Home-made router lift

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Woodworking for Mere Mortals
© ZRAM Media, LLC

[@GG1man]

Excellent idea. One point I differ with you on would be locating the hole in the top plate (not the blue insert). Instead of relying on the 3/4" bolt rod to be perfectly plumb and square with the base, I would have lowered the top down to the bottom plate and simply marked the hole through the hole already drilled in the bottom plate.

[@PMichaels]

Steve - Thanks for this video! I’ve been wanting to make this for years and finally did this month with my extra shop time from the pandemic. 😃 It was a challenging build for me but I’m happy with the results. I’m looking forward to using this. I appreciate all of your awesome tips. 👍🏼

[@AquaPeet]

My... goodness! The presentation skills!! So natural, so informative... and that seven years ago. You were already on top of the game!

[@markm4073]

I had a great time building this and I really like the way it works. Cost me about $50 in parts and materials plus the scrap peices of ply I had. Thanks Steve.

[@SteveRamsey]

Gracias. Definitivamente ver el domingo, 1 de abril. En caso de ser divertido!

[@MaxCJ]

I watched this video at the start of the first lockdown in the UK, sometime in April '20 - I've learnt so much since - thank you Steve!

[@olinewoodworker]

Steve This project was just released in the Woodsmith Tools and Jigs magazine. The shop notes magazine as a pain to find, this is in the stores now. Planning to build and add to the shop. Thanks for all your videos and work you do to show us woodworking should be fun to do. Keep the ideas coming!!!!

[@gerrie7407]

one of the better and easiest router lifts i have seen all week of searching, thx....it shows you video is never too old to assist

[@kevinashby4847]

love this design for the lift. simple but very sturdy and functional.

[@saranjesse23]

you sir are a master, I was just looking at router lifts and was blown away at the prices! thanks for the awesome video

[@FlorianTOSCANI]

Simple but yet functional and well done job Steve ! Love to see your videos. Florian from France.

[@SteveRamsey]

Definitely!

[@RascalsBuddy1]

I read the Shop Notes article on building a router lift some time ago. But it seemed so complicated. Your video makes the project realistically doable. Thanks Steve for giving me the nerve and confidence to make the attempt. Often seeing a thing done is preferred to just reading about it.

[@Choncer]

I can not watch anything wood working for 6 months, have an idea for something i want to do, and you ALWAYS come up. Thanks for another great video. Love your work.

[@johnjohnsonjr5324]

You do such a good job explaining how to do woodworking for dummies. And I enjoy watching you.

[@patrickvaz2002]

wonderful to watch, Router lift, made it look so simple, thank you

[@JohnHeisz]

Good one.

[@quirtdrozario9983]

I really enjoy your videos Steve. You are very encouraging to beginner woodworkers like me.

[@strutable]

great video i just built the same lift 2 weeks ago, used it lots, once trued up have no issue with height adjustment going out. Keep up the helpful videos for the hobby shop woodworkers.

[@peterkovak7801]

Excellent video Mr. Ramsey, a real pleasure to watch it and learn to do things. Thanks!

[@humblehombre9904]

Steve, I love this design. Not only well thought out, but very nicely executed. I have just subscribed. I look forward to seeing what you've got.

[@SteveRamsey]

You're welcome. I'm looking forward to getting back to smaller projects.

[@michaeldillon4070]

That was great Steve - you have given me the confidence to do the same - regards Mike from Australia

[@womaninwood9177]

You are such a good person. Thank you so much for your videos! From Germany, Natascha

[@chrisbridges1328]

This video, combined with your router table video, are first on my list of shop projects to build. I've been wanting a router table for a very long time, but cant afford a nice one, and the ones i CAN afford are junk. Yours looked great,and i love the funtionality of it, especially as you showed you can use it as a jointer as well. Thanks for the fun videos. Keep it up!!

[@davidbondi]

Thanks for this great video Steve. I purchased the plans from Woodsmith Plans and they are "pretty okay" but your video makes it seem completely doable. I ordered the "specialized" hardware from McMaster-Carr, and the Kreg insert plate from Amazon. I have the clamping block glue up in clamps in the shop now. Really looking forward getting this built and I don't even have a router for it yet. I am making due with a small DeWalt trim router and an old Craftsman router in their tabletop router table, but the way that old Craftsman sounds when I use it, I think I'm gonna need a new one pretty soon, so trying to get out ahead of it. Thanks again for all you do for us Mere Mortals!

[@MRTF292201]

The whole router table, cabinet, and lift are really great. Awesome skill. Pretty advanced, for me at least.

[@danmeyer7174]

All your projects are informative and entertaining. I watch them all. keep up the good work

[@kevinniemeyer5938]

Can't wait to get started on this. Very cool, Steve.

[@jerrypeace1960]

Just got done watching Both vids of you Router Table Cabinet, Awesome Job man. Thumbs Up !

[@christiangibbs8534]

This is perfect! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! (You even have the same router model that I have!) THANKS!

[@SteveRamsey]

The side braces fine-tune just to allow the router to run smoothly up an down. It's a good design, because it allows for any imperfections.

