Jessem router table top is about 1mm off flat. Should I complain?

[wow]

Whatever the cost, whatever you do, I believe you need to return/rid yourself of the Jessem table. You clearly have an issue with it (and I am not saying that you are wrong to feel like that, btw) and keeping it around when you have such strong feelings is bad karma.

You'll never be happy with it so just bite the bullet NOW and either return it, sell it, scrap it, ... but get rid of it ASAP. Your life will be better if you do.

 

[MichaelW2014]

Whatever the cost, whatever you do, I believe you need to return/rid yourself of the Jessem table. You clearly have an issue with it (and I am not saying that you are wrong to feel like that, btw) and keeping it around when you have such strong feelings is bad karma.

You'll never be happy with it so just bite the bullet NOW and either return it, sell it, scrap it, ... but get rid of it ASAP. Your life will be better if you do.

yes, i am about to start to request a refund from all these people.  heck. thanks for the moral support. you are right. but i can't afford to lose 1,000. i'm poor.

 

[fshanno]

My low end Rockler mdf top is pretty close to dead flat.  The top of my Jessem router lift is also dead flat. 

I have a low end Rockler fence, aluminum angle back with split MDF faces.  Each half is pretty close to dead flat.  I do have to shim the faces a bit to get the whole thing flat across both halves. 

It's really surprising to hear of these problems from Jessem.  My Jessem Master lift has served me well for almost 7 years.  I've been planning an upgrade and they were on my short list.  I thought that phenolic tops were the way to go. 

 

[nclemmons]

I had the high-end Jessem table and lift and fence for many years.  To be honest, I never checked it for flatness or the fence for straightness.  I did not like the dust collection on the unit and found changing bits to be a bit of a challenge.

I ended up selling it and upgrading to the CMS.  Very happy with that decision.  Dust collection is excellent.  Bit changes are easier.  Downside is fence adjustment which is a bit more of a challenge.

Good luck with the return.

 

[MichaelW2014]

I had the high-end Jessem table and lift and fence for many years.  To be honest, I never checked it for flatness or the fence for straightness.  I did not like the dust collection on the unit and found changing bits to be a bit of a challenge.

I ended up selling it and upgrading to the CMS.  Very happy with that decision.  Dust collection is excellent.  Bit changes are easier.  Downside is fence adjustment which is a bit more of a challenge.

Good luck with the return.

thanks for the well wishes.

which cnc machine did you buy? I expect to eventually get there, but it is a far larger cost and skill level required to operate a cnc. i am also interested in a lazer cnc machine.

 

[nclemmons]

I had the high-end Jessem table and lift and fence for many years.  To be honest, I never checked it for flatness or the fence for straightness.  I did not like the dust collection on the unit and found changing bits to be a bit of a challenge.

I ended up selling it and upgrading to the CMS.  Very happy with that decision.  Dust collection is excellent.  Bit changes are easier.  Downside is fence adjustment which is a bit more of a challenge.

Good luck with the return.

thanks for the well wishes.

which cnc machine did you buy? I expect to eventually get there, but it is a far larger cost and skill level required to operate a cnc. i am also interested in a lazer cnc machine.

I didn't get a CNC - I got the CMS table from Festool to replace it.

 

[MichaelW2014]

I had the high-end Jessem table and lift and fence for many years.  To be honest, I never checked it for flatness or the fence for straightness.  I did not like the dust collection on the unit and found changing bits to be a bit of a challenge.

I ended up selling it and upgrading to the CMS.  Very happy with that decision.  Dust collection is excellent.  Bit changes are easier.  Downside is fence adjustment which is a bit more of a challenge.

Good luck with the return.

thanks for the well wishes.

which cnc machine did you buy? I expect to eventually get there, but it is a far larger cost and skill level required to operate a cnc. i am also interested in a lazer cnc machine.

I didn't get a CNC - I got the CMS table from Festool to replace it.

oh, oops. sounds like you enjoy your cmt. thats good, lucky you. i might get it in the next few days. im thinking about it.
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on the other hand, i am also thinking about holding off and saving for a cnc machine. but i have only just begun to research them and understand how they function and which ones are good.

 

[jacko9]

Fine Woodworking in their yearly Tool Guide Issue looked at Router tables and Router lifts and found not many table were flat with the exception of a few cast iron tables.  Check out the issue for details.

Jack

 

[grbmds]

If I recall the article, none of the tables tested were crowned or sagged more than the reviewer's limit and none were as far off as this Jessem was. I bought an Incra laminated MDF table with the whole set and that top was almost perfect. The FWW article, I believe put the General Excalibur on the top. It was crowned (which is better) but such a small amount as to be considered flat. Most tables are really "flat". I think this Jessem is an anomaly and it should be replaced. I don't remember whether that occurred, but hopefully that was the case.

