Innovative Router lift mechanism

**Christophe Mineau** · Jul 21, 2020, 06:11 AM

Hi !
This is a new kind of Router lift mechanism.
We've seen so many things on that topic, sometimes very complicated contraptions, with screws, slides, or sometimes gears.
They often have several drawbacks, like heavy footprint, limited access to the chuck, intrusive, see destructive for the router, etc ...
Sometimes, the pulling action applies only to one of the router posts, which works well at the beginning, with plenty of WD40, but stops working after some hours because of wood dust.

This mechanism fixes all of these drawbacks.
And it is very simple, I took maybe half a day to make it.
It's based on ... bicycle break cables !

And it is really powerful, I can prove it, in my case, it lifts like a charm a router "beast" made for carpenters, German made, which weights maybe 15kg !

Here it is on my site : https://www.labellenote.fr/articles....=313&tconfig=0

And on Youtube :

**bruce.desertrat** · Jul 21, 2020, 07:02 PM

Very slick, but my mind is still boggling at a 15KG router!! what a beast!

**Crusty** · Jul 21, 2020, 07:16 PM

Great idea, and no servos, Arduinos, stepper motors, lead screws, etc. were required to make a fully functional device.

I didn't see any breaks in the brake cables though.

**Christophe Mineau** · Jul 22, 2020, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by Crusty

Great idea, and no servos, Arduinos, stepper motors, lead screws, etc. were required to make a fully functional device.

I didn't see any breaks in the brake cables though.

Yes, it's a possible future evolution.
On this router, the break is one of the handle, you just have to rotate it, and it's accessible through a door on the cabinet under the table.
An evolution would be to command that handle using a cable either.

**Crusty** · Jul 22, 2020, 07:59 AM

I understand English isn't your first language so just a gentle correction. Brake is what the cables did on the bicycle, break is destructive action.

I think I would make the lift crank wheel a little smaller in diameter to that it doesn't extend above the table surface - you just never know what size and shape the next workpiece may be and you might need it to extend past the edge where the crank is.

**Christophe Mineau** · Jul 22, 2020, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Crusty

Brake is what the cables did on the bicycle, break is destructive action.

Oh yes ! sorry for that mistake , and thanks for telling me.
Unfortunately, I cannot edit and fix my message, (maybe Jon could help ?)

Originally Posted by Crusty

Brake
I think I would make the lift crank wheel a little smaller in diameter to that it doesn't extend above the table surface - you just never know what size and shape the next workpiece may be and you might need it to extend past the edge where the crank is.

Sure, actually, the beauty of this thing is that you can choose where you locate the mechanism on the machine, and here, I screwed it under the table only for the sake of demonstration. In fact I was in a hurry to deliver it to my friend, so he will have to take care of it.
I think it would be better located on the side wall.
Other option would be to make a removable crank, but here I had no time for that.

**Crusty** · Jul 22, 2020, 05:23 PM

A simple wheel trim to reduce its diameter a bit so that the wheel doesn't extend above the table surface would do it, in keeping with your KISS method (Keep It Simple, Stupid - a common phrase for design guidance in the US).

This brings to mind one of my favorite problem solver devices. On big trucks and other machinery there is commonly a power takeoff control, which consists of a rubber coated long spring guide through which a solid but flexible metal wire travels with a knob at one one, used to operate machinery controls. Since it can deliver a significant amount of force by pushing or pulling on the knob and the guide is small and flexible enough to reach into many difficult to access locations often times it's a great, cheap solution for difficult controls. Some even come with a hand tightened friction nut to lock the wire at any position within its travel range.

Here's one I found at Amazon that's only $7.

Innovative Router lift mechanism-pto-cable.jpg

**DIYer** · Jul 23, 2020, 05:35 AM

Thanks Christophe Mineau! We've added your Router Lift to our Router Tables category,
as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Router Lift by Christophe Mineau

tags: lifting, router