Router Lift Solutions - OF 1400

[dougd1]

I am looking for router lift solutions to work with 3rd party router tables like the Kreg PRS 1045 table and my Festool OF1400.  I have not looked at Festool's CMS tables because of their price. In reviewing some of the threads here, I have come across the SauterShop lift, although it does not have any North American distributors (I am in Canada).  Are there any other lifts that will work with the Festool OF 1400?  EssEM and RouterRaizer have stated they do not make a compatible lift or lift screws.  The Incra lift and Kreg Lifts are also incompatible with the OF1400.
In an old thread here, I saw reference to a Festool Lift Screw, but have not been able to find any such accessory on their web site or catalogue.  Has anyone heard of these?
I have also seen car jack used as a means to lift routers, which would be a very cheap solution, but would any kind of jack do (like a laboratory lift)?  With such solutions, is there a danger the jack will lift the entire assembly (router and insert plate) or is the router assembly heavy enough to prevent this?  Has anyone tried this?
Thanks, Doug

 

[RustE]

Interesting response from JessEm. Their website photos of the Rout-R-Lift Prestige shows an OF1400.

 

[dougd1]

Thanks.  Had a good look at the JessEM website and they do sell a lift for the OF 1400 plunge router.  I used their contact form to ask previously and the response I got was their lifts were not compatible.  Maybe something got lost in the translation!  Anyway, will have another look at the JessEM router tables and lifts.  Any others out there?

 

[RustE]

Arguably, for the price tag of the JessEM, just put a Triton router in the table with a compatible mounting plate.
https://www.infinitytools.com/infinity-tools-router-table-insert-plate-4838

 

[jeh]

Safe yourself the grief and buy any of the various router tables available and put a dedicated router in it. The Festool routers in the CMS is half-baked as is the table itself unless you are absolutely committed to not consider any other solutions.

 

[rmhinden]

Safe yourself the grief and buy any of the various router tables available and put a dedicated router in it. The Festool routers in the CMS is half-baked as is the table itself unless you are absolutely committed to not consider any other solutions.

+1 to that.    Most router lifts work with cylindrical routers, not something like an OF 1400.

I have a Kreg table and router lift with an PC 7518 in it.    Here is a link to comparable routers for the Kreg lift:

Routers Compatable with Kreg Lift

Bob

 

[dougd1]

Thanks.  Have not yet been able to find a Canadian distributor for Infinity Tools, so their Triton-based solution may go by the wayside.  Would like not having to buy another router, unless I can sell my OF1400.  Am leaning towards a Kreg PRS1045 router table - it has received some very good reviews, but the lift remains the outstanding piece of the puzzle.  If I go for a new router, I will like stick with the Porter Cable 7815, but not convinced I could get a decent price for the OF 1400.

Appreciate the replies.
Doug

 

[Cheese]

If I go for a new router, I will like stick with the Porter Cable 7815, but not convinced I could get a decent price for the OF 1400.

In the present Covid environment I think you'll be surprised at how much you can sell the 1400 for if it's in nice condition with all the pieces.  [smile]

 

[Birdhunter]

I have the Porter Cable motor in a Kreg lift and it works very well. My 1400 stays free for hand work.

 

[jeh]

I have a Woodpecker table with the PC7815 and have never looked back. Prior to this I had a cast iron unit as a table saw wing (in the way you want to use the saw to make a cut). I also had a CMS (table is too small, router lift leaves a lot to be desired, changing bits a mess and taking it in and out is a hassle). If space allows get a separate setup. You will save yourself some money by getting something that works from the start without any futzing or swapping.

 

[Birdhunter]

I’ve built at least 5 router tables, each one incorporating improvements learned from the last. No need for portability other than having lockable casters to move around the shop. Every table had a Porter Cable motor. Great power and cheap. The last improvement was to add the Jessum Clear Cut guides. They are exceptional.

The next table will have a metal dust collection box. The current table has a wood dust collection box. It is not fire resistant. I never expected router dust to catch on fire!

The cast iron top sounds interesting. Also sounds very heavy and I don’t have a helper.

 

[dougd1]

Has anyone ever tried a laboratory lift as a means of raising a router?  It might be a cheap, but effective solution.  The only thing that I can see that I would need is a solid platform in the table to sit the lift on to butt up against the plunge router to raise it. Thanks.
Doug

 

[Michael Kellough]

I’ve built at least 5 router tables, each one incorporating improvements learned from the last. No need for portability other than having lockable casters to move around the shop. Every table had a Porter Cable motor. Great power and cheap. The last improvement was to add the Jessum Clear Cut guides. They are exceptional.

The next table will have a metal dust collection box. The current table has a wood dust collection box. It is not fire resistant. I never expected router dust to catch on fire!

The cast iron top sounds interesting. Also sounds very heavy and I don’t have a helper.

That would be good if it’s flat. Think MagSwitch.

A decade ago (or more) I bought a cast iron router table from Bench Dogs (after Rockler took over the brand) and it was so concave it was useless. They sent another and said keep the first, could be a good boat anchor. The second wasnt as bad but still a little low in the middle so I just raised the router mount plate a little.

 

[DynaGlide]

There is a lot of hate for the CMS and I get it if you're paying retail look elsewhere. But I love mine. Hooks right up to a CT vac or my FLEX vac and does what I need it to do so far.

Maybe I just don't know what I'm missing out on.

 

[Birdhunter]

I really wanted to buy the CMS. But, the table size was too small the the fence was a big step down from my current table. The CMS cross feed slider is amazing. That slider almost made me overlook the other issues.

 

[clark_fork]

Although some fault the Triton bit adjustment and the enclosed on/off switch. The advantage of the Triton/Metal table combination is:

  1. Triton has a built-in lift that only requires a specific router plate. However, I used a standard plate and drilled it for the height adjustment handle.
  2. Triton does not need a dust box. The Triton is shielded with a plastic enclosure which connects to a Festool vacuum hose.
  3.The chief advantage of a metal table is that it accommodates the magnetic feather attachments, particularly useful for wider stock.

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[Lincoln]

I was able to mount a 1400 to a router table plate and used the lifting mechanism from the the CMS table - this was given to me by a Festool dealer when they were cleaning out their back of house. I had to mount the lifting mechanism to a short piece of 100mm x 50mm aluminium hollow section, which was then bolted to the plate. It worked fine, but I got sick of adjusting the router height from under the table, and I much prefer the 1400 as a hand held router. Ended up getting a lift/motor combo, much happier with that.

 

[Lincoln]

...by the way, there's a full CMS router table set up for sale in the classifieds at the moment.

 

[Bernmc]

I have Jessem's lift. It is very good quality, and works well. Jessem know how to make stuff!
Jessem's email response service is poor  :. Don't expect anything useful out of them.

BUT: I wouldn't go this route again - not because of quality issues or similar, but simply because getting your router in and out of a good quality lift like the Jessem isn't a 5 min job. And the 1400 is just too good a router to be left stuck in a table.

I'd get a spindle and a compatible plate/lift, and have it as a dedicated table setup.

 

[dougd1]

I was able to mount a 1400 to a router table plate and used the lifting mechanism from the the CMS table - this was given to me by a Festool dealer when they were cleaning out their back of house. I had to mount the lifting mechanism to a short piece of 100mm x 50mm aluminium hollow section, which was then bolted to the plate. It worked fine, but I got sick of adjusting the router height from under the table, and I much prefer the 1400 as a hand held router. Ended up getting a lift/motor combo, much happier with that.

That would be ideal to get Festool's lift mechanism and adapt it to a standard router table insert plate.  haven't seen it on their website though.