Best Router Lift Review Guide For 2022-2023

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Best Router Lift Review Guide For 2022-2023 – Some people think of a router lift like an unnecessary splurge. But come to think of it. Don’t you always think of ways of boosting the usability of your router table? Thanks to technology you don’t need to get down under the table to unlock the bits for height adjustments or even changing them. You can go from modifying the router table for hand-held work to altering the capacity of the table-top while getting more efficient at what you love. You can easily lift the router bits and gain perfect height by just including this tool in your workstation. We delve into the best router lifts in our Best Router Lift Review Guide For 2022-2023 to make it easier to discern between the accurate models that define which works with your router table.

Best Router Lift Buyers Guide For 2022-2023:

Router lifts are ingenious machines to make your routing processes much easier. They come in handy when you require the highest level of precision when using your router bits. It makes, even more, sense to know what you are looking for in a router lift before you flow in with the recent hype. Here are short tips on what you should expect from a good router lift.

Height Adjustment System:

You’ll encounter two types of lifts. The crank handle lift and the thumbwheel lift. Consider the one that feels the most natural for your working. Also, do not forget to look at the technology used. Smooth adjustments are mostly acquired using ball bearing technology.

Construction:

You do not want to take home a router lift that will only last a few months. The perfect machine should be able to deal tough routing and remain in decent use. Stay away from lifts with a plastic construction. Instead choose robust materials like steel, cast iron, and aluminum.

Locking Mechanism:

When you have found the right height for your router bits, you’ll need to secure it against unprecedented changes. This is only achievable with a proper lift locking mechanism. Look for bolt or lever locks that are readily available at the top.

Compatibility:

Pay close attention to the routers the particular router lift can host. Not just with your current router. Will it acknowledge a line of other routers in case you change yours? Also, watch for the access from the router table to the lift controls. You don’t want to work amidst vibrations just because the lift does not fit the router.

Budget:

If you engage in daily demanding tasks with your router, consider investing in a router lift with advanced features to meet all your demands. This may cost you a few dollars more but is worth the pinch. However, if you only have occasional times when you are in the workshop take note of the price tag on your next router lift. You can get a good machine with essential features which can save you hundreds of dollars.

Weight:

Massive router lifts may have many outstanding features, but if they limit movement and access, you are better off with a machine that has manageable weight.

Availability of Adaptors:

When you have a few routers, you may feel investing in only one router lift is the best option. But getting this router lift to work with the other routers will need varied adapters. That’s why it’s important to ensure that your router lift has a vast array of adaptors available.

Kreg PRS5000 Router Lift

The Kreg PRS5000 is a good all-around router lift. It features a micro-adjustment scale capable of changes that vary by just thousands of an inch, meaning that you get the exact cut you want on your router.

It also has compatibility with more than 20 routers across a variety of brands, without any need for adapters or modifications. This means that swapping out routers for different tasks is easier on this router lift than on others. It also lowers the cost of operation in the long term, so you should definitely check out this model if you have multiple routers or are planning to upgrade shortly.

One small downside is that this router lift cannot be leveled from the top, so you may have to take it off and put it on a few times as you make adjustments.

Product Details:

• Allows precise above-the-table setup changes for table-mounted routers
• Above-table collet access allows fast, easy, above-table bit changes
• 3⁄8″ x 9 1⁄4″ x 11 3⁄4″ (9.5 mm x 235mm x 298mm) Hard-anodized aluminum plate won’t Sag, resists scratches
• Fits all Kreg Router tables and many competitive brands
• Bearing-guided carriage provides smooth operation

Pros:

• Widely compatible without adapters
• Precise adjustment

Cons:

• Difficult leveling

MLCS 9562 Router Lift

The MLCS 9562 is certainly not the best router lift on the market. There’s a good chance that you’re going to have to adjust and sometimes machine some of the parts yourself in order to get it functional right off the bat. If it were priced like a discount model, then maybe this would be more acceptable, but it’s pretty expensive relative to some of the other models on our list.

It also features an awkward design, using a side-mounted handle for height adjustment instead of top-mounted like on most router lifts.

There are two ways of looking at this. Either it’s a good design choice because you don’t have to take your work off the table to adjust the router. Or, it’s a lazy design choice, not compatible with most tables, and self-defeating, in that the point of a router lift is to not have to spend as much time below the table. This isn’t going to be the right router lift for most people.

Product Details:

• Sealed ball bearings, brass fittings, heavy duty guide posts
• The 18-1/2″ Height Adjustment Handle lets you keep your work on the table and adjust the router from the side
• Built to handle the big 4.2″ diameter, 3-1/4 HP routers with ease
• With over three inches of travel, router bit changes can be made from above the table
• Heavy Duty Built to last

Pros:

• Side-mounted crank

Cons:

• Expensive
• Inconsistent quality
• Side-mounted crank

JessEm Mast-R-Lift II 02120 Router Lift, 9-1/4-Inch by 11-3/4-Inch

If you’re looking for a great router lift, you can’t go wrong with the JessEm Mast-R-Lift II. The fact that this router lift is made from some of the best parts on the market means that it’s an investment that will last you a very long time. The Mast-R-Lift II also has one of the widest ranges of compatibility with routers from multiple brands, meaning that if you already own a router or have multiple routers you like to switch between, you’re in good shape. Of the router lifts on our test, it’s the easiest to install, and also one of the most secure, really cutting down on vibration and backlash that plagued other models. The only downside is that it only comes with one insert for securing a router, meaning that you if you want to use multiple routers you will have to buy extra.

Product Details:

• Exclusive Cam Locking System
• Double sealed bearing construction
• Bit Changes above the table for all routers
• Machined from 3/8-Inch solid aluminum and Hard Anodized for durability
• Fits most fixed base routers on the market today

Pros:

• Easy setup
• Durable
• Wide range of compatible routers

Cons:

• Extra inserts not included

Incra Master II Router Lift

The best thing about the Incra Master Lift II is the quality. This isn’t a router lift that you’re going to wear out any time soon.

However, it’s a very expensive router lift, and you would such a hefty price tag would mean that it has a wide range of compatibility with routers of all brands and sizes. This is not the case with this router lift, as it has one of the most limited ranges of compatible routers.

It also doesn’t work with the popular Kreg-brand router tables without purchasing a conversation kit, which is an additional expense on top of a router lift that was expensive to start with. If you’re spending this much money on a router lift, wouldn’t you want it to natively fit into your router table?

If you have an Incra router table and a compatible router, this might not be a bad buy, but it’s not going to be the right buy for most people.

Product Details:

• Adjust the height of your router bit without having to reach below the table, or remove the router plate. Just slip in the lift crank and wind it up or down!
• Exclusive INCRA MagnaLOCK reducing ring system for instant ring changes and perfect ring fit
• Quickly make super precise, 0.001″ height adjustments from above
• Exclusive ball bearing mechanism for super smooth action and low friction
• Ultra-responsive, direct drive 16TPI lift screw mechanism.

Pros:

• Good quality
• Easy to use, fantastic results.

Cons:

• Design could be improved

Conclusion:

Being a woodwork enthusiast calls for investing in tools that will improve your craft. We have covered the best router lifts that will not only make your work easier but also help in attaining professional-quality work. Hopefully, with this Best Router Lift Review Guide For 2022-2023, you can pick your next router lift with better judgment.