JessEm vs. Rockler - Router Lift Comparison #routertable #woodworking #toolreview

We will compare and review the JessEm Rout-R-Lift II and the Rockler SL Router Lift. Both are great tools. Both are from great tool innovators. Only one will be the best router lift and earn a permanent home in our woodworking shop.
@JessEmToolCompany
@rockler

JessEm router lift and insert ring set

Rockler SL Router Lift

[uechikid]

Of course, a year and a half later, the JessEm lift in the video is no longer available, on Amazon. 🙁

[JessEmToolCompany]

We're listening! Great review guys.

[houseoffire]

I own the Jessem Master R lift. Absolutely love it..!

[jamesmarotta]

Love the review. Had a hard time weeding through Kreg just couldn’t get over the non pro rep. Than like you Rockler loved the look and the pop off rings. Wines up I went with the Jess em. Bought the weekend warrior set up. Thanks for reassurance that I made the right pick.

[dngriffiths]

JessEm was the innovator of this style of router lift. Would you rather go with the innovator or the copier? 
And JessEm's machining on all of their products is superb. You won't be disappointed with JessEm.

[EnderD]

Thank you for the review. The rockler lift was one I've been considering, but I'll be giving that a second thought after the mention of the way the clamping works.

[thomasazzopardi]

I'm not sure but if I had to guess you liked the little push button release for the rings. I gotta give it to you, you stuck to your guns. Liking the pretty blue rings and the quick release button You are a true woodworker. On a serious note, thank you for noting these differences. I think JessEm has a new customer.

[rhman]

Thank you for doing this review. I was on the fence and this really helped.

[CordellWoodworks]

Good stuff, I just got the JessEm for Christmas from my lovely wife! I can't wait to integrate it into my miter stand!

[kurtgoodwin]

Past experience with the Jessem mitre gage has been fantastic, one of the best engineered and built tools I’ve seen. Not surprised that the same seems true for the lifts

[pointblankokc]

I'm about to build a new router table into my new work bench. I've been trying to decide which lift I wanted. This very helpful video just helped me decide. Gonna order the JessEm soon.

[MAGAMAN]

Incra and Jessem are about the only wood working products I will buy without worrying about the quality. The incra Mast-r-Lift is a great combination of the Jessem (I believe) with incra innovation. No retarded button needed to release the plate, and no special tool needed, because they are magnetic. They also have a version of the plates that are ventilated to allow the shavings to be vacuumed out through the plate.

I have found a lot of the products Rockler sells are not only Harbor Freight quality at best, but many times they are rebranded versions of the exact same thing harbor freight sells at a marked up price.

[Dwwantz]

Wow. Thank you so much for this great review. I’m
In a buy or build stage right now. Aww.. I may as well go to Rockler, get the cast iron table and their router lift. Then I saw your review. Tire screeching sound! May just spend the time making the table too.

[AJBuiltThis]

I am really glad you guys made this video before I bought a router lift 😅

[chrisnash]

OMG. He was killing me with his obsession with the pop-out rings! LMAO. (it is really cool though) it made it even funnier that the lady never broke out of character when he commented about the rings.

[mycowboyways]

Love the review. I have been eyeballing a JessEm router lift. Especially now that JessEM just released their own Pow-R-TeK SR Router motor with variable speed control. Rockler has some cool tools but its hard to beat JessEm on this one.

[tonymarrazzo]

I have the JessEm and love it! On the Rockler, I would get some shim stock from the auto parts store and shim the router in the clamp, that should stop the post flex and hold plenty solid.

[RonKillian]

Good review :) I have never used the Rockler, but I have the Jessem Mast-R lift for Incra and it's amazing. So heavy duty, so smooth and so precise. It's a work of art. Have a Porter Cable 3-1/4" motor and it does just about anything. The Jessem is a pleasure to use. Plus Incra has magnetic plates, even better than a "button" :)

[jeffwilder]

I’ve had the Jessem Master LiftII for about 5 years now and love it. It has 3 ‘v’ shaped clamps inside itself to hold the router which clamps very securely and no bending of the posts. I’m thinking it was a little over $300 at the time. Not 100% sure. I paired it with a Milwaukee 3 1/2 hp router variable speed. What a beast of a setup!!! I highly recommend this one!!!

[csimet]

IMHO, Jessem makes some quality stuff. I have their lift and stock guides (both table saw and router). Love them. My biggest complaint about the Rockler... it is not a "standard" size plate and does not fit many available router tables tops like my cast iron extension table for my table saw. They kind of lock you into buying their tables. I like my stuff to be of standard sizing so I can mix and match parts.