Router Raizer RZ100 Precise Router Depth Adjustment

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 Kit https://www.amazon.com/Molded-Router-Table-Insert-Routers/dp/B01M5B613B/ Kreg Table Insert https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BSYL1U/ Dust Collector Port I Hope this helps!!

I thought that a router lift was something I could without. The lifts are expensive and in my case would necessitate a new mounting plate for the table and a new router. I started thinking about lifts when I realized that small ¼” bits could not be fully seated and then raised to the needed height with the Freud FT2200. This was causing a needless risk. I’m not sure where I found out about the Router Raizer but it seemed like a small gamble. I have nothing but respect for those reviewers who put their Raiser together in 1 ½ hours. I think it took me that long to understand the directions. Actual assemble was a little more than 3 hours. I did spend about an hour unseating and replacing the drive pins. The instructions hinted this could be tough but that may just be a Freud router artifact. The instructions are very detailed and very well written. I followed them sentence by sentence. The Raizer worked correctly on the first try. It is very smooth and it solved my problem, I am very happy, (and at least $500 ahead). I bought the product in 2014, because of the good reviews on this site, needed some way of adjusting bit height on my router table, and frankly the cost. While installing the Raizer I ran into some trouble and called the help line. The recorded message said they would call back and I thought, Right. About 10 minutes later I received the return call. The gentleman was knowledgeable, friendly, and most of all patient. My difficulty was quickly diagnosed and fixed. The raiser worked exactly as advertised and completely eliminated the need for a lift. I regularly (and successfully) raised and lowered routers bits until May 2016. Then trouble. While trying to lower a bit (to a new low with a lot of resistance) the router separated from its base. I was not able to reassemble the device so I called the help line. I received the return call within one minute. Bob worked with me for about ten minutes when I was called away. No problem: said Bob, just call back when you can. I did and we resumed our discussion. It soon became apparent to Bob that my description of the innards of the router did not fit with his memory. He told me that he lived about 5 minutes from his office and that he had a similar router there, and that he would go get it and return. Shortly thereafter he determined the problem and shipped the correct parts to me. The part arrived two days later and installed in no time. The Raizer now works exactly as advertised. In this day and age that kind of customer is unheard of. Thank You Bob

I installed my Router Raizer this last weekend on my Dewalt 625. I found installation to be somewhat complex. However, this is a known issue, the instructions themselves are even clear on that, and I can't add to what anyone else has said on the matter. Read them very carefully, be careful not to skip any steps, etc. One tip I have is to understand the options you have for installing based on how you will use it and the changes that go with each: with the original sub-base (typical phenolic or plastic base screwed to the bottom of the metal base), directly to a table or table insert, or with the rubber insert pad included with the Raizer kit. Pay attention to these carefully. I installed mine on a Rousseau insert plate. To locate the hole which needed to be drilled, I did not use their locating pin (it seemed to be the single missing part, or the single part I lost), but instead dimpled the plate with a drill bit that was slightly smaller than the original router base adjustment bolt. I then removed the base to complete the hole, without risk of damaging the orginal base threads. Once installed, it worked very smoothly and impressively. I was able to adjust the router at least as good as if I were doing it with the manual controls, but able to do it much faster, without leaning below the table, etc. I take no stars off for the complex installation. That's a known "feature." However, if I could double the # of stars for company support, I would do that in an instant. At the suggestion in other reviews here, I also purchased the company's Xtreme Xtension. But before purchasing both, I called Router Technologies to ask some questions as well as for some recommendations. These are guys who will talk to you for as long as you want, will try to give you answers to any questions about routers and their use even beyond their own products, and will help you in any way that you need. These are guys who say "here, take my cell phone number and call me if you have any questions while setting it up over the weekend," etc.). As other reviewers, I also highly suggest the Xtreme Xtension. Amazon doesn't carry it, but other retailers such as Rockler or MLCS Woodworking do. Overall: Great product with some of the best support I have ever experienced for nearly any retail purchase I've made. Great value and well worth the time/expense.

