Guide · Router lifts
Router lifts and tables: ledges, adapters and named exclusions
Which router tables INCRA, Kreg, JessEm and SpeTool name for their lifts, why a ledge or adapter matters, and the Rockler and Bench Dog exclusion.
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Picks that fit
- Kreg PRS5000 Precision Router LiftCheck price on Amazon
- SpeTool P01004 Router Lift Pro (for the Bosch RA1181 table)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
A lift fits a table when its plate outline matches the opening and the table supports it the way the lift maker expects: a rabbeted ledge, levelers or an adapter. Check both makers' statements, because a matching outline alone does not settle fit, and there is no industry-standard opening size.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
- Kreg PRS5000 Precision Router LiftCheck price on Amazon
- SpeTool P01004 Router Lift Pro (for the Bosch RA1181 table)Check price on Amazon
No standard opening
INCRA says there is no industry-standard opening size, even though its lifts and MagnaLOCK plates measure 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 in and 3/8 in thick.[1] Treat every table as its own case and read what its maker says.
Named statements from the makers
INCRA and Rockler or Bench Dog. INCRA says the Mast-R-Lift II versions on its page are not compatible with Rockler or Bench Dog tables.[2] It says a special version with an 8-1/4 x 11-3/4 in plate is available only through Rockler.[2]
INCRA in tables without a ledge. INCRA says tables without a rabbeted ledge, such as Kreg and JessEm tables, need its CleanSweep Table Adapter to support the Mast-R-Lift II.[2] The adapter works only with tables whose opening is sized for the 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 in plate.[3] It has ten built-in plate levelers and can be used with or instead of a table's corner levelers.[3]
Kreg. Kreg says the PRS5000 lift fits all Kreg router tables.[4] Kreg's insert-plate instructions describe two mountings: a rabbeted opening, or a straight-sided opening with Kreg's insert plate levelers, sold separately.[5] Kreg's PRS1025 top page lists its plate in metric, 9.5 x 235 x 298 mm.[6]
JessEm. JessEm lists its Mast-R-Top 03006, with a 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 x 3/8 in opening, as compatible with JessEm lifts and insert plates.[7] JessEm's 03003 routing template is listed for the Rout-R-Plate, Rout-R-Lift 3.5XT and Mast-R-Lift II.[8]
SpeTool and the Bosch RA1181. SpeTool markets its P01004 lift as compatible with the Bosch RA1181 table.[9] That is SpeTool's claim, not Bosch approval, and SpeTool names no Bosch router for it.
| Router table | Plate opening or plate outline | Plate support and leveling | Lifts and plates whose makers name it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kreg Precision Router Table top (PRS1025) | Kreg's regional PRS1025 page lists the included insert plate at 9.5 x 235 x 298 mm. Kreg's PRS5000 lift plate is 3/8 x 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 in. | Kreg's plate instructions: a rabbeted opening, or a straight-sided opening with PRS3040 levelers attached under the top. Kreg's leveler screws are meant for tops at least 1 in thick. The regional PRS1025 page lists four leveling elements. | Kreg says the PRS5000 lift fits all Kreg router tables. INCRA says Kreg tables lack a rabbeted ledge and need its CleanSweep Table Adapter to support the INCRA Mast-R-Lift II. |
| JessEm Mast-R-Top (03006 white, 03007 black) | Cut for a 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 x 3/8 in insert plate (JessEm). | INCRA says JessEm tables lack a rabbeted ledge, so the INCRA Mast-R-Lift II needs INCRA's CleanSweep Table Adapter. | JessEm lists the Mast-R-Top for its router lifts and insert plates. JessEm's 03003 routing template is listed for the Rout-R-Plate, Rout-R-Lift 3.5XT and Mast-R-Lift II. |
| Bosch RA1181 benchtop router table | Not confirmed | Bosch: an aluminum mounting plate, predrilled for various routers, that supports above-table height adjustment. | SpeTool markets its P01004 Router Lift Pro as compatible with the Bosch RA1181. |
| Bosch RA1171 cabinet router table | Not confirmed | Bosch: an aluminum mounting plate, predrilled, that supports above-table height adjustment. | Not confirmed |
| INCRA router tables and plate openings | INCRA: lifts and MagnaLOCK plates measure 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 in outside; openings in INCRA router tables are about 0.020 in larger in each dimension. | INCRA says its CleanSweep Adaptor is not required for INCRA router tables. | INCRA's own Mast-R-Lift II and MagnaLOCK plates, sized 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 x 3/8 in for INCRA's openings. |
| Rockler and Bench Dog router tables | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | INCRA: its standard Mast-R-Lift II versions are not compatible with Rockler or Bench Dog tables; a special 8-1/4 x 11-3/4 in version is available exclusively through Rockler. JessEm: Mast-R-Lift II 02121 has a smaller 8-1/4 x 11-3/4 in top plate, with no table list. |
| SawStop router tables | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
What a rabbet ledge is
A rabbet ledge is a step cut around the inside of the opening, so the plate rests on it flush with the top. Tables without one hold the plate on levelers screwed under the top, or on an adapter like INCRA's. Your lift maker says which it expects; the levelers guide covers each method.
Rockler and Bench Dog specifics
We could not confirm Rockler's or Bench Dog's own plate sizes, part numbers or saw-wing limits from their pages. INCRA's exclusion and its Rockler-only 8-1/4 in version are what we can state. Ask Rockler or Bench Dog for your table's opening before you buy a lift.
Homemade tables
The makers sell templates or instructions for cutting an opening, and the JessEm template above is one. We give no cutting steps. Follow the lift or template maker's instructions, and if your top is thinner or thicker than they expect, ask them first.
Lifts with a named table fit
Picks that fit3 products
Choose the Kreg PRS5000 for a Kreg table, the JessEm Mast-R-Lift II 02120 (9-1/4 x 11-3/4 in plate) for a JessEm Mast-R-Top, or the SpeTool P01004 if you own a Bosch RA1181 table and accept that the fit is SpeTool's claim.
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)
SpeTool P01004 Router Lift Pro (for the Bosch RA1181 table)
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Questions
Will an INCRA lift fit my Rockler table?
Not the versions on INCRA's Mast-R-Lift II page: INCRA says they are not compatible with Rockler or Bench Dog tables. INCRA says a special 8-1/4 x 11-3/4 in version is sold only through Rockler.[2]
Will a JessEm lift fit a Kreg table?
JessEm does not say so in our sources. INCRA, whose Mast-R-Lift II is made with JessEm, says Kreg and JessEm tables without a rabbeted ledge need its CleanSweep Table Adapter for that lift.[2]
What is a rabbet ledge and does my table need one?
It is a step around the opening that the plate rests on. Kreg's instructions allow either a rabbeted opening or a straight-sided one with Kreg's levelers; your lift maker says which it expects.[5]
Can I put a lift in a homemade table?
Lift makers sell templates or instructions for the opening; JessEm, for example, lists its 03003 template for its plate and lifts. Follow the maker's instructions; we give no cutting steps.[8]