tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post8164361996923185152..comments2023-11-05T06:16:56.961-05:00Comments on the Carpentry Way: Tool Review: Jessem Mast-R Lift Excel II (Assembly)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-27508714529135868512014-05-29T17:38:15.484-04:002014-05-29T17:38:15.484-04:00Thanks Chris!Thanks Chris!Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06356921890709208555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-37094178992921899782014-05-29T15:05:01.082-04:002014-05-29T15:05:01.082-04:00Pete,
thanks for taking the time to post a commen...Pete,<br /><br />thanks for taking the time to post a comment.<br /><br />I said in the comments that the stand is aluminum for the simple reason that it IS - or was - aluminum. They made a change to a steel stand about 5 years ago, and my aluminum stand (the original iteration of stand) was purchased more like 9 years ago. Apparently they are coming out with a new stand in coming weeks which will once again be aluminum.<br /><br />The old fence is a heavier and taller extrusion than the later one. The later one has a better dust collector port though - - which can be retrofitted to the older model. Mine works well enough and I've not felt a need to swap.<br /><br />The dust collection is good, but not perfect. In the best case situation, you could collect about 90% of the chips I would say. Depends upon the type of cut you're taking.<br /><br />I haven't boxed in the base or purchased the jacket. I've thought about it but have other spending priorities I guess. Jessem told me they are coming out with a new cabinet of some kind this year, so that might be the answer for you.<br /><br />~CAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-75059507803724260862014-05-29T00:16:45.732-04:002014-05-29T00:16:45.732-04:00Thanks for the review. My Excel II arrives in a da...Thanks for the review. My Excel II arrives in a day or two. I'm excited to get it so I can stop fiddling with the setup on my table saw wing.<br /><br />A aluminum table! It certainly would be nice to get that. The one thing that has me nervous about this setup is the phenolic table and how much flex it will have, and how strong it will be.<br /><br />Also, the stand is steel. In the comments, you said it is aluminum.<br /><br />Fence: you mentioned that you have the old fence. From the photo, that looks the same as the fence they currently offer. What's the difference between the old and new?<br /><br />How's the dust collection from that 4" port? Would you recommend also enclosing the router (as much as possible, given the long shaft for adjusting the lift) ?<br /><br />Finally, have you boxed in the base at all? I'm curious how realistic that is, or if I should just plan on building a dedicated base in the future.<br /><br />PetePetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06356921890709208555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-91714609585842743272014-04-01T08:50:26.929-04:002014-04-01T08:50:26.929-04:00J Mac,
thanks for your comment - very pleased to ...J Mac,<br /><br />thanks for your comment - very pleased to hear that the above posting was of help to you!<br /><br />~CAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-62722489885429851872014-03-31T23:18:27.728-04:002014-03-31T23:18:27.728-04:00Just bought a Jessem Mast-R Lift Excel II. Your p...Just bought a Jessem Mast-R Lift Excel II. Your pictures and suggestions made the assembly very easy. If I had to rely on just the instructions that came with the router table the process would have taken much longer and been more difficult. I had my laptop with your site open as I installed everything. Thanks a million for the time you took to take pictures and document everything. <br /><br />J. MackenzieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-45075583642632492582012-08-19T17:37:02.396-04:002012-08-19T17:37:02.396-04:00Jim,
Thanks for your comment. The aluminum top is...Jim,<br /><br />Thanks for your comment. The aluminum top is a prototype and not available yet. Please contact Jessem directly and they will advise you as to availability.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-40162338502577353992012-08-19T12:53:27.930-04:002012-08-19T12:53:27.930-04:00Hello!
I've been looking at this router table...Hello!<br /><br />I've been looking at this router table for a while and your blog just erased my indecision. One question, though: I cannot find the 0.5" aluminum table top you mention. All I can find, even on the JessEm website, is a solid phenolic table top. Can you tell me where you found your aluminum top?<br />Thanks very much!Jim Bahrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-12204328612154406092012-07-21T22:48:00.849-04:002012-07-21T22:48:00.849-04:00Hi George,
Thanks for commenting. The next post i...Hi George,<br /><br />Thanks for commenting. The next post in this series should be along by the end of July (2012). Thanks for your interest.<br /><br />~CAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-51715847685705004202012-07-21T22:39:33.953-04:002012-07-21T22:39:33.953-04:00Excellent article! How has the table performed as...Excellent article! How has the table performed as you continue to use it?George Woodrumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-51971415778631904462012-03-11T12:11:57.494-04:002012-03-11T12:11:57.494-04:00Power here is 240v single phase and 400v triple ph...Power here is 240v single phase and 400v triple phase, wiring being danish/European standard.<br />And yes there are carpenters here too, we could always use another one though.Per Hansennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-39938524380675975222012-03-11T10:25:51.224-04:002012-03-11T10:25:51.224-04:00Per,
