Jessem Router and Lift

Purpose

• Routers can put decorative edges on wood like cabinetry or furniture

Warnings or Tips 

• Do not exceed the recommended RPM for your router bit
• Unplug the tool or machine when mounting or making any adjustments
• Avoid "climb cutting," which is cutting the same direction the blade is cutting
  • This video explains the concept: How To Rout in the Right Direction
    • (Keep in mind the "right hand rule" will be upside down on the Jessem since it's a table router; just reverse the rule if the router is "upside down" like ours)
  • You always want to cut "against" the rotation of the blade, otherwise the blade can skip and jump along, not good for your cut or for staying in control of the tool
  • Whenever possible, feed the stock against the direction of rotation
• Use jigs or fixtures as necessary to hold small or unwieldy items--beware of kickback

Allowed Materials

• Any kind of wood is fine except for pressure-treated wood
• Plastic is fine
• No metals

Steps

1. To use the router lift use the adjustment handle to UNLOCK the lift mechanism.
2. To raise your router, turn the height adjustment handle clockwise. To lower, turn the handle counter-clockwise. Keep in mind that one complete revolution equals 1/16” of change. When your adjustment is complete, remove the handle and place somewhere off the work surface for safety. Refer to the chart below for fractional and decimal adjustments based on the amount of revolutions made.
3. To insert a bit, raise the height of the router above the table so that the router and collet can be held with the collet wrenches.
4. Insert your bit into the collet. Important: Do not bottom out the bit in the collet.  Correctly tightening the bit requires space between the bottom of the router and the end of the bit.
5. Using one collet wrench, hold the shaft of the router while using the second wrench to tighten the collet nut. Do not overtighten, a snug tightening is fine. 
6.  Lower your bit to the desired height.
7. When you have achieved the desired bit height, using the adjustment handle, LOCK the lift mechanism 

9. Place an insert ring of an appropriate size for the bit being used into the center hole of the Lift’s top plate 

10. With the insert wrench provided, insert the prongs of the wrench into the corresponding holes in the insert ring and turn the insert ring counter clockwise to tighten. Turn the insert wrench clockwise to loosen and remove the ring. If the insert ring becomes too tight to loosen with hand pressure, a tap clockwise on the insert wrench with a block of wood will loosen it.
    

11. Set the bit speed according to this table and your bit size.

12. To begin routing, turn on the router using the push button on the control panel.

Training Videos

This is a half-hour video if you've never used a router table like this before: How to Use the JessEm Mast-R-Lift II Router Table

Need Help?

For questions or additional help, feel free to ask the friendly people over in the wood-shop Discord channel.

Manufacturer's Manual

Jessem Router 02120_-_MAST-R-LIFT_II_Manual_Imperial.pdf