How To Add A Router Lift To Table Saw // DIY Router Table // Rockler Pro Lift

Making a router table by adding a router lift to my table saw extension wing. Great space saving shop project using a Rockler Pro Router lift on my Sawstop table Saw. Check out Paul Jenkins video for more detail on installing a router lift.
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Rockler Pro Router Lift
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Rockler Fence
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Router Fence Micro Adjusters
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Router Lift Dust Bucket Collection kit
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Safety Power Switch
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Miter Track
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DISCLAIMER: Woodworking and the use of power and hand tools can be extremely dangerous. You are responsible for understanding the safe use of your tools and techniques. Your safety is YOUR responsibility, I accept NO responsibility or liability for any injuries, accidents, death occurring to you or others if you attempt to do the things that I do or use advice that I give.

[@jayashkumar5941]

I bought this for my friend for his birthday as we just moved into a new house and he finally has room for a workshop. The bench was very easy to set up kzbin.infoUgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh They center support is a little difficult to snap in and out of place at first but at least then we know the bench is secure. It was a pleasant surprise when we saw it came with clamps. I apparently missed that in the description. My friend loves the versatility of the bench. Great starter bench for his workshop and easily transportable all over our property. I wish the bench was a little taller but the other features of the bench more than make up for that.

[@natenadeau583]

lol…”pacing back and forth”. I hear ya, man. I’m at home at 5:00am watching your video and planning in my bathrobe and I’m already pacing. Thanks for the tips!

[@fuzzytek2794]

Nice job with this. I just decided to go this route and by far this is the best video I found. Great thought of keeping center intact til finished. Thank you.

[@rhihodag9873]

Nice mod and video to your SS! I made a very similar mod to my SS contractor saw last summer. I replaced the entire extension w/ (2) layers of 11-ply marine plywood w/ mitered white oak edging. I built a split-fence which just fits over the SS fence. I also added a cantilevered support from the saw body to the end of the extension. This eliminated the need for the flimsy folding legs so I removed them. I am so pleased to have the router table now. I'm sure you will too and you'll get many hours of productive work done on yours. Nice job! It was very nice of Rockler to support you on this effort. They're great!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thanks for the comment man, sounds like you did a really nice upgrade to your saw! im looking forward to having the router table as an option now :)

[@damianmcneely7884]

Great job Chris, was totallly with you when broke out the grinder.....deep breath and cut......

[@Sizzlesaur]

I'm glad you are able to make a living doing what you love. We're here for you. I always look forward to your videos.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thanks so much for the support Nate. I really appreciate that man

[@ecaff9515]

Great router lift and video. Thank you for sharing. You make it look so easy. Great job. Much success.

[@RayMoser]

Thank you for this video. I've watched some of your other ones. Thanks to you, I bought a router table and router from Rockler. I bought the FX lift instead of the PRO. I am going to start using this to build a set of plantation shutters for my home.

[@furthernorthfab]

The duel adjustment is amazing. Great vid, Chris!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

very handy :)

[@terencecharlesworth1499]

Looks like a great piece of kit and really works well on that saw extension

[@Brigsam1970]

I like your video and demo. Easy enough for us regular guys without engineering degrees and NASA rocket build equipment to follow.

[@obiwan1062]

Awesome addition sir I bet it helps out a whole lot. That’s a nice kit from pro lift, I like all the easy and quick adjusters. Thanks for sharing

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thanks for watching man!

[@jamesorr1200]

This is in my future! Thanks for the great walk-through.

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Awesome, that looks soooo cool! I've been trying to translate this to my hand tool way of working so I've duct taped my Stanley #71 to the side of my Disston 4ppi rip saw. So far I am less than enthusiastic about the results.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

bahahahaha

[@dennisstrahl7257]

Looks great, look forward to seeing you use it during project builds

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Its going to be a SUPER useful addition

[@jamartin1]

So awesome! No other way to go then the Pro Lift!

[@m2autoworks]

the exact video i have been waiting for. Thank you.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

I am really happy to hear that. Glad if helped

[@tomsdreamshopworx]

Looks good. I would add some wood supports under the lift.

[@jeffdeluca1153]

The blue and black look great together! Nice video man!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

The colors are definitely a bonus :)

[@ninjaex650]

Great install! I bet it will get a lot of use!

