Router Table Lift for Micro Adjustment - DIY Install

If you use a router table with a trimmer/laminator regardless of what brand, then you will want to add this cheap but quality made router lifter. In this video I will take you through step by step how I installed this to my router table. I will also be looking at the quality of this device and how well it performs with micro adjustment, which is very important when rebating to suit various material need to insert.
Affiliate Links:
Router Lift Kit:
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1/4 Inch Shank Rabbet Router Bit Set:
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Digital Height Gauge:
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Makita 18V Trimmer (I am NOT Sponsored by Makita):
amzn.to/3KXImuZ 35mm
Forstner Drill Bit:
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V-Groove Router Cutter 1/4" Shank Set:
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Recording Equipment (Please note I am NOT Sponsored by these brands in any way):
Rode Wireless Go II:
amzn.to/3IYGKOK

[@30guarino]

Just ordered my router lift from T E M OOO and your video showed up in the algorithm because my data is now being shared to all sites lol ....Thanks for the tutorial

[@arkiefuku]

VERY helpful!! Found this video for the exact router that I bought recently after going through a few videos. The ‘no instructions’ part though!!!

[@thomastieffenbacherdocsava1549]

Thanks for posting, as not much in my KZbin search when trouble shooting this router lift. Got mine from AliExpress. Came in time promised. Ran a test using the aluminum router plate I purchased. Initially clamped the plate to my cabinet saw and ran a test on hard and soft woods. Used a Chinese trim router and found the diameter of router to cause a shift off center when clamping don and the lift screw wound not hold stay causing movement due to vibration. Small set screw in bottom was loose. used medium locktight (blue ) and let it cure 24 hrs. Second test used my Makita trim router. When clamped in place was on center. Same test and lift mechanism appears to be holding but won't leave to chance. Double check and run test pieces of hard woods. Hope this helps others.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Thanks for sharing your experience and feedback 👍

[@francoisdaudin8914]

Hi Geoff, thanks for your video; this is a very good test and a good learning to use this router lift. Nice job, carry on.

[@red2965]

Take that scrap and make you a washer with the same size hole for a router, then inlay it, then you can get that nut up top to change the bits

[@billyjay4672]

Nice job bro maybe your idea regarding making the hole larger would be better and put in a centre piece when you finnish changing the router bit .

[@josephking6515]

Pretty slick lift for $36. I bought the Ozito router and router table and quickly returned after a single use. Their generic table is absolute crap. Then I found a US branded Kolbalt Router & Table that has a lift in the table but the router's 110V so a pain. What you have is as close as I have seen that is in my affordability bracket. This is your first video that I have watched so I'm hoping you have one where you reveal how you got/made the router table. Looks pretty schmiko too. 👍

[@twizzian]

I’ve got the same lift but added some compression springs on all four posts to eliminate the slack

[@marvinbleiberg4338]

Have been looking for the right compression springs for this - what did you use, where did you get them?

[@twizzian]

@marvinbleiberg4338 I got them from a local nut and bolt hardware shop, the springs can't be too stiff or thick gauge or you'll not be able to compress the lift, I used 8 x 2 1/2in length soft springs, you can double up & coil/twist into each other to increase the tension to stop that jolt when you reach maximum wind on the lift

[@stevem268]

i use a trimmer router a lot in the veritas(lee valley) table. that looks to be a great addition as the standard height adjustment sucks(bosch)

[@Madas905]

Thank you for making this tutorial. Its been very helpful in setting up my router table.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Your welcome good on you 👍

[@silverfox8801]

Great video pal 👍👍👍 subbed!

[@keithdavison5578]

Hi mate I have bought the the very same one but have yet to install mine, I also bought a table insert plate so I will put them together very shortly thanks for your help it'll make it a little easier for me to do and using your ideas helps alot thanks 👍👏

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Thanks for watching and good luck with your build, don’t forget to check out my follow up post on the upgrades I did to the router table, see link below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6ibm6OHYqmtorssi=1mjvxlntD_59CYq7

[@andyprice5882]

I have the same trimmer router but instead of a router bit extension I just cut the part with the locking pin off with a hacksaw, this allows the shaft to come all the way up and then I use a 13mm spanner to hold the shaft and easily change bits from above.