[@BurntFaceMan]

This project is fantastic thank you. has helped me.

[@SteveRamsey]

Cool idea.

[@SteveRamsey]

спасибо!

[@SteveRamsey]

Sounds fun!

[@stephanieray6587]

The custom set screws would work better than my 1/2NC13 tap, I believe, which gave somewhat loose threads. So glad you posted this, Steve. Thank you.

[@lannynewton2715]

Steve, you are a sharp guy! I enjoy your videos, and your personality. I'm a metal worker by trade, but wood working is a blast too!

[@michaeldillon4070]

It has only taken me 5 years to find you Video and thanks for doing it because I think I will do something similar - you did it well!!! regards Mike

[@dusangubani9642]

Dobrá inspirace takový výtah si musim taky vyrobit.Díky za perfektní nápad

[@andreronaldi959]

Congratulations for always giving accurate informations . Well done

[@thomazneto58]

Hello, Steve. I'm impressed with the amount of things you do and the ease with which you run the projects. Too bad that here in Brazil we have nothing to provide us with plans and projects. Congratulations for your work and thanks for the presented real lessons that you give me. Best regards, Alberto Thomaz

[@pwashington99]

Great video Steve, Looking forward to seeing you make some projects with it now, And to see the height adjustment at work. As always thanks Steve, You're awesome!

[@anastasiagoutkidou8849]

Congratulations! Thank you very much. Regards from Greece.

[@gregorymarmolina]

Liked your videos very much, simple and fun, thanks for sharing your knowledge God Bless you.

[@jkshoals]

Great video. My friend bought one of the expensive ones. I still have to reach underneath. Well worth the effort.

[@renatomota1390]

Thanks, SadieTXClaus, I've made my own table, although I have no experience in woodcrafts at all... it has kind of worked quite well... Thanks again for your tips... Regards from Brazil.

[@1997LT1Camaro]

Nice video. You are very clear and precise. I am not sure if I would tackle this project, but it has some neat tricks/techniques involved.

[@lukakoprivica]

Wonderful job! Pleasure to watch!

[@harryscoffield6479]

Brilliant job! Functional and looks good too!

[@bocachico69]

Steve, you are a genius. Steve, usted es un genio. I like the way as you work and I see you have fun always.

[@johnvieke1332]

I bought the plans and plan to build this real soon. Thanks for the video.

[@mikeuk1954]

Loving all your videos, you explain things so clearly and make it fun to watch.

[@jackjune156]

just came across this.....excellent....thank you for your instructions......very good youtube

[@leehaire1300]

WOW Steve!!! That is one cool build!!! As soon as my left thumb gets better (table saw) that will be done. Been using a table saw for over 25 years and every once in a while, It gets me. I was really tired, still no excuse.

[@xl000]

+Lee Haire Keep your thumb in a vice !

[@MRFernandoToledo]

Great Steve ! Loving all your vids. Bauru,SP,Brazil.

[@bonfiliotrejoangeles3886]

Extraordinario. Simplemente práctico, funcional y viable. Felicitaciones de todo corazón

[@AlbertOndic]

Great video Steve. Going to add that to my to-do-list.

[@ambersponaugle7896]

Great videos, Steve. Very informative. Thanks!

[@mushtaqmirza934]

I catch you genus man thanks for sharing your experience. God bless you

[@tomfafard]

I am in the process of building the same thing. Thanks for this. sometimes watching someone build it is better than just imagining it from the magazine.

[@Dave51262]

Steve - Nice job with this project. Great video. Very professional and clearly done. Thanks!

[@WorkshopAddict]

Great video. You are quickly becoming one of my favorite spots for workshop videos. Keep up the great work.

[@mriccucci]

Pretty great Steve Thanks!

[@terryevans6625]

I gotta say, I enjoyed the video. I've been debating with myself if I should build one and I think I will. Thanks for mentioning where I can get the measurements. As it happened, I already had the DVD that had the Shop Notes on it. Honestly, If I hadn't your video, i probably wouldn't have built this one.

[@Spratlyk9]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@ihh3021]

Nice Tutorial. Something I can easily undertand. Thank you!

[@VlietStudios]

Steve, I love it how you do it how you want to! WWMM!!!

[@BTom16]

I always enjoy your videos, Steve.

[@MichaelAgate]

As usual, fantastic video Steve, it all came together beautifully.

[@SwearingenTurnings]

Steve--I just started building mine today. The only snag I had was finding the hardware. HD and Lowe's don't carry much of it (the threaded rod, lock nuts, and set screws), and Grainger only supplies them in large quantities. I'm hoping McMaster-Carr will have them! It's a very easy build; I'm looking forward to completing it!

[@ianvicedomini2648]

I am totally inspired by this build and at some point would like to have a go if I can at making mine collapsible if possible. Great video mate

[@thewoodmaker232]

Nice job Steve!

[@JohnMessUK]

Looks great Steve

[@100usb]

its indeed very nice vdo methodic simple and self explanatory.... neat and cleanly executed job and work methods.... excellent... you have set a benchmark very high

[@BensWorkshop]

Many thanks for the video. Added some ideas for an upcoming project.