[@jamesricephoto4323]

Nicely shot video dude! Nice job too!

[@b1j]

I did this 20 years ago with a simple router plate (no lift). I just bought a router lift with a slightly different sized plate, so I’m going to make a new table. I was trying to remember how I routed out the miter track groove. Of course! Use the tablesaw fence. Duh. I also think it’s important to reinforce the table under the router to prevent sagging. And with the benefit of experience, I now see I also need to reinforce under the miter track. My table has slightly bent in along that line.

[@GETTR2024]

Love the lift. Good build.

[@BigBlueDog810]

Love the router lift. Nice job.

[@JedidiahShultzIrishCraftsman]

What a fantastic piece of kit brother!! And awesome job on the modifications and install👊😊

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thanks man, much appreciated. Im pretty excited at the new options this will give me

[@JedidiahShultzIrishCraftsman]

Absolutely!

[@woodbutcherjc]

Great job. I like to use a starting pin when free handing. Keeps it from kicking back.

[@EagleKeeper86]

I cringed when he nearly kicked around that other corner with the bit.

[@PJGalati]

That's a sweet setup!

[@modestmaking5314]

Sweet addition!

[@ianmlaing]

I am mere minutes away from doing this, and your vid was the best how-to for walking through the project. Chose some slightly different equipment (JessEm), but just wanted to compliment the piece here. Keep up the good work

[@Berry899]

I’ve just discovered your channel and I’m really impressed! Good work. Please can you do an updated discussion / walkthrough of your work bench? Would love you to explain the features.

[@pumpkinheadghoul]

"Then, after a lot of uneasy pacing back and forth, I actually take an angle grinder to my brand new table saw." Haha... I feel yu, brother. For me it would have been a lot of uneasy pacing back and forth, a week's worth of sleepless nights, a lot more uneasy pacing back a forth, followed by some intense spousal counseling on whether I'm making a huge mistake or not, and then finally taking the angle grinder in hand, power it on, power it back off, and then sleep on it at least one more night, just to be sure.

[@bobbg9041]

Just cut the dam thing its not going to void the warranty, seriously the rails on most table saws are comon angle iron you can buy, the factory cuts notches holes and all kinds of stuff in them. Its really no big deal, now if you drilled 3 holes in the table top for an auto feeder thats a little different id call the manufacturer to ask if it would void the warranty but it would only do it to the table top not the motor or electronics unless you drilled into them. Then your just plain stupid for not looking under the table to see whats in your drill bits path. Why use a t track and not a combo t track miter slot woodpeckers as well as I think even rockler has them I got my 4' section from woodpeckers tools . If you think about it its great for coping parts. Insted of buying a coping sled. Somthing you can make yourself.

[@thehamlinwoodshop]

Great video. Thank you!

[@dominicdiclemente8877]

Great idea ! At the time you built this did you consider just building a wooden saddle jig that sat over your tablesaw fence instead of adding a 2nd fence ?

[@HackleSpinner]

Chris, thanks for the great video. I am about a month away from pulling the trigger on a Sawstop and setting up a router in the same place and manner you did. I am certain I will be equally as nervous to not screw it up. Well Done!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

haha, yea it was pretty crazy cutting into a new saw, but really its just a mdf panel. I knew if I screwed it up too bad I could order that extension wing for relatively cheap

[@billonthehill9984]

Nice job on getting your router lift installed, enjoyed this very much. The only thing I would consider doing a little differently is attaching a wooden fence to the existing aluminum fence you are using. My thinking is to eliminate that remote possibility of the router blade making contact with the metal fence... I simply love that Rockler Pro Router Lift! Thank you... :-)

[@andrewdenine1685]

That is one& great table saw you have their bud 👍👍

[@JohnMartinez-sm1sk]

Nice kit looks good in table

[@wesdoerksen]

That is a very nice system!

[@anthonycaldi7056]

Well done!

[@gryphonw4152]

Job well done bud. I used to have a similar set up but had the Incra system with a router on each side of the cabinet saw which worked well. I no longer have this because of mini max with a 8’ slider. I replaced that system with a small stand alone router table which works good. I’m currently building a set up to hold a Wr900 Woodrat which hopefully turns out lol. You will find your router table very useful for molding, panel raising doors etc etc. Again you did a pro job on the installation .You will find that the dust bucket from Rockler works awesome I have the same one although several years older. Happy & safe wood working Chris.👍🏻

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thanks so much. I am really excited to have it at my disposal now. The dust bucket is a must!

