Mast R Lift

User Manual
Model #02101, 02102
124 Big Bay Point Road
Barrie, Ontario, L4N 9B4
Canada

866-272-7492 Toll Free

705-726-6145 Local Phone
705-726-6055 Fax
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.jessem.com

Thank you for choosing this product from

JessEm Tool Company. We appreciate your IMPORTANT!
support and hope that our product serves you Read and understand the contents of
well. This product is designed to provide this manual before assembly or
many years of reliable service provided it is operation of this product.
used as intended and taken care of.

This user manual will assist you in assembly

As part of our Continuous Product
and general operation of this product. It is
Improvement Policy, JessEm products are
not our intent to teach you about
always advancing in design and function.
woodworking. It is assumed that you are an
Therefore there may be differences between
experienced woodworker with the basic skills
what is shown in our catalogs, website or at
and experience necessary to use this product
retail display and what is sold at time of
safely. If after reading the following
purchase. We reserve the right to make
instructions, if you are unsure or
positive changes to our products at our
uncomfortable about safely using this
discretion.
product we urge you to seek additional
information through widely available
woodworking books or classes.
CONTENTS:
1-Mast-R-Lift
1-Height Adjustment Handle
Also includes 1-Insert Ring, 1-Insert Ring
Suggested Router Bit Speeds Wrench, 1-1/8” Hex Wrench, 1-Start Pin
Bit Diameter Max. Speed
1” (25mm) 24,000 RPM TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY:
1-1/4” - 2” (30-50mm) 18,000 RPM 5/16” Hex Wrench
2-1/4” - 2-1/2” (55-65mm) 16,000 RPM
3” - 3-1/2” (75-90mm) 12,000 RPM TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ADJUSTMENT:
7/16” Wrench
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS INSTALLING THE ROUTER

! Before operating any router read and 1. Place the crank handle into the hex hole in
understand all safety instructions in the the lift’s dial on the top plate. Crank the lift
owner’s manual that came with the router. carriage up so that it just contacts the O-rings at
the top of the carriage shafts. The carriage
! If you do not have a manual, contact the should be all the way toward the top plate.
manufacturer and obtain one before using
any power tool.
! Always wear eye protection in compliance
with ANSI safety standards when operating
any power tool.
! Always use proper guards and safety
devices when operating power tools and
machinery.
! Carefully check router bits before each use.
Do not use if damage or defect is
suspected.
FIG. 1
! Do not exceed the recommended RPM for
any router bit.
! Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry that 2. With a 5/16” hex wrench, loosen the cap
may catch on tools or equipment. screw on the carriage clamp to allow the motor to
! Unplug the tool or machine when mounting slide into the carriage assembly (Fig. 1).
The Mast-R-Lift will accept the Porter Cable 7518
or making any adjustments to mechanical
out of the box. If you are using a smaller
performance. diameter router motor insert the adapter collar
into the opening.

DO NOT USE A CORDLESS DRILL TO

RAISE AND LOWER THE LIFT CARRIAGE.
THE AMOUNT OF FRICTION WILL CAUSE
PREMATURE WEAR OF THE THREADS
AND WILL VOID WARRANTY

ROUTER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

! Never force the bit or overload the router

beyond the expectations of the tool.
! Be sure that at least 3/4 of the shank FIG. 2
length is inserted securely in the router
collet.
! Never bottom out the bit in the collet. Allow 3. Before installing the router motor, prop the
1/8” clearance between shank and bottom unit up on blocks of wood (Fig. 2) so the router’s
of collet. collet can extend through the centerhole in the
! Always make sure the fence on your router top plate. The motor housing must slide all the
table is locked into position before each way through and contact the inside back of the
use. centerhole on the plate.
! Always rout in two or more passes when
large amounts of stock must be removed. Now slide the router motor into the carriage so
the top of the motor housing just makes contact
! Use reduced RPM speeds for large
with the inside surface of the centerhole in the
diameter bits. top plate.
INSTALLING THE ROUTER (cont’d)
Rotate the router so that when the final
installation is made all router controls will be
positioned for convenient access. Then back the
motor off approx. 1/16” from contacting the top
plate and tighten the cap screw on the carriage
assembly.

INSTALLING A JESSEM LIFT IN A CUSTOM

ROUTER TABLE APPLICATION

A JessEm router lift is similar to using a router

FIG. 4
mounting plate. Your table top must have a port
machined into the top. JessEm offers solid ADJUSTING THE FIT IN THE TABLE PORT
phenolic router tables tops with pre-machined
ports for all JessEm router lifts. If you are Your Mast-R-Lift comes with adjustable snugger
installing this Lift in a custom table application bars to allow for a tight fit in the table top
you will have to fabricate this opening yourself. opening and eliminate any movement of the
JessEm offers a separate template for this plate. Use the 1/8” hex wrench provided to
operation. See your JessEm distributor for the loosen the cap screws on the snugger bars. Move
proper template for your JessEm router lift. the bars out slightly and check for fit. Adjust
again if necesssary.