[@SteveRamsey]

The Kreg plate is really worth the investment. So easy to set up and so accurate. I haven't run a lot of tests on the table yet, but on first impression it looks pretty dead on.

[@davidholz3784]

best lift build i have seen on youtube

[@michaelkretzschmar2305]

Great working!

[@ChrisBee777]

Steve i enjoy ever bit of your tutorial...keep it up man.....

[@lynnettecox7937]

this router lift is in Woodsmith magazine Nov/Dec 2015 issue. Very informative.

[@SteveRamsey]

At the hardware store...in the nuts and bolts area. I got mine too long and had to cut it down. Helps to have a store with employees that know their business!

[@Mikael1948]

Very very exellent handwork!

[@SergioMedina-jx5ps]

excellent, simple and cheap to do it

[@1969CampEvans]

Great Work, really liked the lift and the table top. much better than buying a pre-manufactured Router Table.

[@timpedzinski230]

I bought the plans from Woodsmith and watched their build video. They credited you with a great build video too. I think I am readyto start the process now. Thanks.

[@Urahara1001]

Very nice design. One possible improvement I can think of; if you know the threads per inch of your threaded rod, you could make a couple of gears based off of that ratio to give yourself precise control of the height difference. Then it's simply a matter of mounting one gear on the threaded rod, putting the other at a 90 degree angle in the cabinet with a shaft to a crank on the front, and mounting it in the cabinet with a bearing. In addition to giving you more precise control of the height change, this would allow you to alter the dept of your cut during operation.

[@jarodmorris611]

Matthias Wandel's design is basically what you're describing with the gears

[@synthesizer301]

Thank you for uploading your excellent tutorial video : )

[@SpencleyDesignCo]

Diggin these old videos!

[@TimTools99]

Great contraption and will last forever. Thanks for the video.

[@daleleibfried8648]

thanks for the great videos. very informative and entertaining

[@davidhamrich]

Great vids! Love the quick editing

[@Daljit-NY]

Finally !!!!! its just beautifull ....greatttttt

[@adriantrain2037]

Im really enjoying all your uploads. Im a welder by trade, never really been any good at woodworking, but i have a few tools eg router and power saw, and youve inspired me to get into it, i will make a router table and a sawbench. I think my metal working skills will hopfully transfer to wood work. All to teach my son all the skills ive picked up along the way so he and i are more rounded fabricators no matter what the medium. I took up blacksmithing and then medevial armor making with some great sucess. I would eventually like to start a youtube channel just making any thing and everything. Would love to figure out a project that covers all my skills lol or lack there of. Im a stay at home dad, i have a broken back and quite a few screws loose upstairs. I woukd like to focus my channel to bring mental health awareness for men out of the dark and into the light. Anyway enough chit chat from me, i look forward to seeing more of your builds......

[@nastythomashobbs]

very nice work. i spent 1200 on my jessem master lift excel table and lift and another 250 on the mitre r slide. took about 3 hours to put it together. love it. has zero bit slippage with the lift lock. digital bit height read out is nice. the table and lift you made although not as nice is still great. love the solid phenolic top as well on jessem. hate dealing with the inserts. always going out of whack. do not like the stand though.may build a nice cabinet like you did with casters.good job.

[@SteveRamsey]

Threaded rod is available commonly in a coarser thread. That's what I used. A lot of the parts Shopnotes uses are overkill. If you can't find the big lock nuts, you can use a regular nut with some of that blue Loctite thread locking stuff.

[@DonDrito]

Or use two regular nuts on each side and tighten them against each other to lock them.

[@sklikizos]

​@@DonDritothat definitely works, though if you are concerned about having a larger range of travel those doubled nuts would take away around 2 in of movement.

[@rick91443]

Thank you Steve...Would like to give it a shot. Like very much your videos; very down to earth... cheers....rr from Normandy(already conversed regarding dato blades here(or not) in Europe

[@trumpetguy7113]

So I watched this video several times before attempting to make the router lift. I ended up making some piece a couple of times to fit properly. I tweaked it in two places. First with the V-grooves. After cutting the V and the V-grooves, I expoxied a couple of pieces of 1/8" x 1" x 90 degree aluminum angle so that it wasn't wood-on-wood sliding, but metal on metal, ... less wear over the long run. For my second tweak, I found that the 3/4" lock nut on the top side of the assembly eventually didn't want to hold because the weight of the router and assembly put pressure on the nut, and it eventually lost its "locking" ability, ... this resulted in the top nut actually threading itself up the threaded rod, defeating the operation of the lift. To stop this, I drilled a 1/8" hole through the nut and the threaded rod. My intention was to follow that up with putting a pin into the hole which would stop the nut from threading up the rod. As it turned out, when my drill bit punched through the far side of the hole, the bit snapped off inside the hole, ... so i had the pin already in place, via the broken drill bit. After everything was done (about 6 hours of tinkering) the lift worked pretty well.

[@thacoyo13]

buen trabajo, al final te quedo de maravilla

[@scotmetcalf2745]

You do beautiful work