DIY Router Lift for Plunge Routers for around £10

Plunge routers are harder and more expensive to find lifts for, so this DIY plunge router lift solution is the first of two videos that will be uploaded on on the same day to offer two solutions for any small workshop!
Stuff used in the video:
- Rutlands Router (no affiliation) - www.rutlands.com/products/1-2...
- M10 threaded bar (can be picked up anywhere but here’s an Amazon Affiliate link if you want to help the channel) - amzn.to/3DEt3Cx
- Same with couplers - amzn.to/47d07PA
- same with Allen head bolts - amzn.to/47iQM95
- same with Router extension Xtreme Xtension - amzn.to/3KqhjHL
Channel supporters:
Forgefix - www.forgefix.co.uk
Forgefast - www.forgefastelite.com
Ebrasives for abrasives and use code WWJ5 for a discount - www.ebrasives.com/
Stuff I use - Amazon Affiliate links
amzn.to/3nBpTv4
If you’re so inclined to support the channel directly with a one off donation, you can use PayPal to [e-mail]
Contact me:
Email - [e-mail]
Instagram - woodwork_journey
Website - www.woodworkjourney.com
All my links in one place - linktr.ee/woodworkjourney

[@philaandrew100]

Yep. Simple is good. One suggestion though, the screws that hold the router to the table really should have washers to increase the holding surface area. There is a chance the weight and torque could pull the screw heads through the plywood.

[@WoodworkJourney]

Good point Phil 👍

[@veltie48]

Thanks for making it so simple. Looked for something like this for a long time. Time you😄

[@WoodworkJourney]

You're welcome 😊

[@tonysutton6559]

I did something similar but I used a 30cm M8 bolt with the bolt head recessed into the table top to be turned with a socket spanner and then had the bottom end bolted to a steel tray for the router to sit in that would rise or fall as I turned the bolt. It worked well for a couple of years but I had made the mistake of using some kitchen counter for the table top and the stresses finally pulled the chipboard apart. But then I got lucky, Axminster had a massive end of line discount on a cabinet router complete with motor, motor lift, fences, t-track, featherboards and even a push stick which I got for about £120 (the current version is around £300). This means that my plunge router stays as a plunge router without having to take bits off and turn it upside down and the router table is instantly available after I clear off all of the stuff that keep leaving on top of it.

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Can't go wrong with that ,A bit of ply you got a plunge router lift, Good video Dean😀😀👍👍👍

[@WoodworkJourney]

Ta daaaaaa! 😁

[@grahamhvincent]

Thanks Dean I didn't expect to have my search for router lift ideas come from you. Used to come to you for advice on another subject. :)

[@JohnColgan.]

Simplest and easiest design I've seen. Well done that man !

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thanks a lot!

[@The_Bat]

Brilliant solution to a puzzle I've pondered for years. Thanks Dean.

[@kriss667]

While requiring kinda sacrificing a router for this, it's a lot simpler than other solutions I've seen. So if the router stays in the table anyways this might be a lot better due to time and troublesoothing saved.

[@MrGlyn321]

I should've watched this video first, now it all makes sense and I can use the plate from your next video with my JCB. Hope this makes sense and thank you once again. 😊

[@WoodworkJourney]

Ah ha! LOL great stuff 👍👍

[@breannestahlman5953]

Great video, very useful, thank you!

[@whitag01]

I like that bad boy! Great and simple execution.

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thanks!

[@mlgymrat]

Great video by such a small channel! I love that you have decent audio which most overlook.

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thanks so much!

[@RedFlyerMedia]

This is perfect for my situation! Thanks!

[@otsdjm]

Nice solution. And that's the router I have too!

[@c.a.g.1977]

Seems to be working pretty well Dean, nice solution! Gonna watch the other vid now 😃

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thanks 👍

[@henryrossouw930]

Good explanation.I did exactly the same with my router and it works like a charm.

[@WoodworkJourney]

Good to hear

[@RockinBarBRanch]

So smart and perfectly simple!

[@tonysvwaudiparts]

Thank you for the helpful video, that's super simple and clever!

[@WoodworkJourney]

Glad it was helpful!

[@OllyParryJones]

I love what you've done and with such readily available components! Might have to look at doing this myself in the future. Thanks for sharing!

[@WoodworkJourney]

Go for it!

[@jay62nz]

This is brilliant. Thank you

[@williamryan1984]

Brilliant. Greetings from Ireland

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thanks and hello William from Ireland!

[@jasonbrown5086]

Just done the same for my plunge router, your video helped massively! , only issue I’m seeing is the washer for the top bolt is stopping the plate I’m using being flush to the router base

[@chrischaralambous286]

Great video. Thanks Dean. 👌👌

[@srenhansen9119]

Thank you Dean :-) You solved my my problem. I'am making a small router table sone. Like your way filming. BR Søren

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thank you, glad it helped

[@paulhodgson4790]

Great idea Dean.

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thanks Paul!

[@dannybaker2763]

Excellent stuff, Dean. This could be good for me as an insert in a modular workbench of sorts. Cheers.

[@WoodworkJourney]

Absolutely!

[@michaelflynn6178]

Well done very helpful

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thanks!

[@TomBaier]

Brilliant.

[@jeremynorman1330]

Brilliant. Thank you very much.

[@WoodworkJourney]

You're very welcome!

[@grantjackson21]

Nice, a lot of DIY lift solutions are heavily engineered whilst this is pretty simple. I was seriously looking at a triton for this very reason as they have the adjustment built into the base for fixing into a table. Would be good to see how it works in practice-does it remain at the same height after multiple passes etc… There’s also a longevity concern-that massive hunk of router being moved up and down via a small mounting which was only designed to house a depth stop bar. Keep us posted

[@WoodworkJourney]

Will do!

[@georgevanvalkenburg2560]

Thanks!

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thank you very much!!

[@georgevanvalkenburg2560]

CREATIVE.......FANTASTIC😯😯😯😯😯😯 WILL SHARE

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thanks! 😊

[@DIYDEGEN]

Solid

[@DMor-qj1ie]

Is there no concern for lifting the router on a single line? I would have some concerns about the router bit not being plumb and square when it reaches the surface to be cut. I would want even lift forces. I've seen expensive lifts using gears and chain drives to synchronize the lift shafts. Worth it, I think. Your solution is better than not having it, but not good for production. I know, something is better than defeat, but bad work is a waste of time and money. Better to rethink the tools and production process.

[@idlersdream826]

👍

[@WoodworkJourney]

👍👍

[@scouseunderdahouse-oz3ps]

Hiya bud, quick question, did you remove the inner springs for the base arms?

[@keithmetcalfe2466]

I think you have just saved me a lot of money. But would that depend on the router ?

[@WoodworkJourney]

I’ll finish the build very soon so we can see it in action

[@lafamillecarrington]

I've always worried that side mounted lifts won't raise a plunge router straight. I got round that by pushing it up from below.

[@WoodworkJourney]

My previous router had a mini jack underneath it, so I’m trying something different to find out if it works

[@lafamillecarrington]

I did something similar, but using a ratchet clamp as I had one available. The only cost was for a piece of aluminium to hold the router.@@WoodworkJourney

[@user-ee1ou8lq8q]

Odin

[@richardstevenson2727]

🫡

[@WoodworkJourney]

👍