Router Table Lift
A low-cost ($10)
router lift that uses a 2-ton hydraulic bottle jack from
Harbor Freight.
Since this router is spring-loaded for plunge cuts, setting the depth while
mounted in the table can be difficult.
A Lee Valley router table mounted onto a Workmate stand.
A wooden platform holds the jack under the spring-loaded router.
A self-adhering Teflon pad is on the jack point.
The jack presses against the router. This
Dewalt router, Model DW621, has a very strong motor housing.
The jack lifts the router easily & precisely to set the depth
with a gage.
The valve & lever are easy to manipulate by hand.
A screw holds the jack in place.
Since the plunge router has a strong spring, the jack can
lift the table a little, so two latches were installed.
The table was drilled & tapped for 10-24 threads to accept the eye of the latch.
The eye has thread lock on it & a jam nut. The latches quickly lock & unlock for bit changes.
They are located in-line with the bit. Do not make these too robust. See note,
below.
Bit-changing features are retained.
Note: Remember to unlock the router itself before lifting & do not over jack.
A 2-tom hydraulic lift can easily break the weakest points which ideally, in
this case, are the two, low-cost side latches.