Guide · Router lifts
Router lift vs insert plate
What a router lift adds over a plain insert plate, what a plate needs, and which routers and tables give above-table height adjustment without a lift.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. How we make money
Short answer
An insert plate holds your router's base, and you set bit height with the router's own adjuster. A router lift holds the motor under its own plate and raises it with its own mechanism. Some routers and tables give you above-table adjustment through a plain plate, so check what you own first.
What a lift adds
A router lift moves the motor with a screw and a handle or dial, usually from above the table. JessEm's Mast-R-Lift II and Rout-R-Lift II manuals both say one full turn of the height handle equals 1/16 in.[1] Kreg describes the PRS5000 dial as marked every 1/64 in, with one full turn equal to 1/16 in.[2] These are the makers' mechanism figures. They describe the screw and the dial, not a measured accuracy.
The JessEm Rout-R-Lift II manual describes a friction lock and Tab-Loc phenolic insert rings.[3] 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.[4]
What a plate needs
An insert plate needs holes that match your router's base. Kreg's PRS4036 plate, for example, comes predrilled for the Bosch 1617 and the Porter-Cable 690 and 890 series.[5] A plate also needs rings for the bit opening and some way to sit flush in the table.
JessEm's Rout-R-Plate is a solid phenolic plate with a 9-1/4 x 11-3/4 in outline.[6] JessEm lists three insert rings, a router centering bushing, a start pin and a 1-3/8 in guide bushing in the box.[6]
| Insert plate | Router lift | |
|---|---|---|
| Holds | The router's base | The motor alone |
| Height set by | The router's own adjuster | The lift's screw and handle |
| Fit decided by | The plate's hole pattern for your base | The lift maker's motor list |
| Leveling | Ledge or levelers, per the plate maker | Ledge, set screws or levelers, per the lift maker |
Routers with built-in table adjustment
Some routers are built for table use. Triton describes the TRA001 as a plunge router that switches to fixed-base use with rack-and-pinion height adjustment and a table winder.[7] Triton says the table winder "eliminates the need for expensive lifting mechanisms".[7] That is Triton's claim; whether it suits you depends on how often you change height.
Some tables do it too. Bosch describes the RA1181's predrilled aluminum mounting plate as supporting above-table height adjustment.[8] Its compatibility list includes Bosch 1617-series and MRF-series routers in fixed base only.[8]
Plate support differs between products
How a plate or lift sits in the table is part of the choice. Fine Woodworking's 2018 review of the Kreg PRS5000 noted that its plate has no leveling screws underneath and relies on separate leveling hardware.[9] JessEm's lifts use set screws around the plate edge instead. See the levelers guide for each maker's method.
Is a lift more accurate than a plate?
We found no independent measurement in our sources that compares the two. A lift gives a finer, repeatable-looking dial and above-table access; a plate keeps the router's own adjuster. Choose by which router you own and how often you change bit height.
Lifts and plates that fit named routers
Picks that fit3 products
For a lift, choose the JessEm Rout-R-Lift 3.5XT for a listed 3.5 in motor, or the Kreg PRS5000 (9-1/4 x 11-3/4 in plate) for a Kreg table.
More on choosing
For a plate, choose the Kreg PRS4036, predrilled for Porter-Cable 690/890 and Bosch 1617 bases. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
For 3.5 in motors
Predrilled for Porter-Cable 690/890 and Bosch 1617
Kreg PRS4036 Precision Router Table Insert Plate, predrilled for Porter-Cable and Bosch
Next
Questions
Do I need a router lift?
Not always. A plate works if you are content setting height with the router's own adjuster; a lift adds its own screw mechanism, usually adjusted from above the table.
Can I use my router's fixed base in a plate instead?
Yes, if the plate maker lists your base. Kreg's PRS4036, for example, is predrilled for the Bosch 1617 and Porter-Cable 690 and 890 series.[5]
Does a Triton router need a lift?
Triton describes the TRA001 as having a table winder and says it eliminates the need for expensive lifting mechanisms. That is Triton's claim. Kreg (PRS4034) and Woodpeckers (AITRITON) sell plates drilled for the TRA001.[7][5][10]
Is a lift more accurate than a plate?
We found no independent measurement in our sources comparing them. Lift figures such as 1/16 in per turn are the maker's mechanism figures, not measured accuracy.[1]