Thread: Router Lift, What can i get for a plunge router?

Originally Posted by hugh reid2

Well, my second triton router just shat itself,
I don't want another, great features, great for a table but not lasting long enough to justify the money.

I've just wasted a couple of hours watching those clever people on Youtube who make their own slides but who has that sort of time??????

Most of the lifts seem to be made for american fixed routers (why don't we have them here?) so the question is.......
What router lifts are available in australia and which one is 'best' (subjective opinions wanted)

Thanks

There's quite a few out there, ranging greatly in price & sophistication.

Just be aware in choosing that some compromise the donor router's plunge depth somewhat in having an additional "base".

There's also a couple of useful alternatives: there's a range of plunge bars available from Woodrat (UK) that, when combined with a "Musclechuck" or "Eliminator Chuck" allow through-the-base spannerless bit exchange when inverted in some tables. The combination of plunge bar and chuck allows extremely rapid and relatively effortless plunging & bit exchange when either inverted or hand-held, plus of course an increased overall plunge depth. Adjustable for concentricity, they seem to me to be a more secure & accurate way of increasing depth over the more extreme collet extensions that are often required with the plunge-robbing USA style router lifts.

Then there's the Router Raizer, which offers through-the-base and table top (i.e. inverted in a table) micro height adjustment. As it's finely threaded, the action is rather slow, but extremely accurate. It requires you to drill a 1/2" hole through the router's base and router plate. Templates and all necessary fittings are supplied in the kit, but not the drill bits.

Both of these alternatives are a cost effective means of achieving easy router table height adjustment, at a fraction of a router lifts' pricing.

Or you could buy a Trend T11 Router, which has the latter feature already fitted. This and the Triton are the only dedicated router table routers on the market.