Before I left for work two weeks ago, I ordered the Rousseau 3002 Router Lift LS from Amazon. By also ordering a $15 engraving tool (which is back-ordered) I got the router lift for a 35% discount off the $170 price...$104 to be exact.

This afternoon, I got around to installing it in my router table. It took all of 30 minutes to complete. I already had a Rousseau insert in my table and the one on the lift was a perfect fit for the opening.

When I routed out the opening for the original insert, I took pains to get it at exactly the correct depth. As a result, I've never had to use the leveling inserts and plastic screws. I didn't need the ones that came with the lift, either so into the same plastic jar they went with the others.

Installation consisted of raising the lift until it just touched the o-rings on the leg guides. I then turned it upside down and attached the insert to a couple pieces of scrap 2 x 2 to leave clearance underneath the insert for the collet to extend through.

I took the router (PC 895 PK) out of the table, removed the old insert and the fixed base. After blowing off the accummulated sawdust, I inserted the motor through the lift until it just touched the insert, picked it up 1/16" and locked the clamp. No clamp adjust ment was necessary.

I dropped it back in the table, installed the corner blocks and that was it!

I haven't routed anything with it yet but the lift mechanism is very smooth and bit changes can be made above the table. It's a lot faster than the built-in mechanism on the PC 895. In fact, I had been making most of my adjustments by unlocking the motor and moving it by hand rather than mess with the built-in lift. I was making bit changes with the entire router lifted out of the table.

I think I'm going to like the Rousseau lift a lot, especially for a mere $104. :)

Cody
Tyler, TX


He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for that which he cannot lose.