[@LDSouthSession]

Mate. I got mine and it works perfectly

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Great to hear, I have done some minor mods to mine, be sure to check out my follow up video on this. (Router Lifter upgraded) 👍

[@charlesdpetrone941]

Great video! I had been looking at the available router lifts and decided that they were way too complicated and expensive. They looked like NASA designed them. I started shopping for a basic router table for occasional use and had gradually worked my way up to looking at a packages from Grizzly, Rockler, etc. that cost more than $1000, without a router lift. The router razor is a cheaper alternative (~$95US) but it it requires lots of modifications to my Dewalt 621. It won't work with my DeWalt 618. I have seen the lift you used advertised but dismissed it as likely poor quality and requiring a trim router. I am glad you tried it out for me, thanks. It actually looks like the design is simplified and very inexpensive compared to the alternatives (JessEm, Incra, Rockler, SawStop, etc.). I asked my dog Beau what he thought but he is smart enough to keep his opinions to himself. I like the price of your router and a compact/trim router is cheap enough. So I will go back to Amazon and search for a table by sorting from "Least to most expensive." Thanks.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Great to hear, not sure if you checked out my video on the table but it’s pretty simple and can easily be pulled apart when not in use to save room in your shop. The router lift I purchased is easy to set up and can give you micro accurate results which I am happy with, they also sell an aluminum mounting plate to go with the lift which I would have bought also if I was to do this again. Good luck with yours 👍

[@charlesdpetrone941]

@@geoffsjoinery4990 Thanks for the additional advice. I will look up your table video. I was just viewing some more videos on router lifts (You Tube is relentless about feeding you videos on any subject you have shown an interest in). Grizzly is sending out phenolic plates that are warped. The Rockler lift is suspiciously similar to the one you installed except they charge about five times as much. Another problem is that many installations are into MDF table tops. Rockler uses 1-1/4” MDF, some use 1”, and those who are installing them into an existing out-feed table are installing into 3/4” MDF. By the time you route the recess for the ledge that forms the ledge there is

[@charlesdpetrone941]

There is very little MDF left to support the router. One of the lifts has ten set screws tapped into the support plate to provide a means to level the plate flush to the table top. Unfortunately when tightened these set screws will press on (into) the very soft MDF. That can’t last very long. Grizzly and Rockler have optional cast iron tables but they are very expensive. Some who have made videos of their installation have added doublers to support the Ledge which seems like a practical solution and a good idea for anyone with an MDF table. To quote Homer Simpson, “Who would have thought that Nuclear Power could be so complicated?”

[@jab376]

Your method surely works.

[@keithdavison5578]

Hi mate I have just ordered one of these and it's a great help with your video on installing it thank you from all in blighty 👏👍

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Thanks Kieth, don’t forget to check out my follow up video on this lifter and table; kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6ibm6OHYqmtorssi=Pscy8yP7aUwFFFYf

[@anthonylatham8584]

i did buy the same lift as you , and use a hex bit in a drill to raise and lower lift but the handle ofr slight adjustment ,

[@stevem268]

well, i ordered the little lift device. hopefully it will work well in my bosch/veritas(lee valley) combination!

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

@@stevem268 good on you let me know how it goes 👍

[@stevem268]

@@geoffsjoinery4990 will do, it will arrive tomorrow

[@gandl40]

Great video Geoff. In regard to the fence in the way of the winder, you could replace the hex shaft on the winder with a longer one that’s higher than your fence.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Great Idea, thanks for your support 😀

[@30guarino]

@@geoffsjoinery4990 or use a drill with that hex bit attached

[@tonyelleevans3322]

For anyone interested in changing the bits above the table, try a router bit extension. It'll give you the clearance you're looking for.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@scottishgraeme6653]

Thanks for the vid, it’s very helpful❤

[@redslover5293]

Great video! THANKS! One question, What is the OD of your router motor? My Dewalt DWP611 trim router is 69mm. The product info on Amazon states "supports machine diameter is 64mm to 66mm". The 3mm different isn't much but it could be a deal breaker. Thx, Red