TAB-LOC PHENOLIC INSERT RINGS

Your Mast-R-Lift comes with one insert ring with a

pre-drilled center hole. Additional ring sets are
available with different diameter pre-drilled holes
and/or no pre-drilled holes for creating your own
custom centerhole diameters. See your JessEm
distributor for these and other accessories

FIG. 3

LEVELING THE LIFT IN THE TABLE TOP

1. The Mast-R-Lift features built-in plate levelers

to adjust the surface of the top plate flush with
the router table surface (Fig. 3). Using the 1/8”
hex wrench included with your lift adjust all four FIG. 5
levelers so they are flush with the underside of
the plate surface. Then place the lift in the table 1. Place the insert ring into the centerhole of
top and determine amount of adjustment the Lift’s top plate (Fig. 5).
needed. Take the lift out of the table and make
the same amount of adjustment on all four 2. With the insert wrench provided, insert the
levelers. Be sure to make all adjustments equal prongs of the wrench into the corresponding
in terms of rotations and/or fractions of a holes in the insert ring and turn the insert ring
rotation. Place the lift back in the table top and counter clockwise to tighten.
check for level. If necessary repeat until desired
level is achieved. 3. Turn the insert wrench clockwise to loosen
Note: If you are using a JessEm table top there and remove the ring. If the insert ring becomes
are pre-drilled holes in the bottom of the table to too tight to loosen with hand pressure, a tap
allow access from underneath the table. This clockwise on the insert wrench with a block of
allows you to make the leveling adjustment with wood will loosen it.
the Lift installed in the table top.
USING YOUR MAST-R-LIFT 2. With a 7/16” open end wrench, (Fig. 6)
loosen the 1/4” - 20 hex nut that is located on
To raise your router, turn the height adjustment the right side of the brass post next to the
handle clockwise. To lower, turn the handle threaded rod. Then use a hex wrench to back out
counter-clockwise. Keep in mind that one the set screw that threads through the nut until
complete revolution equals 1/16” of change. the brass tensioning collar can be turned.
When your adjustment is complete, remove the
handle and place somewhere off the work 3. Rotate the brass tensioning collar with
surface for safety. Refer to the chart below for vertical grooves, so it tightens against the rubber
fractional and decimal adjustments based on washer. Note: a drop of oil on the rubber washer
amount of revolutions made. eases the rotation of the brass collar.

4. Be certain when you tighten the brass collar

Fraction Decimal Number of the set screw seats in one of the vertical grooves.
Revolutions
1/64” 0.016” 1/4 Revolution 5. Tighten the 1/4”-20 nut with the 7/16”
1/32” 0.031” 1/2 Revolution wrench again and the adjustment is complete.
1/16” 0.062” 1 Revolution
1/8” 0.125” 2 Revolutions
1/4” 0.250” 4 Revolutions
1/2” 0.500” 8 Revolutions

RE-ADJUSTING THE THREAD TENSIONING JESSEM TOOL LIMITED WARRANTY

All JessEm Lifts feature our patented thread All JessEm products are warranted to be free
tensioning design. This feature is why it is not from defects in material and workmanship.
necessary to lock the router into position after JessEm will repair or replace any product which
setting the cutting height. The design keeps upon inspection proves to be defective for a
tension on the position wherever you set the period of (1) year from dated receipt and proof
height. Thread tension is set at the factory and of purchase. All warranty claims should be
depending on the amount of use you may have to made direct to JessEm Tool Company. Contact
reset this adjustment periodically. If the bit height JessEm for a warranty claim return authorization
ever begins to change (or drop) during use, the and instructions to proceed. The consumer is
responsible for shipping costs to return product
thread tensioning likely needs to be reset. to JessEm Tool Company. We will repair or
replace the product at our discretion and
JessEm Tool will return shipment to you at no
charge.

WARRANTY LIMITATIONS

This warranty does not cover:

! Repairs or alterations made or attempted by
anyone other than JessEm Tool Company or
an authorized JessEm service professional.
! Normal wear and tear
FIG. 6 ! Abuse, misuse or neglect.
! Improper care or maintenance.
! Continued use after partial failure.
1. Turn the Lift upside down on a table with the ! Products that have been modified in any way.
threaded height adjustment rod facing you. ! Products used with improper accessories.
! Premature thread wear due to adjusting
height with electric or cordless drill.