Guide · Insert plates
Above-table height adjustment: plate access holes and collars
Which plates INCRA and Woodpeckers say lack an above-table adjustment hole for your router, which tables and routers build it in, and when a lift is the answer.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. How we make money
Short answer
Some routers adjust bit height from above the table through a small hole in the plate. Whether your plate has that hole depends on the plate maker's pattern for your router: some charts say the access hole may need to be drilled, and some patterns have none. A lift or a router with a table winder is the other route.
What above-table access means
Above-table adjustment lets you raise or lower the bit with a wrench or crank from the table surface, instead of reaching under the table. For a router in a plate, it needs two things: a router with a height adjuster that can be reached from the base side, and a hole in the plate lined up with it.
When the plate has no hole
INCRA's MagnaLOCK chart footnotes say above-table adjuster access may need to be drilled for the Bosch 1617/1618, Milwaukee 5615/5616 and Ridgid on its MLP690890-AL plate.[1] The same footnote applies to the Milwaukee 5625 and Triton MOF-001KC on its MLP7518-AL plate.[1] INCRA notes generally that user drilling may be needed for access to above-table height adjusters.[1] The chart also says the Bosch MRC23 needs 4 mm screws, not included.[1]
Woodpeckers lists its AI890 plate for the Milwaukee 5615 and 5616-20 with the note that there is no above-the-table adjustment tool hole.[2]
| Router | Plate | What the maker says |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch 1617/1618 | INCRA MLP690890-AL | Access may need to be drilled |
| Milwaukee 5615/5616 | INCRA MLP690890-AL | Access may need to be drilled |
| Ridgid | INCRA MLP690890-AL | Access may need to be drilled |
| Milwaukee 5625 | INCRA MLP7518-AL | Access may need to be drilled |
| Triton MOF-001KC | INCRA MLP7518-AL | Access may need to be drilled |
| Milwaukee 5615, 5616-20 | Woodpeckers AI890 | No above-the-table tool hole |
We give no drilling steps. Follow the plate maker's footnotes and instructions, and ask the maker where the hole goes for your router.
Tables and routers with it built in
Bosch describes the predrilled aluminum mounting plates on its RA1171 and RA1181 tables as supporting above-table height adjustment.[3] Bosch's RA1181 compatibility list includes Bosch 1617-series and MRF-series routers in fixed base only.[4]
Triton describes its TRA001 as a plunge router that switches to fixed-base use with rack-and-pinion height adjustment and a table winder.[5]
A lift does it through its own plate
A lift raises the motor with its own screw, adjusted through its own plate. JessEm's Rout-R-Lift 3.5XT has a 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 x 3/8 in phenolic plate for 3.5 in motors, with the Porter-Cable 690/890, Bosch 1617/1618 and DeWalt 610/616/618 among direct fits.[6] JessEm says the Makita 1101 and Hitachi M12VC/KM12VC need an optional 3D-printable collar.[6]
Do you need a lift for it?
Not if your router has a reachable adjuster and your plate has, or is designed to take, the access hole. A lift is the route when your router has no such adjuster, or you want to adjust without the router's own mechanism.
Plates and lifts for above-table access
Picks that fit2 products
Choose the Woodpeckers AITRITON variant if you have a Triton TRC-001, MOF-001KC, JOF-001 or TRA-001 and want a predrilled plate for it.
More on choosing
Choose the JessEm Rout-R-Lift 3.5XT for a listed 3.5 in motor; add JessEm's optional collar for a Makita 1101 or Hitachi M12VC. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Drilled for Triton routers
Woodpeckers AITRITON cast aluminum router mounting plate for Triton
For 3.5 in motors
Next
Questions
Can I adjust my router's height from above the table?
If your router has a reachable height adjuster and your plate has an access hole for it. INCRA's chart notes the hole may need to be drilled for several routers, including the Bosch 1617/1618.[1]