Rockler Aluminum Router Lift FX

With an upgraded aluminum plate, our new Lift FX is flatter and more durable than ever. Adjust bit height quickly and easily from atop your table, and enjoy sag-free support from the heavy-duty plate. The plate is perfectly sized to fit all of our new tables, while the lift housing accepts a wide range of small-to-medium sized routers (click More Info for a complete list).

The Router Lift FX Plus accepts the following routers: Porter-Cable 690/890 series, Bosch 1617-16-18, DeWalt* 610, 616, 618. Additional features: Plate measures 8-1/4" x 11-3/4" x 3/8" Insert plate’s center hole (3-5/8" overall dia.) accepts larger raised panel bits and includes an insert ring with a 1-1/2" bit opening. *Please Note: Dewalt routers may require installation of the included shim to fit correctly. See DeWalt Shim Instructions for details.

Aluminum Router Lift FX Manual Router Lift FX - DeWalt Shim Instructions

Customer Reviews and Photos for: Rockler Aluminum Router Lift FX Average Rating: (4.0) (11 customer reviews) Add your review...

1) Submitted by Mike Ireland, from New Holland, PA on 8/23/2009 Customer Rating: I selected his unit over the similar JessEm, as it is made from aluminum. My PC 890 router installed very easily with no adjustment needed for a tight fit. Adjusting the bit height works well and it seems to hold position during routing operations. I would note for others that the PC 890 “bottoms out” when raised to full height to change the bit. The collect nut comes clears the top but the spindle nut does not make it through before two protrusions on the motor casting catch. This makes more difficult to change bits with this model of router. If the lift had inserts that snap out instead of being held in place by screws it would make this lift much more convenient and easier to use

2) Submitted by John Anderson, from Manhattan, KS on 5/5/2009 Customer Rating: I've been using this lift with my 890 motor for about a month now. It's working better than expected. The only issue I have is that the inserts are held in with small screws instead of snapping or locking in.

3) Submitted by Russ Jones, from Lynnwood , WA on 3/10/2009 Customer Rating: I also found the lift height adjustment to creep some from vibration with the half inch shaft bits. I tightned the lift height screw per the instructions and still experienced a slight creep. I solved it by adding a 9/16 nut to the height adjustment screw. I now set the bit height and run the nut up as far as it will go, then "lock" it in place. No more problems!

4) Submitted by Ron Wormser, from Scottsville, VA on 2/9/2009 Customer Rating: I purchased the Aluminium Router Lift FX as a replacement (upgrade) for a plain Rockler router plate. I was just tired of going under the router table to adjust the router bit height. I am very pleased with the Router Lift itself, but caution potential buyers to check the cutout size in your router table before buying. I have a Rockler router table designed to be used as a wing on a standard contractor's table saw, which I bought approx. 2 years ago. I assumed the cutout in the router table would be the same size as the Router Lift---not! The Router Lift is 8-1/2 x 11-3/4 and my router table cutout is 8 x 11. It took me several hours to craft a cutout template and expand the table cutout to accommodate the Router Lift. Once that was done, the Router Lift worked fine for all 1/4 in. shaft and most 1/2 in. shaft cutters. However, the larger 1/2 in. shaft cutters create so much torque that the lift height adjustment moves by up to 3/64 inch from the vibration. There's a simple adjustment to the height mechanism to prevent this from happening and the printed instructions are pretty clear---but incorrectly titled! Once I got past the installation, the Router Lift performed as expected and I'm very pleased with being able to adjust and replace cutters from above the table.

5) Submitted by Terry Bryson, from Ocala, FL on 5/15/2009 Customer Rating: I too was attempting to use this with a Dewalt 618 and broke the adjustment "bolt" the day it arrived. Seems (at the time) they are having an issue with the Dewalt's not fitting properly. Rockler was very good about sending a replacement, with a plastic shim and it works well. I may take Russ Jones advice and modify the unit properly though. Also, I had to add a .25mm shim to the plastic insert to get it to lay flush with the aluminum plate. Upon using it the first time, the bit crept down on me and just about ruined my project! I preformed the adjustment as per the manual,(wish I had known about that AHEAD of time!), and it works fine now. Will also take Mr. Jones advice on this one, but then I would have to climb underneath to tighten the nut. What I was trying to avoid! Really don't like the "friction" method of preventing drift. Doesn't instill confidence UNLESS it's tight enough. Then it's acceptable. The manual was not proof read by anyone who uses the unit. It's good enough to do what you need though. Overall for my hobby it's a good deal, would get something better if I was making $$ on my projects!

6) Submitted by Webb Blackman, from Chesterfield, VA on 9/4/2009 Customer Rating: I purchased the Router Lift FX to use with a Porter Cable 890 series router motor. To make a statement that this router lift is designed to be used with the 890 series is kind of a stretch of the truth. When you want to raise the height of the unit to change a bit, you quickly find that the little shaft lock feature that Porter Cable put on this series limits the height that you can raise the chuck. The result are that you still have to reach under the router table to press the little button before you can replace the bit. I solved this problem by replacing the Porter Cable router motor with a Bosch 1617EVS and not everything works perfectly. The other reason that I changed to the Bosch router is that I wanted to install an Eliminator RC quick change chuck on the motor to make it easier to change chucks and it seems that there is not a unit that will work on the Porter Cable router due to what I am told to be inadequate number of threads on the shaft of the router. With the Bosch motor installed, everything seems to work perfectly. Only one thing that I would change, Rockler did not do anyone a favor when they made their insert plant held down with screws.

7) Submitted by Carl Lavigne, from Niceville, FL on 11/15/2009 Customer Rating: I purchased the router lift because of the favorable ratings and reviews here. When I purchased the router lift I also purchased the template to ensure proper cutout size to mount the lift. So far, I am impressed with the function of the lift. In the very short time that I've had it and used it, it has worked well and it has lived up to expectations. Now, a little feedback on the installation. I had heard and read of issues with the size of the hole when using the template. Having worked with templates before I realize that the very slightest movement of the template can make for a sloppy fit. To ensure the template didn't move on me when routing the hole, I clamped scrap wood around all 4 sides of the template to hold it securely in place, to ensure it didn't move under pressure, as could easily happen if only relying on double-faced tape to hold the template in place. My template did not move a bit, thus my hole for the lift was perfect--no slop or movement once in place. In fact, it was so perfect that I had to give the plate a thump with my hand to seat it. Perfect! Okay, feedback on the lift it self... I think the center insert could be made to fit a little better. We take painstaking measures to ensure the plate is flush with the table top, but the insert sits low in the plate. It is noticeable and of concern to me. I felt compelled to shim it to get the insert flush with the plate. My router lift came with a small package of parts. Package contains 2 black flat head screws, one round phillips head screw and a small plastic collar about 5/8" long. I don't know the exact sizes as I didn't open the package. The instructions don't make any mention of these parts at all or what they might be for. I think the collar and the phillips head screw may be for pivot point on the lift...but I'm not sure, I haven't tried the fit yet. Would be nice if the instructions made mention of it. Also, I concur with the previous feedback of others regarding the problem with the creeping of the height adjustment.

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