[@mikeenglish7063]

Nice job!!! Love your shop mate. Mines a chewinnie .

[@gosselinjeremie3033]

Nice upgrade !!

[@63Ducati1]

I added some length to my extension and put in a new plate and combo t-track and miter track. I had the same questions that you did about how far to put the router and track from the working edge. I looked at router tables that were set up at Rockler and Woodcraft. One of the guys at Woodcraft, who teaches classes there said the that Incra setup, one of several that they have, has the router in the middle of the router table. That set drew some comments that the unit worked well but it was too much of a reach for some of the people using it. The setups that were liked the best, regardless of which router and/or lift was installed, had the router center about 9" from the table edge and centered on the 27" extension width. The track was from 1 to 1½ inches from the edge of the plate. I have set mine up with the 9" dimension and like it. If I am working on large pieces, the saw table provides support the other direction.

[@nklenke]

Great upgrade! Also, you sound like me regarding pacing around the shop pondering if and how I should do something. I spend more time doing that than most of the actual tasks I accomplish.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

haha exactly. very low production sometimes

[@totobill22]

2:32 ....super complicité avec ce magnifique compagnon :) :)

[@missouribob7850]

Nice video. I have a Hitachi C10fl table saw and a Ryobi router table. I've been wanting to mount my fixed router in my table saw for a long time. I'm still not sure if I can though. I mostly use my router to make custom molding as I slowly remodel my house. Very slowly. I buy pine 1x's and customize them. It takes about 5 passes to make my crown molding. I clamp five layers of thin scrap paneling on the fence. Then after each pass I take off one layer. This way I get deeper and deeper into the wood without bogging down the router or jamming up the wood. The door, window, and baseboard is usually just a couple of simple round nose grooves and Roman Ogee.. I also have a palm router that I make a few signs with. Now that I'm retired I hope to remodel my basement woodshop and start doing more things. I plan on buying a scroll saw when I rearrange the shop. -- One thing: I was not impressed with you free handing the wood around 9:40 in the video. Maybe you are more confident than me, but I keep my fingers far away from the bit. It reminds me of the apprentice asking how much time he should spend worrying about safe habits. The old carpenter looked at him and said, "I don't know. How long does it take you to regrow lost fingers?" Just my opinion.

[@seasawwoodworking]

I did a very similar mod to my SawStop. Cool vid.

[@jfsauer42]

This had some good stuff. Also was totally a Rockler commercial.

[@nordyfamily]

Great job

[@JimDockrellWatertone]

Lovely upgrade. Those router lifts are a pretty pricey item, but they work so well. On my wish list.....lol. Great installation method too!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thanks Jim! yea they definitely arent cheap but such a versatile useful tool

[@pgfollett]

Good call below on the use of a starting pin. I like to keep the fence close to the work when I am doing freehand work to take advantage of the above table dust collection. Mine is a freestanding router table but I am considering mounting one in my extension wing. I like the Rockler version you have.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Great tip. It comes with one of those pins I have a TON to learn when it comes to use this thing haha

[@karenbickel1154]

Super idea!!

[@bobleeswoodshop7919]

Nice job!!!👍👍🤗

[@brucebarnett8785]

Thanks for the location on the extension information

[@hollewoodfurniture8190]

Looks nice in that saw stop! I need to get me one of those and a router table inset. But need to keep both arms and legs for now haha. Great stuff man!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

yes unfortunately it can get pricey

[@rodpeterson4485]

Great and well planned video. My router table is the bench top model, red Craftsman combo set, I found on clearance over a year ago. The router is fixed base so I leave it where it is, I had to get a trim router for freehand projects.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

I definitely want a trim router!

[@rodpeterson4485]

All my cordless tools are RYOBI (not sponsored). There is always a sale at Home Depot.

[@wayphun72]

Pretty nice saw and router lift too, nice combo build as well, love your videos! After seeing this though, I think the Incra system is far superior, because that router fence looks "box store-ish" at best, as there wont be any intricate joinery coming off that setup.

[@josewhitfield5748]

Nice job!!

[@billbrammer1]

Excellent! Setting the bit depth was an aha for me. Nice job...