The Router raizer fits and works graet on my router and and the home made router table I made. The instruction that came with it was easy to read and follow. I installed the parts within 40 min. with no proublem at all. Now I can adjust my router to the depth I need in a few secends. I do not have to take my plate off to adjust my router any more. The only thing I don't agree is the parts that do not need, now I have them parts in a bag doing nothing for the price that paid for it. It will be good if they only send the parts you need for the router you are useing then you should only pay for the part thhat you are going to use. Yes I will recommend this router parts to a friend. I am happy with it.

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 recently purchased a router table and needed to buy a lift system or a new router with the lift built into it. Router table rigs can get ridiculously expensive - A Kreg router table with fence, casters, router plate and a few other accessories will run you close to $600, many of the router lifts on the market are in the $300-$400 range, and then you spend a few hundred more on a router and you're in for $1500 before you've bought a single bit. Since I already owned a Porter Cable 7529 plunge router, I was intrigued by this sub-$100 unit that would allow me to keep on using my existing router at a reasonable price. I mean let's face it - a router table set-up shouldn't cost more than a high end cabinet table saw! If you're not mechanically inclined or are afraid to take something apart, you should think twice about tackling the installation of the Router Raizer. Although I found absolutely nothing difficult about the installation and had no trouble following the directions to a perfect installation, I can see where some people that don't have a mechanical aptitude would be intimidated - even with the scaled parts list. The installation took about an hour and to me, it was time well spent. The Router Raizer is a wonderfully simple device that extended the usable life and functionality of my existing router. Of the few lousy reviews here for the Router Raizer, I'd be willing to bet that those reviews were written by mechanically challenged individuals that probably should have had someone do the installation for them (except for the woman that thought that she was buying a router!? To her I say READ THE DESCRIPTION!)

I recently purchased the Hitachi M12V from Amazon and the Benchdog router table from Woodcraft. After setting everything up, I realized what a hassle it was going to be to adjust the height of the router from inside the cabinet. The only decent way to install the Hitachi in the router table, left most of the controls in awkward places. I went back to Woodcraft to look at some of the router tables they had set up, and they all had very expensive router lifters that cost twice as much as the Hitachi router I had just purchased. That didn't make any sense. Then I saw a Router Razer ad in a magazine. I read all the reviews on Amazon and decided this was definitely the way to go. I ordered the Router Razer from Amazon. Upon opening the package the task seemed rather daunting. However, other companies could take lessons from Router Technologies on engineering and directions. The instructions seemed overwhelming until I actually started reading them. One of the first instructions, is to discard most of the instructions. Gotta love that! Once you narrow down the instructions to the ones just for your router you have just a few pages. I found the instructions and the assembly process to be very simple and straight forward. There are quite a few steps to follow but, each one is actually rather simple. What started out as a bag of parts (a lot of which you won't use because they are for other router brands) and a stack of instructions (as thick as a magazine) ended up a marvel of function and simplicity. What I really liked best about the instructions, is the sheet with all the parts illustrated life-size and numbered to match the illustrations in the instructions. The Router Razer absolutely works great. I highly recommend using a dedicated router for your table. It's really not practical to take it in and out of the table for hand use. For the Hitachi M12V, you will have to drill through the base where the height adjustment attaches. Plus, it makes sense to take the handles off as well since they won't be needed. I ended up taking the money I saved by buying the Router Razer and buying the Hitachi KM12VC 2.25hp plunge/fixed base combo router from Amazon. It is much lighter and easier to use by hand anyway.

Seems to do what it’s suppose to but the installation is lengthy and confusing. I managed to get it installed and it took a couple hours. It works okay for what it does. It doesn’t work nearly as well as an actual router lift. I’d recommend it only if you’re on a tight budget. Other was, spend another $100 and get an entry level lift.