Thread: Router Lift & Router

I can't speak directly for the unit you've picked, though I think I have the same lift, but purchased from Incra.

In Australia (with AU approval and 240V etc), there is really only one router that I know fits this lift: Router Control Station plus AUK 1800watt Router Motor woodworksupplies.com.au

Hi Midnight Man, Thanks for that. Just looked at the control station, it's hell of a price, bit more than I was think of paying.
Yes the Incra is the same one, have you had it long? & what do you think of it?

Timbecon also does one . It’s on special at the moment. $359.21 down from $448.99

https://www.timbecon.com.au/round-body-router-motor

I got the Incra router lift which is made by Jessem. I did a lot of research and I don’t think I ever came across a bad review.

I haven’t installed mine yet but it’s ridiculously smooth and very well made. I got the clean sweep kit also so looking forward to better dust extraction. I’ll be installing the AUK router, I haven’t got it yet but I’m pretty sure you can get the router on it’s own without the control station. It’s about $480 AU or thereabouts.

Yeah, as already stated, and also recently discussed in a post answering a question I had about 240v round-body motors, there are only really three 240v motors available in Australia - AUK from woodworksupplies, Sherwood from Timbecon and the Swiss-tec from Gregory's Machinery. The Sherwood is the cheapest of the three, particularly at the moment with the sale, however I have heard that many of these come back with speed-controller issues. On the other hand they do offer a 5 year warranty, however a warranty does not compensate you for the hassles/disruption of a faulty tool and the time and effort to return etc.

I know from talking to Greg-Mach that they also had issues a few years ago with many returns on their round-body router however they have subsequently addressed this and now reportedly aren't having any issues. In my other thread, Grahame from woodworksupplies also stated that they have addressed issues with this router and their version has the latest enhancements.

If there is a difference in specification from one supplier to the others, as appears to be the case, then it is possible that paying a little more may provide a better quality product and that the three seemingly comparable round-body motors available here are not in fact exactly the same. Hopefully it's a case of "you get what you pay for".

I recently ordered a bunch of stuff from Gregory's Machinery to build a router table including their round-body motor, but I obviously have no direct experience with it yet - I'm hoping I won't have any dramas. I got it along with a Jessem Mast-r-lift II, the new Jessem TA fence and Jessem stock guides. I picked up a cast-iron top this morning and will start building a timber stand for it soon.

Good luck with your decision making!

Cheers,

Dom

I would like to apologise for the late reply, been away for a long weekend.
I would also like to thank everyone for their kind advice & comments. Because of my health, I've just had a year off & for the past few months I've been thinking of this lift & router to go with it. In all that time, I never once thought of contacting Jessem direct, silly me, I put it down to my age, 72. I have spoken to Jessem & got a reply back very quick, saying that they have brought a new lift out specially for plunge Routers, & it's called the Rout-R-Lift Prestige & the routers that will fit it, I have got 3 of them, Festool, Hitachi, & Makita, so all that worrying for nothing.
I will put my Hitachi in because the handles needed replacing anyway, also if I put the AUK Router motor in or any other & I had problems, it would have to be sent away, getting my Hitachi fixed is a lot easier.
I will let you know how I get on, with the lift.
Thanks again everyone

It sounds like a CNC spindle would go into one of these lifts as well, just a thought.