an idea.Rick

2. 
   RickL | Aug 29, 2005 12:05am | #7

   PC (890 model) and some Milwaukee routers have the router lift built into the base so you mount the base to a table and a special wrench allows you to access the height adjustment from above. Saves the cost of a seperate router lift. No, it's not the same as a plunge router.
   http://tinyurl.com/74xrk
   Click on the link to read more about this.
   The American Woodworker issue I referred to has a low budget router lift you can make. http://www.woodhaven.com has an inexpensive lift also.
   For the money buying the PC or milwaukee would put you way ahead of the game with another router and the built in lift for less than buying a lift. You need to read more magazine articles to keep up on stuff. Typically you can't mount a plunge router in a lift anyway but the 1617EVS is avaiable in a plunge or regular base.

3. 
   micr03 | Aug 25, 2005 05:44pm | #3

   After I posted my question I noticed that Eddie had asked a similar question on Jessem vs Bench Dog. Thanks for the feedback it all helps!

4. 
   mllester | Aug 28, 2005 11:47pm | #6

   I've purchased a PC 7518 router and Bench Dog lift a 3 years ago.  No regrets.