[@protect.your.digits.creations]

Not as Lucky as you yet but when my following gets larger I will definitely do this great set up. And maybe Rockler will set me up. Great video

[@markn2904]

Good job installing the lift. Thanks for sharing. It looked like scrap wood you used for the rabbit was warped. See how the board rocked, leaving clear space to the right as you ran it through.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

oh yes it was twisted as hell haha

[@patrickharnish4538]

Very nice one day this old Vet can get a good table saw and lift like that. Good job on it and all your videos. I really like the videos and you shop partner ootz great job guys. Lol

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thanks so much Patrick, I certainly hope you can get one someday too. All vets deserve a good saw :)

[@AllTheHobbies]

Thats a nice setup.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thanks bud. Im looking forward to utilizing it

[@hazembata]

Suggestion: use a collar with an opening that is about .5 in larger than the bit. That gives air room to pass down into the table and will make the dust collection more effective. Great video. Router lift is a great tool.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

great tip. I was actually wanting to get some more collars for it.

[@andrewdenine1685]

Your pup is awsome

[@Zogg1281]

That is awesome! I have workshop envy........ apart from still being mid setup, my shop is tiny lol

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

I definitely need a bigger shop too but I think I am going to be stuck here for the next couple of years

[@VoltMX57]

Damn this is really nice, looks totally factory perfect - Great video

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

thanks man!

[@joedance14]

Nice work! Especially nice work on the opening for the router plate. I can only hope to be that good some day. Question about the table saw extension: manufactured or diy? Material?

[@dennismacwilliams196]

Good video Thank's

[@DnKennethJr]

That's a really sweet router lift.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Im super happy with it

[@chiplupa]

Thank you for another great video! How has this setup held up over the last few years? I am curious to hear how the fence channels are doing after some heavy usage. Would you do anything differently? Thanks Just checking before I cut into my Sawstop!

[@jasongontz5346]

I'd be nervous as well cutting into a new sawstop . Looks great man I was thinking about something like this since I've got the same space problem. Great video . It's isn't in the way he wants to learn too

[@danielherline7204]

Me and you both

[@bigdogmn73]

Thanks for doing this. I also just got a new sawstop table saw and would like to follow in your footsteps:)

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

I think its a great addition

[@ot9180]

This is what I need! Thanks. I have a few questions; how did you make the box for dust collection? Can you post measurements for various t slot locations and the overall placement of the router lift plate. Thanks again?

[@YouCanMakeThisToo]

Great video! Might want to pick up some push blocks for routing smaller pieces though, I'm sure MicroJig would hook you up.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

what are push blocks?

[@danielcummings8226]

Utz rocks!

[@patrickhotra9241]

You might be interested in a quick release chuck, that tightens the bits with an Allen key, rather than two wrenches. Muscle Chuck is one brand, and its use speeds up the bit changing operation.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Ill have to look into that, hadnt even heard of that

[@barryd.thomassr.9156]

Get rockler 5 star tall fence knobs for your fence, i use them they are great

[@mickleblade]

I just use a Router Raizer on my DW625, it does almost as much as that kit but without the premium price.

[@howardhagadorn9443]

Great router table and setup. I'm envious. But for safety sake you should be using a starting pin in that hole in your router plate when you do that freehand stuff like the ogee molding. It keeps the material on the table and it keeps the fingers from a very painful injury from a 30k rpm router bit. And trust me, I know from experience

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Yes I have to use those for sure. Lots to learn on my end!

[@bobbg9041]

20k rpm, had the same run in with a palm router holding it close to the base. On the ridged palm router you have an open spot at the bottom to change bits, my middle finger found this hole and the bit cleared the obstacles however my body sent lubrication to the open spot on the tip of my finger. They really need to make a safty guard or just skip the opening all togather and put a window on the base area. If you hold it up where the hand grip is the routers not as stable and will tilt off to one side so the lower your grip the more control. Food for thought router injuries hurt like hell for about 6 to 9 months, and every time you bump the finger you'll get a reminder about it. See mine hit right by the nerve.

[@Rocadamis]

I would assume that the distance from the edge is determined by standard miter gauges for table saws, which are about 6-7 inches wide (where the track guide would be at about 3-3.5 inches in the center). Having the track be 4-5 inches from the table edge would be a comfortable distance for these.