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

My Makita router OD is around 65mm

[@playpadel5926]

Great video. Construction is simple and robust. The DIY lifts are far too complicated to build.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

I agree, it honestly was not worth the hassle trying to make one that actually works well with minimal play and micro adjustments 👍👌

[@mortenrognseth6664]

If you are interested, there is router insert plates that fits that lift perfectly

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

👍

[@BaseandGlider]

Great video thanks Geoff

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Thanks for watching 👍😁

[@philippemaurincome927]

Merci très bonne vidéo

[@michaelposford2613]

I found that the clamps allowed the router to slip down, so I used some Duct tape round the router to provide a better grip.

[@reaper060670]

How often have u used this? I bought one but I haven't built my router table as yet. I was wondering how often u have used it so far? I seems sturdy enough. I had bought a small Aluminium router plate last year so I will use it for this lift. It fits it perfectly. I bought the plate from Amazon. It'll do for my purposes. I tend to use the routers I have by hand most times anyways but having a small router table would be great which is why I got this lift. I hope it works out grand for ya pal. I really like ur router table. I like the contrast of the white and dark colour.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Hi Buddy, I have done a fair bit of work with this lifter now and it's great especially for the price. If you just do those simple mods that I showed it will work fine. The aluminum plate that matches the lifter would be great, if I was to do it all again I would definitely invest in one. Good luck with yours

[@mirceapuscasu3495]

Hi, my problem with this is that screw is moving from vibration when I work on and I need to install some additional nut nylon lock. Great video.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Stay tuned as I will be doing a follow up video on how to fix this soon 👍

[@diegohperez6434]

Perfect can off thanks I have one already this helps to do my table 👌

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Great, good on you, don't forget to watch my follow up videos on this table and lifter project. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6ibm6OHYqmtorssi=ukp4dIs-1Eo7eVer

[@mykehoole5787]

Hi Geoff, I’ve been wanting to fit a router lift to my home made router table so was glad to see your video. I’ve been trying to make bit changes easier from above the table and think that it can be done with a spindle extension piece. This may lead to an increase in vibration. The other feature I would like is a lift lock so the bit height stays constant during use. This is found on more expensive router lifts. Is this a problem on your device? Myke

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Yes I did have it drop on me one time so I did a simple fix which you can see on another video I made with upgrades: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6ibm6OHYqmtorssi=_Qg1pv1VLEGlohvo

[@AdhocracyAus]

Hi, thanks for the video. How have you found the router height stability? I have the same router and mount and found it would slowly drop as I was using it. I could find a way to lock or apply friction to stop it doing this. Have you found the same?

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

@@AdhocracyAus yes it did slightly drop on me one time so I quickly devised a solution which can be seen on my follow up video on this , see link below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6ibm6OHYqmtorssi=d23UPrCmyBHK6npe

[@davidward5968]

Have you had issues when putting the router into the cradle. I never seem to be able to get it level (perpendicular so the bit is at 90 degrees to the table. )

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Hi David, No I can't say I have had any trouble placing the router in the cradle. The Makita trimmer I happen to use in it fits quite snug so I guess there is less chance of it being off square or 90deg to my table, provided that the lifter bracket is mounted correctly.

[@davidward5968]

Thx for reply. I'm a newbie and this is my first router table build. Just trying to save myself work later off.@@geoffsjoinery4990

[@davidward5968]

*on

[@gmarc166]

I bought this lift but haven't used it yet. It doesn't have a lock on it so I was wondering - does it hold it's position OK or does it slip at all?

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

So far so good, no trouble with it.

