Jessem's New Pow R Tek Router w/ Speed Control Box (05200)

[Ben Rivel]

Has everyone seen Jessem's new router (LINK)? Is any one pre-ordering it?

I think its a cool idea and the fact that its not that much more than a PC 7518 motor makes it that much more tempting. In fact it kinda looks like it might just be a special version of the PC 7518. Maybe Jessem made a deal with Porter Cable to make this product for them. Love the idea of the display showing the RPMs as well as the external/remote control. My router is housed in a dust box so its not super convenient to access to change the speed.

[Nick Decker]

Looks to me like the same router being sold as Portamate and MLCS brands. I looked at Portamate when I recently upgraded my router table/lift. Might be fine, but I couldn't find enough reviews that I trusted, so went with the PC 7518.

That remote box looks nice, though, if it's accurate. The speed control slider on the 7518 sometimes leaves me wondering.

[Ben Rivel]

Looks to me like the same router being sold as Portamate and MLCS brands. I looked at Portamate when I recently upgraded my router table/lift. Might be fine, but I couldn't find enough reviews that I trusted, so went with the PC 7518.

That remote box looks nice, though, if it's accurate. The speed control slider on the 7518 sometimes leaves me wondering.

Boy youre not kidding. All three of those look like the same model:

415-6561_pop.jpg53085-04-1000.jpg05200-2.jpg

And neither of them really look like the Porter Cable:

PTC-75182-3.jpg

Thats a shame. I was hoping it would be the tried and true 7518 theyd be using. That other generic one they are all using, who knows how good or bad it might be.

Hmmmm.... Makes be wonder if I could rig up a tachometer for my PC 7518 somehow...

[glenn bradley]

Hard to get a foothold in an arena where PC 7518 and Milwaukee 5625 have ruled the roost for so long.

[Ben Rivel]

Hard to get a foothold in an arena where PC 7518 and Milwaukee 5625 have ruled the roost for so long.

True. Jessem's new product is the first attempt Ive seen that I think might stand a chance.

[Nick Decker]

Is there a box like that that would work with the 7518?

[Ben Rivel]

Is there a box like that that would work with the 7518?

No, that would have to be specially made hooked up to a specially made 7518.

[Chris Parks]

Now all they have to do is get over hanging the router from under the top and side mount it instead. These motors started to appear about 18 months ago but the first versions I know of had big problems with the speed controller and most failed. I have been led to believe those issues have been overcome but I think a CNC water cooled spindle is a better bet because they have a longer duty cycle and are very quite and have better chucks. A VFD is used with the CNC motor and that can be custom programmed to give way better motor control than a router motor.

[Ben Rivel]

Now all they have to do is get over hanging the router from under the top and side mount it instead. These motors started to appear about 18 months ago but the first versions I know of had big problems with the speed controller and most failed. I have been led to believe those issues have been overcome but I think a CNC water cooled spindle is a better bet because they have a longer duty cycle and are very quite and have better chucks. A VFD is used with the CNC motor and that can be custom programmed to give way better motor control than a router motor.

True, but will any spindles fit in any of the lifts out there?

[Patrick Irish]

I need a 3 hp for my incra table but I'd much rather buy the Mocs motorized lift. I'm not sure how often I'd change speeds during use. My table already has a switch on the outside.

[Nick Decker]

Seems like I change speeds almost as often as I change bits.

[Chris Parks]

True, but will any spindles fit in any of the lifts out there?

I missed this the first time around. The big point is you do not need a conventional lift, using liner rails the spindle is side mounted and you just saved your self the coust of the lift and the top will not need to be such a hugely thick thing and will also be removeable so if a custom top is required for a specific job just lift one off and put another one on. The other advantage of using a spindle is that it is run via a VFD and using that gives way better speed control and it can then be used as a spindle sander if needed. I am in the process of building a table using this method but it will have full electronic control via a touch screen with memory for repeating jobs if needed but the electronic control is not necessary. Mine will have target dimension in it, put a dimension or height into it and the fence or lift moves to that target. Not for everyone and I can understand that but a manual version can be built leaving out the electronics.

There is absoulutely no need to buy an expensive router lift these days unless you have too much money. As for the Jessem motor we have just had one lose the speed controller which ws supposed to have been fixed when they were pulled from the market for a long time a few years ago.

[Robert Stanton]

This ticks me off they started making this. I paid $425 for the PC 7518 and the speed control has failed twice now. I wish this was around when I purchased the PC.

[Doug Walls]

Jessem use to make a version called the Rout-R-Table Motor that used a converted Milwaukee 5625 motor.

It can be seen in a old Jessem Brochure.

Doug

[Doug Walls]

Bringing this old thread back up to see if anyone has purchased one of these re-designed Jessem Pow-R-Tek™ router/controllers?

Doug