[@brettknutson1230]

I have that type of extension on my table saw and it works great for small shops. Use your table saw fence to help square and micro adjust your router fence, faster than using a square. I also saw you holding a shop vac while routing. I have the same router and there are dust collector attachments on Amazon to help. Add that with the Dust Right Universal Small Port Hose Kit from Rockler and you can keep two hands on your router.

[@sscheuri]

Brett Knutson - two hands with all fingers on the router is always a good thing. Those are great suggestions. Figuring out dust collection with some manufacturers is a mix and match, trial and error experience.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

haha yea that was a weak attempt to reduce dust. It didnt even help much haha

[@a.g.silverbane6335]

Rockler sent you amazing toys!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

They sure did haha

[@eddieespinosa8743]

Good thing utz was there to guide you

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

thanks god!

[@markk4015]

Great video, and it couldn't come at a better time. I'm about to pull the pin and buy a SS. I have a small shop too and liked the idea of a router and TS combination. I figured I'd get a Benchdog setup, but yours looks great. I know you plug the router into your paddleswitch, but where does the paddleswitch connect too? Can you hook it up to your SS? I'm think of getting a 220 motor. I figure there would be a compatibility issue. Thanks again for an informative video.

[@markdelgado7677]

Chris, love your work and videos. How’s the router on the tablesaw doing? Any thing you would change, do or not do? I’m looking to add this mod to my tablesaw. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work!

[@BusyDadsWorkshop]

Great video! I've been waiting for you to post this after seeing it on Instagram! This is exactly what I plan to do! Thanks!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thats awesome man. Thanks for watching and I think you will really like it!

[@rjtumble]

I've been on the fence about putting a router lift in that spot on my table saw. It will be interesting to see how well dust extraction works but I imagine if you need the router fence squared up, the table saw fence will do that really well.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

I can say the dust collection works very well. especially when the fence is next to it and you have the dust collection coming from both sides

[@InTheLab3d]

Great video.. about to do this to my own sawstop, however I was thinking, Couldnt you just add Circle routered cut out at the end and shorten the Miter track just a bit. This could prevent having to cut the rails? Just a thought. Trying to think through everything> On second thought, wouldnt it work to turn the whole setup 90 degrees so the lift is facing you when you are facing table saw. This way the Miter slot would work without cutting the rail. hmmm.

[@mc4kvb]

Looks like an awesome product. I love the way and ease of changing the bit is. Even the color is awesome! I know it's a girl thing, lol. Thanks for sharing! Best of luck in all you do.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Ill be honest, I dig the color too!

[@bobbg9041]

My jessem lift didn't fit at first after removing the factory template, so I put it back on and ran over the edges a second time it droped right in no gaps. My advice is to run the trim bit over it once clean the router and table and run the cut a second time, any saw dust wood fibers or whatever can screw up the cut. Youll want to make a second pass or finishing cut that way your better off getting it the first try.

[@tthomasokc]

I cut the same hole in my SawStop wing. Was worried about the rather thin layer of particle board left after cutting the lip for the router plate so glued a piece of 3/4 ply to the bottom of the table for added support.

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Thats a good idea

[@richardlaymance9984]

Very nice job. I haven’t gotten the nerve to do that to my saw yet. Some day

[@william_02]

Great video. Which size router plate did you go with?

[@ZacJones]

Great modification, especially if you don't have a lot of room for a dedicated routing table, thanks for uploading. Excited to see some high quality and frequent content, do you have a posting schedule yet?

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

I dont have a schedule I will try to get stuff out weds or thurs ever week or every other week. It'll be a while before I get a good routine

[@handy-remodeler]

Nice shop. You made the bost? Awesome! Job

[@finlaywood1]

Thanks for sharing. I'm thinking of doing the same thing. Do you have any problems with flex or anything else using the standard wing table on the sawstap? I don't really want to spend the money on the cast table...

[@amarthurfurniture860]

Have you ever considered modifying the right side of the fence to attached a router fence, something like the Wonder Fence from Incra? That would eliminate the need for a separate fence for the router. Just curious.

[@carolewarner101]

One thing I wonder is that even thought you have a dust collection system, is it possible that any of the saw dust could get sucked up against the air intake/venting in the router itself leading to overheating?

[@benjaminbanks1155]

Thinking about doing this to my Saw Sstop. Any issue with the black Saw Stop insert sagging due to the weight of the router? Love your vids!