INCRA Mast-R-Lift II User Manual

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Suggested Router Bit Speeds

Bit Diameter Max. Speed
1” (25mm) 24,000 RPM
1-1/4” - 2” (30-50mm) 18,000 RPM
2-1/4” - 2-1/2” (55-65mm) 16,000 RPM
3” - 3-1/2” (75-90mm) 12,000 RPM

IMPORTANT!

Read and understand the contents of
this manual before assembly or
operation of this product.

User Manual

Model #02120, 02121

100 Caplan Ave., Units 14 & 15
Barrie, Ontario L4N 9J2
Canada

866-272-7492 Toll Free
705-726-8233 Local Phone
705-726-7519 Fax

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.jessem.com

Mast R Lift

™

II

INCRA

JessEm Tool Company. We appreciate your
support and hope that our product serves you
well. This product is designed to provide
many years of reliable service provided it is
used as intended and taken care of.

This user manual will assist you in assembly
and general operation of this product. It is
not our intent to teach you about
woodworking. It is assumed that you are an
experienced woodworker with the basic skills
and experience necessary to use this product
safely. If after reading the following
instructions, if you are unsure or
uncomfortable about safely using this
product we urge you to seek additional
information through widely available
woodworking books or classes.

As part of our Continuous Product
Improvement Policy, JessEm products are
always advancing in design and function.
Therefore there may be differences between
what is shown in our catalogs, website or at
retail display and what is sold at time of
purchase. We reserve the right to make
positive changes to our products at our
discretion.

CONTENTS:

1 - Mast-R-Lift™ II
1 - Height Adjustment Handle
10 - 1/4-28 x 1/4” Leveling Set Screws
1 -Start Pin
1 - 3/16” hex key
Also includes:
5 - Magna Lock Insert Rings
1 - 3/32” Hex Key
1 - 1/8” Hex Key
1 - 5/32” Hex Key
1 - 1/4-20 x 1/4” Cam Screw

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Figure 1

Figure 2

1.

With a 1/8” hex key, remove one of the
¼” shoulder bolts from one of the clamping
blocks and slide the clamping block on the
carriage (Figure 2)

Before installing the router motor, prop the
unit up on blocks of wood (Fig. 1) so the
router’s collet can extend through the center
hole in the top plate. The motor housing
must be able to slide all the way through and
contact the inside back of the center hole on
the plate.

INSTALLING THE ROUTER

 Before operating any router, read and

understand all safety instructions in the
owner’s manual that came with the router.

 If you do not have a manual, contact the

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.

 Do not exceed the recommended RPM for

any router bit.

 Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry that

may catch on tools or equipment.

 Unplug the tool or machine when mounting

or making any adjustments to mechanical
performance.

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

length is inserted securely in the router
collet.

 Never bottom out the bit in the collet. Allow

1/8” clearance between shank and bottom

of collet.

 Always make sure the fence on your router

table is locked into position before each
use.

 Always rout in two or more passes when

large amounts of stock must be removed.

 Use reduced RPM speeds for large

diameter bits.

Place the crank handle into the hex hole in the
lift’s dial on the top plate. Crank the lift carriage
up so that it just contacts the O-rings at the top
of the carriage shafts. The carriage should be
all the way toward the top plate.

Porter Cable 7518

A1

Porter Cable 690/890, Bosch 1617/1618, DeWalt
610/618, Craftsman 17543/17540/28190

F4
Makita 1101

C1

Hitachi M12VC/KM12VC

E2

Milwaukee 5626

D3

Milwaukee 5615/5616/5619

G3

Rigid R29302

B1

Figure 4

Figure 3

Carriage

Clamping Block

ROUTER CHART

2.

Locate your router on the chart below.

3.

Align the letter and number associated with your router (Figures 3 and Figure 4)
and reinsert and tighten the ¼- x 1-1/2” Shoulder Bolt you removed in step 2.

4.

Repeat this for all four carriage clamping blocks

5.

With the Mast-R-Lift II Crank Handle loosen
the tensioning cap screw sufficiently to force
the carriage to spread (Figure 5). This allows
the router to be installed easily.

Figure 5

6.

Now slide the router motor into the carriage
so the top of the motor housing just makes
contact with the inside surface of the
center hole in the top plate (Figure 6)

Figure 6

8.

With the Mast-R-Lift™ II Crank handle, re-
tighten the tensioning cap screw. (Figure 7)

Figure 7

7.

Rotate the router so that when the final
installation is made all router controls will be
positioned for convenient access an there is
no interference. 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 mounting plate. Your table top must
have a port machined into the top. JessEm
offers solid phenolic router tables tops
with pre-machined ports for all JessEm
router lifts. If you are installing this Lift in a
custom table application you will have to
fabricate this opening yourself. JessEm
offers a separate template for this
operation. See your JessEm distributor for
the proper template for your JessEm Mast­R-Lift II.

