I have posted this else where, but for the benefit of those who haven't seen it and are wondering if a router lift can be fitted to a cast iron top, this is how I did it awhile back.

I had bought a generic sliding router table awhile back It was a heavy,sturdy table very well constructed. It had a couple of draw backs though. The table tilted up towards the operator, not sure what benefit that was. and the router was extremely difficult to mount under the table. I ended up drilling and counter boring thru holes to mount the motor. Took 2 attempts to get the motor centered in the hole and then it was still off center a 1/16"+.

Another problem was the top was 1" thick where the motor mounted so it cut down on the depth of the bit height travel significantly. I decided to install a router lift with a aluminum plate instead. I was fortunate enough to obtain a like new Rockler lift for a Bosch 1617 router which I had mounted on this table.

After the table was removed from the stand,I marked around the router plate on the lift and drilled holes through the top, at the corners. Then I clamped an angle iron straight edge to the top to guide the cutting wheel. I set the guide 1/16' inside the cutout finish size so I could grind it to finish opening.

Then I used the dremel with a cutoff wheel to cut the hole . It took 4 setups to get all sides.. Then I took a grinding wheel on the dremel and ground the hole to size.. After the plate fit the hole I installed some tabs I made to level the plate.

I just let the plate "float " and I can lift it out for any reason at any time.  I like the muscle chuck so installed that on the motor for quick changing bits with out wrenches.

Herb

 

Edited November 24, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
tags added

That look really good.

Great Mod!

 

You really gave that Dremel tool a workout!!

Nice job of fabricating that.  I'm thinking you used the air powered three inch cut off wheel in picture 11 or you went through 12 dozen Dremel cut off wheels.

 

yur the man Herb...

Geez Herb, your machining skills may trump your WW'ing...Awesome job...that looks like it rolled off the factory floor.  You get my vote for router table of the year! 

2 hours ago, HandyDan said:

Nice job of fabricating that.  I'm thinking you used the air powered three inch cut off wheel in picture 11 or you went through 12 dozen Dremel cut off wheels.

 

Dan I tried that but didn't have enough air from my compressor to make it keep from bogging down and then I would have to wait for it to build back up again. I tried a small battery circular saw too with the 3" cut off wheels too,could not control it.

I even tried a jig saw with metal cutting blades they wandered too much. That dremel really cuts fast and the wheels last longer than I expected. I did go thru 12-15discs ,but they were cutting so good and I could control the cut so I was happy. The little grinding wheel I used worked good too. I put a small router base on the dremel and worked to a scribe line in the metal. The only botched places were when I was experimenting with other tools. They show a little wiggle in the final edge.

Herb

21 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Geez Herb, your machining skills may trump your WW'ing...Awesome job...that looks like it rolled off the factory floor.  You get my vote for router table of the year! 

Thanks ,Dave, This table had the worsted excuse for a fence I have ever encountered. It was crude, unstable from side to side, so I invested in an eagle American fence that was on sale at the time. Now I have a first class router table.

Herb

1 hour ago, Dadio said:

Thanks ,Dave, This table had the worsted excuse for a fence I have ever encountered. It was crude, unstable from side to side, so I invested in an eagle American fence that was on sale at the time. Now I have a first class router table.

Herb

 

 

And it looks first class too.  Nicely done!

11 hours ago, Dadio said:

Thanks ,Dave, This table had the worsted excuse for a fence I have ever encountered. It was crude, unstable from side to side, so I invested in an eagle American fence that was on sale at the time. Now I have a first class router table.

Herb

Had to bring the pictures up again today and follow the process through....I was tired last night when I looked everything over...

Yep, it still looks awesome...if it's not the nicest router table I've ever seen, it has to rank among the top two!  Thanks Herb for documenting and sharing your entire process. I enjoyed it as much as looking at the great outcome. You did good...real good!