Guide · Router lifts
1/16 in per turn and 0.001 in: reading lift adjustment specs
What router lift and fence adjustment figures from JessEm, Kreg, INCRA and Woodpeckers mean, why a dial graduation is not accuracy, and which tests exist.
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Short answer
Lift and fence adjustment figures describe the screw pitch or dial marks the maker designed. None of them is a measured accuracy. We found no independent, current measurement of any lift in our sources, so read "1/16 in per turn" or "0.001 in" as a description of the mechanism, not a promise about your cut.
The figures, maker by maker
JessEm. The Mast-R-Lift II and Rout-R-Lift II manuals say one full turn of the height handle equals 1/16 in, and the manuals tabulate a quarter turn as 1/64 in.[1] JessEm also advertises a "zero-backlash" mechanism and 3-1/2 in of lift travel.[2] Those two are maker claims.
Kreg. Kreg describes the PRS5000 micro-adjust dial as marked every 1/64 in, with one full turn equal to 1/16 in of height change.[3] Kreg's page uses other wording about finer hash marks that is ambiguous, so we leave it out.
INCRA. INCRA advertises its Mast-R-Lift II as allowing 0.001 in height adjustments from above the table.[4] That is INCRA's claim about adjustment capability.
Fences, for context. Woodpeckers lists its SF-PRO Universal fence with 0.001 in (0.025 mm) micrometer dial graduations on both fences.[5] INCRA states 2/1000 in adjustment steps for its Wonder Fence.[6] INCRA says its LS Positioner sets the fence at any multiple of 1/32 in, or 1 mm on metric models.[7]
| Product | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| JessEm Mast-R-Lift II | 1/16 in per handle turn; 1/64 in per quarter turn | Maker's screw-travel figure |
| JessEm Mast-R-Lift II | "Zero-backlash", 3-1/2 in travel | Maker claims |
| Kreg PRS5000 | 1/64 in dial marks; 1/16 in per turn | Maker's dial graduations |
| INCRA Mast-R-Lift II | 0.001 in adjustments | Maker claim |
| Woodpeckers SF-PRO | 0.001 in dial graduations | Maker's scale graduations |
| INCRA Wonder Fence | 2/1000 in steps | Maker spec |
| INCRA LS Positioner | 1/32 in positions | Maker spec |
Graduation is not accuracy
A dial graduation is the spacing of the marks on a dial. A dial can be marked finer than the mechanism repeats. If a screw moves 1/16 in per turn and the dial has 64 marks, each mark stands for 1/1024 in of screw travel on paper; whether the bit moves that much depends on the threads, the carriage and the lock.
Backlash is the free play when you reverse direction: the handle turns a little before the carriage moves. A common habit is to make the final adjustment in the same direction, so the play is taken up the same way each time. Check your lift's manual for the maker's method.
Published tests, by date and model
Magazine reviews of router lifts exist. We name them here so you can find them, but we do not restate their verdicts, and most covered models that have since changed or been discontinued.
- Fine Woodworking, March/April 2002 (issue 155): five lifts from Bench Dog, JessEm, Router Technologies and Woodpeckers.[8]
- Fine Woodworking, 2013, "Tool Test: Router Lifts": seven lifts, among them the Excalibur 40-125, JessEm Rout-R-Lift II and Mast-R-Lift II, Bench Dog 40-150, Rockler Router Lift FX, Woodhaven EZ Lift and Woodpeckers PRL-V2.[9]
- Fine Woodworking, August 2018: a review of the Kreg PRS5000, noting that its plate has no leveling screws underneath and relies on separate leveling hardware.[10]
- Popular Woodworking, June 2009 issue: a review of the Woodpeckers PRL-V2.[11]
Results from legacy models do not transfer to current versions of the same name.
Lifts with a stated adjustment figure
Picks that fit2 products
Choose the JessEm Mast-R-Lift II 02120 (9-1/4 x 11-3/4 in plate, 1/16 in per handle turn per JessEm) or the Kreg PRS5000 (9-1/4 x 11-3/4 in plate, 1/64 in dial marks per Kreg), and confirm your router on the maker's list.
More on choosing
On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Widest published router chart
JessEm Mast-R-Lift II 02120 router lift (9‑1/4 x 11‑3/4 in plate)
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Questions
What does 1/16 in per turn mean?
One full turn of the height handle moves the carriage 1/16 in by the screw's design. JessEm's manuals state this for the Mast-R-Lift II and Rout-R-Lift II; it is not a measured accuracy.[1]
Is a 0.001 in lift accurate to 0.001 in?
Not necessarily. INCRA's 0.001 in figure is its claim about adjustment capability, and we found no independent measurement of it.[4]
What is backlash?
The free play when you reverse an adjustment: the handle turns before the carriage moves. JessEm's 'zero-backlash' wording is a maker claim.[2]