[@CallmeSam00]

I actually bought this thing a few months back. It's hot garbage. A couple of notes for prospective buyers: 1) It is not rigid enough to cut hardwood reliably and with smooth finish. the whole thing flexes just enough to make it useless. 2) the screw is too thin, it flexes when you turn it (you can actually see that in this video, i think) and more importantly, it will turn on its own under the router's vibrations. When you cut dense wood, like white oak, the router has an annoying tendency to lower itself while you cut. You can mitigate that by preloading the screw, essentially putting friction on it but that's a temporary measure, since the bottom of the screw rests on an aluminum plate that actually wears out and develops a pit very quickly.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Check out my updated video on this addressing some of the issues you mentioned: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6ibm6OHYqmtorssi=gmacKkYraCx5lqJr Thanks for your feedback 👍

[@reedyrod]

I realy wanted to see how these wirked before buying so thank you. Is it not possible to install 180 degrees to stop winder fouling the fence, and would it not be possible to install a nylon nut on the threaded bar to just lock in place.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Stay tuned I will be posting an updated version

[@weebshit2391]

Hello, its been 6 months since you posted this, have you noticed any problems with the lift moving by itself due to vibrations ? Thats pretty much the only issue thats stopping me from buying it right away. All expensive router lifts have a locking mechanisms so i dont know how this one would behave.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Hi there, I myself did have an issue with it moving so I made some quick and easy mods to it which I demonstrated in a follow up video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6ibm6OHYqmtorssi=0qQt5QPcR5lIYS5z This mod is basically a locking nut which solves this issue and I have not had any problems since. Apart from that it's a great little router lift and inexpensive for what it does. I have left a link to the lifter that I have if your interested and be sure to check out my follow up video on this which I left above. Good luck Router Lift Kit: amzn.to/44WfPwJ

[@weebshit2391]

Amazing, thank you very much for fast response. The modifications look very easy, i think im gonna go for it now. Thanks again!@@geoffsjoinery4990

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

I just followed the link and it now says unavailable....

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Oh no, they must be out of stock keep trying because it’s absolutely worth it. Good luck 🤞

[@richardsexton9212]

I just bought one Friday.

[@roncrandall]

Have you had any issues with the lift lowering while using the router?

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Hi Ron To be honest no, I haven’t experienced anything like that yet. The adjustment screw/thread is quite tight, which is what you want, it might be a good idea to check yours to see if it’s too loose? Good luck 🤞

[@LDSouthSession]

Will this work on most palm router?

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

I can’t guarantee it will fit on ALL routers, your best bet is to follow the link for the lifter in my description and check the description specs to see if it lists your particular model router whatever that may be. Good luck 🤞

[@LDSouthSession]

Thank you for the revert. I ddnt realize there was a bolt that you can tighten to accept size variations. Great video

[@mkazmierczyk]

What's the lift holder diameter and the brand/model of router fits into it???

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Check the links in the video description 👍

[@szabidoki5750]

Good video - consider yourself lucky - I've bought this item recently but mine is complete garbage - as there is no lock, the vibration makes the set screw turn and the router drops just after a few centimeters of routing. Quite useless. If I want to make it work I have to come up with some sort of locking solution but in the moment I have more urgent problems and don't have the time for experimenting... Any suggestions would be welcome.

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Stay tuned my friend as I will be making an updated video addressing the same issues you mentioned. Since making this video I have made a few modifications to mine which will fix these problems.

[@szabidoki5750]

@@geoffsjoinery4990 I'm looking forward to see it!

[@cotedebroglie]

I am experimenting with adding soft pressure springs on at least two opposing columns, in the upper and lower part of the lift and it seems to hold the up and down adjustment firmly

[@mirceapuscasu3495]

Hi, my problem with this is that screw is moving from vibration when I work on and I need to install some additional nut nylon lock

[@woodensurfer]

Instruction is superfluous; just study and understand how it works.

[@robertstw]

This doesn't fit the Ryobi router

[@jimgeelan5949]

Amazon, £12 mini scissor lift job done, don’t remove this advise from people like you have done, we are aloud to leave helpful comments

[@brennik05]

I used a small scissor car jack. $30. Works great on a heavy full sized router

[@antoinettefarrugia6513]

Wow great video as always you are amazing. Everything is made in China 🤬

[@geoffsjoinery4990]

Thanks Antoinette for your support 😄

[@garyclark2525]

just remove the first *TOP* bracket....voila!! template!

[@user-id7pk5oo7m]

Купил такую же на Aliexpress, ерунда полная! При работе от вибрации опускает фрезер.

[@hwfranjr]

Very FEW items that DOME FROM China have INSTEUCTIONS,those that do are in CHINESE😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