In 1999, the Router Lift was invented by JessEm Tool with the introduction of the Rout-R- Lift. This innovation created a whole new category for the woodworker, and since then other manufacturers have joined the market including Kreg, Incra, Woodpeckers and Bench Dog. A router lift is essentially a router-table mounting plate with an attached carriage that holds the router. A removable crank handle inserts into the mounting plate and turns to raise and lower the carriage with incredible precision down to a 1/64-inch adjustment.
In addition to the improvements in the quality of your work this gives you, a router lift makes your life so much easier and more efficient. A router lift immediately removes the three main problems caused when you mount your router in a router table – bending down and reaching under the table, working with height-adjustment controls and locks that are upside-down and backward and having to remove the motor from the router base to change the router bit.
Doubled sealed bearings on the lift spindle which means that even the heaviest router on the market can be raised and lowered with one finger
Patented thread tensioning design which means it's not necessary to lock the router into position after setting the cutting height
Hard anodized top plate for long life
What's Not?
Nothing
Bottom LineThe Incra Mast-R-Lift II shares all of the advantages of the JessEm Mast-R-Lift II on which it is based. It's got fast, incredibly precise height adjustments from above the table, smooth, low-friction 'one-finger' carriage movement and compatibility with 18 of the most popular router models out of the box to name a few. But on top of that it's got Incra's MagnaLOCK magnetic insert rings which give a number of real benefits compared to other brands' phenolic inserts - in particular, the height adjustment screws in the four corner tabs. Overall, we think that gives it the edge making the Incra Mast-R-Lift II our go-to router lift.
Doubled sealed bearings on the lift spindle which means that even the heaviest router on the market can be raised and lowered with one finger
Patented thread tensioning design which means it's not necessary to lock the router into position after setting the cutting height
Hard anodized top plate
What's Not?
Nothing! It's awesome.
Bottom LineThe JessEm Mast-R-Lift II is the the latest version of JessEm's Mast-R-Lift router lift which has kept all the great features which made the original Mast-R-Lift so popular and added some new features as well. JessEm invented the router lift back in 1999 and continues to concentrate on producing top quality, innovative router lifts which make router table work easier and more accurate than ever.
Innovative Micro Adjust Thumb Wheel eliminates the need for a crank handle
Spring-assist Lift Wrench to make rapid height adjustment
Adjustable reference scale
Tool-less scale adjustments can be set to zero from any bit position
What's Not?
Micro adjust wheel can be difficult to adjust when raising router
Only compatible with the Porter Cable 7518 out of the box
Bottom LineThe Woodpeckers PRL-V2-420 Precision Router Lift is the same lift as the Kreg PRS3000. It is made by Woodpeckers and sold by them as the PRL-V2-420, as well as being made for Kreg and re-branded as the Kreg PRS3000. It has the same innovative features that make it incredibly accurate and easy to use. Instead of a crank handle it uses a spring-assist lift wrench and a micro-adjust thumb wheel to give to fast, easy and accurate (to 1/1000-inch) height adjustment and bit changes. The Woodpeckers PRL-V2-420 Precision Router Lift also includes an adjustable reference scale. Tool-less scale adjustments can be set to zero from any bit position then incremented to intervals as small as .002”.
Innovative Micro Adjust Thumb Wheel eliminates the need for a crank handle
Spring-assist Lift Wrench to make rapid height adjustment
Adjustable reference scale
Kreg quality
What's Not?
Micro adjust wheel can be difficult to adjust when raising router
Only compatible with the Porter Cable 7518 out of the box
Bottom LineThe Kreg PRS3000 is Kreg’s innovative router lift that includes a number of unique features that make it incredibly accurate and easy to use. Instead of a crank handle it uses a spring-assist lift wrench and a micro-adjust thumb wheel to give to fast, easy and accurate (to 1/1000-inch) height adjustment and bit changes. Manufactured to Kreg’s usual high standards and with a number of innovative features, the Kreg PRS3000 router lift is exactly the sort of product we’ve come to expect from Kreg.
JESSEM Mast-R-Lift Excel II Router Table Top With Integral Router Lift Review
Design9.2
Features9
Performance8.8
Ease of Use9.1
Value for Money8.5
8.9 out of 10
What's Hot?
Incredible accuracy especially with the optional digital gauge
Superb, ergonomic crank handle which locks solidly
Large 32" x 24" phenolic table top
High quality, well machined construction
What's Not?
Phenolic table top scratches easily and scratches are highly visible against the black top
Bottom LineJessEm invented the router lift back in 1999 and with the introduction of the JESSEM Mast-R-Lift Excel II Router Table Top With Integral Router Lift they've taken it to the next level. The Mast-R-Lift Excel II is one of the very few router lifts to utilize a crank handle attached permanently to the side of the table top to make router bit height adjustments rather than the usual system of a removable crank handle inserted into the table top. With the lift mechanism attached directly to the table top rather than a separate mounting plate and with or without the optional digital gauge, the level of precision with this system is unparalleled. If you want the best, this one's for you.
