Router table/lift recommendations

[rtyuiop]

Hi folks,

Thinking I will change out my (generally not very satisfactory) router table with a new one sometime between now and the end of the year - it will be mostly used for boxes. A router lift and above the table bit changing are musts, and I'm probably going to end up buying a router/router motor to go with this so I can sell off the old table as a package.

Sadly I'm not someone who enjoys building things for the workshop more than using the workshop to make things, so I currently plan to buy a table rather than build it.

Does anyone have any opinions or experiences on the router lift/table packages around Australia at the moment? At the moment I think the leading contenders are from the good folks at PWS (who I would like to buy from seeing as they're a sponsor here!) or a jessem setup from Gregory Machinery - the excel II table top with the hand wheel at the side looks pretty great.

Regards,

Danny

[Big Shed]

That Jessem setup looks impressive shame they don't sell a router motor to go with it?

[rtyuiop]

Yeah! I guess there is a worldwide issue with 240V router motor availability.

[Big Shed]

Given that is the case you would need to select your router lift according to the router motor you CAN buy.

[Belstaff1464]

That Jessem setup looks impressive shame they don't sell a router motor to go with it?


Give GregMach a call. IIRC, they had a 240V router motor Jessem package. I think Axminster UK has a similar package as well.

[Chris Parks]

Yeah! I guess there is a worldwide issue with 240V router motor availability.

There is but they can be supplied from the UK and right now is a good time to by from there.

They have now appeared on Aliexpress https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Heavy-Duty-Powerful-3-1-4-HP-1800W-Router-Motor-for-Router-Table-and-CNC-Machine/32604142679.html

All the available 230V motors appear to be the same no matter who sells them. I bought one from the UK (forgot who from) which is the same as the link to go into a Kreg lift. I might get it together in a table some time before I die, maybe.

[Belstaff1464]

There is but they can be supplied from the UK and right now is a good time to by from there.




Yep, and I've found Axminster's shipping to be incredibly fast. I ordered a LN skew block plane and Auriou rasps and it took 1 week to get to me!! That's a lot faster than most Oz retailers. I can also recommend their router lift. It has excellent build qulity and is able to accommodate large hand held plunge routers.

[rtyuiop]

Yeah, I have been in to gregmach to have a look at their options, they are getting some in very shortly. Looks very much like the same unit as everywhere else apart from the brand name and maybe the colour of the housing!

[rtyuiop]

Ordered a jessem package from gregmach - a good price and local support were too good to turn down. Unfortunately just the normal jessem lift, couldn't justify the extra cost of the unit with the wheel on the side!

Router motor not due in until sometime before Christmas, but I'll try to update this thread once it arrives and I've had a chance to set it up/try it out.

[Chris Parks]

As far as I am aware they haven't had the motor all this year and they have been available elsewhere during that time. PWS have not had them either during the same period and strangely both stocked them initially at the same time or thereabouts.

[woodPixel]

I was told that the pws, gregmach and UK models all had optical speed sensors. When they became dusty they went on the fritz.

The "new" ones have hall sensors, eliminating that problem.

Gregmach mentioned in a chat that they have been testing the new ones and expect to release them "soon".

Ive been hanging out for a good lifter for years! Given the rise of CNC, I fail utterly to see why a cnc motor and superior collet setup hasn't been used.

[Chris Parks]

What is the difference between the two types of motor?

[rtyuiop]

Yeah, gregmach mentioned the same thing to me, and the apparently identical nature of all the 240V motors disappearing and reappearing simultaneously does suggest a technical issue showed up and has now been fixed. At least I'm hoping so - apparently if the speed sensor goes nuts it may up the speed until it explodes, and a 20,000 RPM router bit is quite scary enough as it is!

[Chris Parks]

If that is the case it is surprising that someone on this forum has not reported the issue independently. There seems to have been a lot sold in the UK with no independent reports of the fault as well. I bought one from the UK about six months ago after a lengthy no stock situation but I remain puzzled about the silence of the users and a search seems to bring up nothing or at least my search did not find anything. BTW Graham at PWS told me a similar story so I don't doubt it. If the thing explodes I will buy a PC motor from the US and a 110V power supply but as I haven't even turned mine on yet I live in hope. Mine is going into a Kreg lift which is an Incra painted another colour. The diameter of the motor must be specified when the lift is ordered. This is mine Kreg PRS3000 Precision Router Table Lift | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Kreg-PRS3000-Precision-Router-Table-Lift-/141183509051?hash=item20df31623b:g:rMsAAOSwzOxUVEm2)