wow, I didn't realize I had readers from...Per,<br /><br />wow, I didn't realize I had readers from Greenland! It sounds like you've figured out a good solution for powering up a router - is your local power 110v., or 240v., or ???<br /><br />~CAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-60084832412239456072012-03-11T10:05:44.644-04:002012-03-11T10:05:44.644-04:00Thank you for the information Chris. You are right...Thank you for the information Chris. You are right about the companies mentioned as being represented in Europe, Milwaukee too, but none of the routers seem to be available, they are all american style. Never mind though, Power Bright makes a suitable voltage regulator capable of up to 4 H.P., I would probably have bought one of those sooner or later anyway. There are too many nice tools available in the U.S. not to be had in Europe, with the emphasis on too many, besides I am living on my sheep farm in South Greenland where our power supply is from a generator, the voltage not always being that stable....Per Hansennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-7043130180952737982012-03-10T18:17:48.549-05:002012-03-10T18:17:48.549-05:00Koot,
during the couple of years that I lived out...Koot,<br /><br />during the couple of years that I lived out here, when I worked out of my kitchen on a sawhorse, I began to make extensive use of my router table, which at that time was stored in an unheated closet. These tables are invaluable for joinery work, and make a lot of routing operation quite a bit safer. With a large range of tooling available, a router table can do a good portion of the work of a shaper , especially when the table is as well built and flat as this Jessem.<br /><br />Per,<br /><br />contact Jessem about European-spec machines. I know they are developing them at this time but am not sure where things are at in the production cycle or when they will be available in Europe and which distributors you need to contact. I'm sure the folks at Jessem will be able to tell you.<br /><br />As for the router unit, this lift accommodates several models:<br /><br />Porter Cable 7518/690/890<br />Bosch 1617/1618<br />DeWalt 610/618<br />Makita 1101<br />Hitachi M12VC & KM12VC<br />Milwaukee 5625/5615/5616/5619<br />Craftsman 17543/17540/28190<br />Rigid R29302<br /><br />I imagine the Bosch, Makita, Hitachi and Dewalt models are available in your area, yes?<br /><br />I will say I am not a huge fan generally of Porter Cable routers for hand-held routing, however for a table application, the 7518 is powerful at 3.5 H.P., and of proven durability. A lot of smaller CNC machining centers employ the 7518.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments!<br /><br />~CAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-57234234622167274102012-03-10T17:56:38.926-05:002012-03-10T17:56:38.926-05:00That's it, me wants it. If I can locate one, p...That's it, me wants it. If I can locate one, preferably with european wiring and the aluminum top.<br />By the way, does it only take Porter Cable routers or is it optional. Porter Cables does not seem to be available in my part of the world, or maybe it would be easier ordering the whole package from Canada including a 110 V converter.Per Hansennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-6523762567345011672012-03-10T14:33:45.175-05:002012-03-10T14:33:45.175-05:00Very interesting tool review Chris. I've never...Very interesting tool review Chris. I've never paid much attention to router tables so it's an eye opener to be shown the potential for precision cutting with the Jessem set up. And, as you say, great to see a North American company striving to improve their product.<br /><br />MarvKoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12392313015470432114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-76152331315058827082012-03-10T10:02:09.589-05:002012-03-10T10:02:09.589-05:00Dan,
thanks for your comment. Now that I have a b...Dan,<br /><br />thanks for your comment. Now that I have a better grasp on the development of Jessem of the company and their experiences with their move south, I can understand the situation much better, And anyone who makes anything always learns from each thing made and can imagine ways that they might do certain things better the next time. Jessem is evolving their products and the main thing is that they are striving to improve them. I am happy to support a N. American based manufacturer as well!<br /><br />~CAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-22097717243113681172012-03-09T23:12:33.441-05:002012-03-09T23:12:33.441-05:00Happy to hear that it is working well so far. I kn...Happy to hear that it is working well so far. I know your last experience with Jess-em was quite a bit less than satisfactory, so it is good to read that they have improved their product.Dan McC.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02634565056936864787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-85946056098330356522012-03-09T23:06:07.470-05:002012-03-09T23:06:07.470-05:00Tico,
thanks for your comment and good to hear fr...Tico,<br /><br />thanks for your comment and good to hear from you. Actually the stand is a nice solid piece. It's entirely aluminum and has leveler feet on all four corners. Since i always wear earplugs when using a router, of any kind, I don't find the noise much of an issue. Jessem does sell a heavy fabric shroud/jacket for their table, but it would be easy enough to fit some sort of foam enclosure if desired. The dust collection captures 95% of the dust and chips, and what escapes tends to collect on the floor of the table. So, I like to have easy access to the underside of the table so I can clean it up once in a while.<br /><br />Having a box around the router, as I used to have with my first router table (pre-Jessem), which was an MDF box, can amplify sound rather than reduce it, so I would be looking at using some sort of sound deadening material if anything.<br /><br />~CAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-44588924196441710292012-03-09T21:13:19.974-05:002012-03-09T21:13:19.974-05:00Hi Chris,
You are doing the company a great servi...Hi Chris,<br /><br />You are doing the company a great service with this two part review. It will be an aide to customers when they go to assemble their new purchase. Everything about it checks out for me except the stand. If it were in a box lined with sound deadening material that would help with the noise (which is what I did with the Benchdog table I have). Does the stand measure up to the quality of the top and lift?Tico Vogthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743565097341810389noreply@blogger.com