 

[mike_aa]

Not to try and hijack the thread, but does anyone know how flat the Woodpecker's phenolic tops are?

Mike A.

 

[MichaelW2014]

all retailers have agreed to let me return the products. i will check out that list of router tables and their flatness. one of my biggest pet peeves is working on a table, of any kind, that is not dead flat.
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i wouldn't trust buying a router table that is not either cast iron or aluminum, and from a company that has a good return policy.
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again i say, perhaps to myself, why didn't they just make the tables out of aluminum? jessem is ruining their reputation with these table tops, which is a shame because they have such great ideas, great accessories.

 

[grbmds]

For years I had a Rockler laminated mdf table and, as far as I could tell it was flat enough that it did not cause me any problems. I did some research within the last 2 months planning to upgrade. I started out believing that the Excalibur cast iron table was the best. Their lift is very precise and heavy duty. The table was rated the flattest by FWW (or at least one of the flattest). They have an under table dust collection system which appears to be efficient also. However, when it came down to buying, I went with an Incra system, table, lift, under table dust collection and all. The table is clearly flat, but still laminated MDF. What's the best about the Incra table is the accuracy of the fence. You just can't get that anywhere else. So far, the dust collection is superior, the fence system is easy extremely accurate, and the versatility to be able to cut box and dovetail joints as well as all the other router operations you would do, just can't be beat. I purchased with the Jessem Master Lift II which I think is spec'd special for Incra and that is extremely accurate also. Anyway, I'm an Incra fan anyway, but the table combo I bought was less than the other tables with the same equipment and I think better because of the fence system. Anyway, look at it before buying, but if you want a great cast iron table, I think the Excalibur would be a great choice.

 

[wow]

grbmds:

It may just be me, but I'm not sure I understand exactly what you purchased. Would you mind providing the part numbers or models?

I am in the market for a router table but I can't afford the CMS, so your decision is definitely of interest to me.

 

[grbmds]

grbmds:

It may just be me, but I'm not sure I understand exactly what you purchased. Would you mind providing the part numbers or models?

I am in the market for a router table but I can't afford the CMS, so your decision is definitely of interest to me.

How about if I send you a direct message on FOG?  I think we are getting off the original topic a little bit. I will do that this afternoon. If others are interested I can post the same message here.

 

[Paul G]

grbmds:

It may just be me, but I'm not sure I understand exactly what you purchased. Would you mind providing the part numbers or models?

I am in the market for a router table but I can't afford the CMS, so your decision is definitely of interest to me.

How about if I send you a direct message on FOG?  I think we are getting off the original topic a little bit. I will do that this afternoon. If others are interested I can post the same message here.

I'm interested also

 

[Gary in Texas]

Mike,

I cannot speak to the Woodpecker router table being flat right out of the box.  However, I think most of the phenolic tops on the market, being rather thin are susceptible to sagging, especially if you are hanging a large router such as a PC-7518 below it.  In recent conversation with one of the manufacturers, adding bracing below the phenolic table top is pretty much a given requirement.....

I was in Rockler this past weekend, looked briefly at the Bench Dog cast iron router table (a Rockler company), it looked pretty nice!  They claim to have the flattest top in the industry, and weighing in at almost 100 pounds, good at absorbing vibration.  I'm currently considering adding an additional router table and looking at another Incra, the laminated thick top from Rockler, or the cast iron Bench Dog....

To the OP, good luck!  Sounds like you will be getting your reimbursements....

 

[mike_aa]

Baremeg55,
Thanks for the response.  Woodpecker's sometimes has cosmetic blemished tops for sale at a reduced price.  Since I live about half an hour from their factory it would be an easy thing for me to order it and pick it up eliminating any worries of shipping damage.  I also saw that cast iron Bench Dog top and it does look tempting.  Now I'm more confused than before!  Guess I'll have to do a little more research.  LOL

Mike A.

 

[grbmds]

Also, General (Excalibur) has a great cast iron top. I don't know the differences in price, but the Excalibur top, lift, and under table dust collection is excellent. In response to a couple of other Foggers, I will provide some further information on my Incra router tale purchase. I still feel, for me, that was the best option, and the Incra top I got is flat, regardless of the fact it is lamnated MDF. Since it's 1 1/4" thick I really doubt it will ever sag or move. I had a 1 1/4" Rockler MDF top for almost 10 years and it never was a problem, but I do have my shop in a controlled environment (basement). In winter the house is humidified and in summer I dehumidify so the humidity stays within reasonable ranges.

 

[jbasen]

I have the cast iron table saw extension from peach tree woodworking attached to my sawstop. It works well for me and is reasonably priced. My only issue is the sagging Jessem router plate/lift

 

[fdengel]

The Festool MFT table tops are MDF.

MDF can be extremely flat if done correctly, so long as it doesn't get wet.