Router Raizer RZ100 Precise Router Depth Adjustment

Its amazing how expensive router lifts are, usually much more then the router itself. The Router Raizer is a bargain alternative and was recommended for my Hitachi M12V and I installed it. Read on for my experience installing and using the Router Raizer.THE GOOD:-- SMOOTH LIFT OPERATION: Once installed, the operation was sooth and without any hysteresis or in other words the up and down adjust was very repeatable. I could get a very accurate and repeatable height using the hand crank.-- FINE HEIGHT RESOLUTION: I estimate about 1/16" per rotation of the speed wrench so the lift provides a fine height resolution making fine adjustments easy.-- GOOD INSTRUCTIONS: but not perfect. The key is to pull only those pages for your router. This is stated in the instructions. This kit if for several different routers and contains many parts not needed. That with the multiple instructions its easy to make a mistake if you don't first eliminate the other routers and parts.-- LEAVE SPRINGS INSTALLED: When I used the router in the table I removed 1 spring to make it easier to adjust from below. With the Router Raizer you can leave both springs installed. It takes a little more power to raise then lower with the Raizer and perhaps some may still want to remove 1 spring.-- WILL WORK ON 1/4" THICK TABLE PLATE: The plate needs to be modified to clear the protrusion on the router surface caused by the Raizer and also to provide access to the allen adjustment. The combination of underneath countersink and space left for the dust cover is very marginal on a 1/4" thick plate. I think there may be somewhere in the instructions that a 3/8" thickness is required. In order for the Raiser portion that sits on router face to clear and install flush with the table plate I needed to countersink a 3/4" hole on the bottom of the plate about 1/8" deep to clear the turning mechanism. A 1/2" diameter hole is drilled for the Raizer allen head adjust access. My aluminum 1/4" plate was thick for the 3/4" recess + the disc cover to clear the top surface of the plate. But I got it to work by sanding disk to thin it in order for it to not poke above the table plate surface and prevented interference with the work piece. Ultimately I found this disc dust cover is unnecessary and need not be used and I address that further on in the review.-- GREAT SUPPORT: No email or text contact but I called and they were very cooperative and helpful quickly sending out some missing parts and offering up other helpful advise. Robert who helped me even provided is personal cell number should I have installation problems after their office was closed.THE BAD:-- MISSING PARTS. I recommend to carefully audit the parts. I found 4 parts missing or shortages in the kit I got. I called and they were very responsive in sending the missing parts.-- OBSOLETE INSTRUCTIONS: I discovered that the instructions were old and the some of the supplied parts did not match the drawings . For example there are instructions to use 2 wrenches to tighten the assembly that holds the shaft. But one of the parts no longer has a hex shape to use a wrench but now has a screwdriver slot. See picture showing different slot part on left and hex on right. So one must hold the nut by inserting a flat blade screwdriver sideways in the slot and while tightening the other end with the wrench. I thought I had the wrong part and called and they said the original hex part was replaced with the slotted part.-- INTERFERENCES: A knob used to finger tighten to the shaft would interfere or rub against the body of the router when turning the adjust. I replaced the knob with a small allen screw which was included with the kit (I assumed for use with another router) and that solved that issue. Another interference was the knob at the bottom of the shaft (opposite the table adjust). This knob is to adjust the bit height and would rub against the router body when turning the table allen. This knob is used if the router is in a hand held configuration and since i never use it hand held I just removed it so problem solved.-- LOOSE DUST COVER IS CONCERNING: With my thinner 1/4 table insert, the small 3/8" diameter disk is provided to cover the allen adjust on top of the table is loose in the recess(see picture). there is no room to install the insert provided. The recessed Raizer allen adjust is to the left slightly above the mounting screw. I find this to be very uncomfortable to have loose parts on the table when the router is in use. The disk sits loosely in the 1/2" hole and could vibrate out interfering with the work or worse finding its way into the spinning bit. The cover clearly vibrates around in the recess and will no doubt come out of its recess. WITH DUST COLLECTION NO WORRIES: I have a good dust collection system and on my table I found no need for the cover. After several experiments the cover never filled with wood dust. I even turned off the dust collector and even then did not have a problem with dust collecting in the allen head. For me I will not be used the disc cover as the risk of issue interfering with the work and worse getting caught up in the bit is too great.UPDATE: 11/1/19. I ordered a 2nd Router Raizer for a 2nd table. With the package all the small parts were in a small sealed bag within the larger bag, unlike the first I recieved. The first had all the parts comingled in the larger bag. Obviously on the first order I received a returned order that was not properly audited before reselling. So if your parts are not in a second sealed bag be sure to audit very carefully.CONCLUSION: Other then some issues with missing parts and interference and after working through the issues and determining that the loose dust cover is unnecessary, the lift worked wonderfully in my table. Even with the issues I found I still value the Router Raizer as a 5 star product. I heartily recommend the Router Raizer. Even if the install is intimidating for you the instructions are good and the support is excellent.

