Best router lift for Festool 1400 router

[Papas Woodshop]

I need to buy a router life for my Festool 1400 router. I would appreciate any one's experience with lifts that work best for his
Thanks
Papa's Workshop

 

[jeh]

I do not believe there is one other than buying the Festool Router table which pales in comparison to almost any other router table in the $500+ range. The problem with the Festool router is that it cannot be removed from it's plunge mechanism. Look at the offerings of Jessem, Woodpeckers, Powermatic, Rockler, and Kreg to name a few.

 

[contendernut]

Jessem makes one for 1010/1400

 

[fshanno]

Jessem makes one for 1010/1400

That lift retails for $390.  You can get the Jessem Router Lift II AND a 2.25 hp Bosch 1617 (about the same power as the 1400) for $20 less than just that lift.  Then you'd have a dedicated router and wouldn't have to fiddle with taking it out and putting it in.

 

[Roseland]

Why not get a Triton MOF001 router for less money than a lift?  It has through-the-table height adjustment, auto spindle lock as the collet is raised and 1/2" capacity.

I have an OF1440 and the Triton and don't consider the Festool offering suitable for use in a table.

Andrew

 

[edwarmr]

Why not get a Triton MOF001 router for less money than a lift?  It has through-the-table height adjustment, auto spindle lock as the collet is raised and 1/2" capacity.

I have an OF1440 and the Triton and don't consider the Festool offering suitable for use in a table.

Andrew

I had a Triton with the above table height adjustment. I found it had way too much resistance when trying to raise it with the handle. Going down was no problem but raising it was a pain. I usually just ended up raising it manually below the table. It's definitely an option but it doesn't compare to a Jessem lift in any way, shape, or form in my opinion. The Jessem lift can be operated with one finger.

 

[edwarmr]

I need to buy a router life for my Festool 1400 router. I would appreciate any one's experience with lifts that work best for his
Thanks
Papa's Workshop

As was mentioned your two options are the Festool CMS table or the Jessem Rout-R-Lift Prestige.
Here is a link to the Prestige:https://jessem.com/products/rout-r-lift-prestige-for-plunge-based-routers

I have the Prestige and it's great but like others have said you could get a much cheaper plunge router to put in there. The CMS table works great if you get the VL version to attach to your MFT/3 and combine it with the Incra LS Positioner. I love that combo.

 

[Papas Woodshop]

Thanks so much for your advice
Consensus is definitely a JessEm lift and a table dedicated router
My father in law who was a fabulous furniture wood worker left me an excellent router table in which I hope to install the new lift. His table has a top of the line Inca fence, circa 1980's, which I hope to use. I need to practice on 3/4 plywood to be sure I can create the lift opening
I really appreciate all of the comments
Mike
Papa's workshop

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Why not get a Triton MOF001 router for less money than a lift?  It has through-the-table height adjustment, auto spindle lock as the collet is raised and 1/2" capacity.

I have an OF1440 and the Triton and don't consider the Festool offering suitable for use in a table.

Andrew

I had a Triton with the above table height adjustment. I found it had way too much resistance when trying to raise it with the handle. Going down was no problem but raising it was a pain. I usually just ended up raising it manually below the table. It's definitely an option but it doesn't compare to a Jessem lift in any way, shape, or form in my opinion. The Jessem lift can be operated with one finger.

Did you take the spring out of it? there is a black plastic cap on top with one little screw off to the side of it. Loosen the screw, rotate the cap, it will pop up and scare the crap out of you. Pull the spring out and replace the cap. Job done and that resistance is gone. That is the official intent of Triton, most people just never do it. You need it as a plunge router above the table, that's why it is there in the first place. But under the table, you are fighting the spring and gravity. Take it out, it's transformative.

 

[edwarmr]

Why not get a Triton MOF001 router for less money than a lift?  It has through-the-table height adjustment, auto spindle lock as the collet is raised and 1/2" capacity.

I have an OF1440 and the Triton and don't consider the Festool offering suitable for use in a table.

Andrew

I had a Triton with the above table height adjustment. I found it had way too much resistance when trying to raise it with the handle. Going down was no problem but raising it was a pain. I usually just ended up raising it manually below the table. It's definitely an option but it doesn't compare to a Jessem lift in any way, shape, or form in my opinion. The Jessem lift can be operated with one finger.

Did you take the spring out of it? there is a black plastic cap on top with one little screw off to the side of it. Loosen the screw, rotate the cap, it will pop up and scare the junk out of you. Pull the spring out and replace the cap. Job done and that resistance is gone. That is the official intent of Triton, most people just never do it. You need it as a plunge router above the table, that's why it is there in the first place. But under the table, you are fighting the spring and gravity. Take it out, it's transformative.

Yeah I took the spring out. It’s been about 5 years since I had it. It’s just not as simple as the Jessem lifts. Drilling the plate for it also wasn’t easy. I think now they sell predrilled plates for it. It’s definitely an option for a router table but it doesn’t have the accuracy or ease of a nice lift in my opinion. You also have to drop the handle blindly in the hole until you get it to attach to the Triton router which can be a pain. I found I could adjust the height faster going below the table,

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I always reach below the table to adjust it, you have to for the lock lever anyway. I really like the squeeze-ring thing for the gross adjustment too. It's far better than turning the crank anyway.
I mentioned the spring because I had one of the smaller 2 1/4 HP models several years ago and didn't remove it when initially setting it up. I did end up taking it out after some use.
I do have a pre-drilled (Kreg) plate and it even has the adjuster hole drilled too. The aluminum plate I had before was drilled for the router mounting, but not the adjuster hole? never made sense to me.
I have never had an actual lift, but I'm thinking about getting one from Sauter shop. They have one that tilts which would be great for me, but it requires a 43mm mount spindle. Getting one of those in 100 volt American is not so easy.

 

[edwarmr]

I always reach below the table to adjust it, you have to for the lock lever anyway. I really like the squeeze-ring thing for the gross adjustment too. It's far better than turning the crank anyway.

That’s exactly what I used to do with the gross adjustment knob lol. Like you said you have to lock it below the table anyway so it kind of defeats the purpose of the above table adjustment. I hope you’re able to find a lift that works out for you!