Figure 8

LEVELING THE LIFT IN THE TABLE TOP

1.

With the Mast-R-Lift™ II in the table
top opening, install (10) set screws
into the holes around the lift
perimeter. Adjust (Figure 8) the four
corners first to align the lift surface to
the table surface so that both are
flush. Adjust the remaining set screws
on the sides to provide added support.

Note: If installing in an INCRA router
table, do not use the set screws.
Instead, use the threaded holes for
access to the pre-installed plate leveler
screws built into the router table.

Figure 9

1. Place the insert ring into the center hole

of the Lift’s top plate (Fig. 5).

2. With the insert wrench provided, insert

the prongs of the wrench into the
corresponding holes in the insert ring
and turn the insert ring counter
clockwise to tighten.

Turn the insert wrench clockwise to loosen and
remove the ring. If the insert ring becomes too
tight to loosen with hand pressure, a tap
clockwise on the insert wrench with a block of

wood will loosen it.

ADJUSTING THE FIT IN THE TABLE PORT

Your Mast-R-Lift™ II comes with adjustable
snugger bars to allow for a tight fit in the
table top opening and eliminate any
movement of the plate. Use the 3/16” hex
key provided to loosen the cap screws on the
snugger bars. Move the bars out slightly and
check for fit. Adjust again if necessary. (Figure

9) The INCRA Special Edition model also
includes the top mounted CamLOCK plate
locking system. See included addendum for
instructions.

Figure 10

TAB-LOC PHENOLIC INSERT RINGS

Note: The INCRA Special Edition Mast-R-Lift™ II
incorporates INCRA’s 5 Piece MagnaLOCK Ring

Insert System in place of the Tab-Loc Rings
described below. See included addendum for
instructions. Your Mast-R-Lift™ II comes with
one 2” 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 center hole
diameters. See your JessEm distributor for these
and other accessories.

USING YOUR MAST-R-LIFT™ II

To raise your router, turn the height
adjustment handle clockwise. To lower,
turn the handle counter-clockwise. Keep in
mind that one complete revolution equals
1/16” of change. When your adjustment is
complete, remove the handle and place
somewhere off the work surface for safety.
Refer to the chart below for fractional and
decimal adjustments based on amount of
revolutions made.

Fraction

Decimal

Number of

Revolutions

1/64”

0.016”

1/4 Revolution

1/32”

0.031”

1/2 Revolution

1/16”

0.062”

1 Revolution

1/8”

0.125”

2 Revolutions

1/4”

0.250”

4 Revolutions

1/2”

0.500”

8 Revolutions

With the Mast-R-Lift™ II you have the
added benefit of locking your Lift in a
desired position for long term routing
operations and having the comfort in
knowing the position you have set is
locked in place.

USING THE CAM LOCK ON YOUR MAST-R­LIFT™ II

1. Turn the Lift upside down on a table with
the threaded height adjustment rod
facing you.

2. Remove the ¼-20 x 1” Cap Screws
from the Carriage Nut Cover (Figure 11)
and remove the cover and o-ring
(Figure 12)

Figure 12

Figure 14

5.

Slide the carriage back up ensuring the
dowel pin in the carriage aligns with the
slot in the carriage nut. (Figure 15)

Figure 11

3.

Slide the carriage all the way up
towards the top plate of your Mast-R­Lift™ II

Figure 13

4.

Turn the carriage nut clockwise
ensuring when you complete your
adjustment that the slot in the carriage
nut aligns with one of the slots on the
anitbacklash nut. (Figure 14)

To lock
your lift
turn lift
handle
clockwise
to the

“LOCKED”

position

To unlock
your lift turn
lift handle
counter­clockwise to
the
“UNLOCKED”

position

RE-ADJUSTING THE THREAD TENSION

All JessEm Lifts feature our patented thread
tensioning design. Thread tension is set at the
factory and depending on the amount of use you
may have to reset this adjustment periodically,
depending on the amount of tension you desire.

If the bit height ever begins to change (or drop)
during use, the thread tensioning likely needs to be
reset.

JESSEM TOOL LIMITED WARRANTY

All JessEm products are warranted to be free
from defects in material and workmanship.
JessEm will repair or replace any product which
upon inspection proves to be defective for a
period of (1) year from dated receipt and proof
of purchase. All warranty claims should be
made direct to JessEm Tool Company. Contact

JessEm for a warranty claim return authorization
and instructions to proceed. The consumer is
responsible for shipping costs to return product
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
 Abuse, misuse or neglect.
 Improper care or maintenance.
 Continued use after partial failure.
 Products that have been modified in any way.
 Products used with improper accessories.

 Premature thread wear due to adjusting

height with electric or cordless drill.

1

E

Figure 15

6.

Place back the o-ring and carriage nut cap
and with the screws you removed in Step 2
(Figure 11) fasten the carriage nut cap
securely