I used the Router Raizer RZ100, to adapt my Hitachi M12VC 3,1/4HP router combo kit I purchased here last year (linked below) and Kreg Tool Router Table Insert that I also purchases here (linked below). I had been looking for a solution to get me off my knees and out from under the router table. This fills those goals perfectly and with a very high degree of speed and accuracy, thus increasing my workflow, while saving my knees!Prior to this purchase I had looked at two other commercial router lifts, in person, both for a lot more money, and both IMHO by far inferior to the Router Raizer RZ100, in usability, accuracy and speed of adjustment.I googled the Router Raizer RZ100, went to their website, found the directions for my Hitachi, downloaded them and read them several times before ordering and installing. You may wish to do this yourself, but Be Aware: The Instructions and the Parts Lists have changed! Follow the Instructions that accompany your kit, They Are Much Better!!I had two major concerns before buying this, but they turned out to be non-issues. My Plunge Lock-Lever was a difficult. I couldn’t understand how I was going to hold it down with one and work the raise/lower crank and the same time. My next concern was would I even be able to use the router as a hand-held, plunge router again. The Router Raizer RZ100 is so well engineered and thought-out. The Plunge Router functions perfectly on the standard, original base (drilled as instructed) and I love the manual control of the plunge lock lever now that the new spring has been installed.- I had always had an issue with the plunge sticking at the end of my cut, when released. This issue seems to be resolved now. I used the recommended STP Oil Treatment and it’s my guess this did the trick as an added bonus!!- The Install itself went pretty seamlessly. The difficult step for me was removing the roll pin. I found clamping the router base to a table made the much easier! Replacing the shorter roll pin, a pair of needle nose pliers really helped. I used a drill press to drill my router table incept and the original base. The entire install took just over an hour. I was more interested in a quality job, then I was a winning a race.- The Only Down Side: It is more complicated to use with the plunge base, as a conventional plunge router, or perhaps it’s just new to me and I’ll need to relearn its usage. However I use a plunge base so seldomly since I purchased the table insert anyway, I’m not planning on to much practice,- Other thoughts and Notes: Because as previously mounted, my holes were already drilled in the Table Insert. In order to keep the adjust access port out from under my fence, I rotated the router up one hole, positioning the router diagonally on the insert rather than perpendicular as it was intended to be mounted. This puts the Plunge Lock-Lever directly in front of me and extremely easy to access without crawling under the table. I’ve also positioned the motor base so that the on/off switch is directly in front. I had always used the standard base with my table insert. By positioning the Plunge Lock-Lever and the on/off switch permanently is Huge for me!! Love this even more!!https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FSRUZM/ My Hitachi M12VC 3,1/4 HP Kithttps://www.amazon.com/Molded-Router-Table-Insert-Routers/dp/B01M5B613B/ Kreg Table Inserthttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BSYL1U/ Dust Collector PortI Hope this helps!!