PC 890 with Rockler lift FX or Milwaukee 5625

[Eddie Johnston]

Hi everyone,
My wife is "surprising" me with a new router setup for my birthday. This will be dropped into a table and rarely see handheld use. I had just about pulled the trigger on the PC 890 fixed based with Rockler's router lift FX. Then I started thinking about it and realized for the money I could pick up Milwaukee's big boy 3 1/2 hp. I'm strickly a weekend warrior, but am going to try my hand at building my kitchen cabinets.
What do you guys think? PC 890 with the lift or Milwaukee without one??

[Fred Hargis]

For me only: The 5625 is such a hands down winner, it's a no brainer.

[Brad Townsend]

For me, it would depend on the ease of height adjustment with the Milwaukee and no lift. It will certainly give you more power, but I have used the 890/FX combination for several years and have yet to find anything it would not do for lack of power. But then, this is occasional use. I'm not running a production shop. The convenience of the lift is a priority for me. Tough choice?

[Tom Esh]

I have the 890 in my table and I really can't see where a lift would provide any advantage. Both the clamp and height adjuster are accessible through the base and it has plenty of extension for above-table bit changes. (I think the Milwaukee is designed to work as it's own lift too.) With either one I'd skip the lift - at least initially. You can always add one later and if not, you'll have more $$ for bits. The 890 works fine for me, but if I were spinning 3" panel raisers all day a big honkin' router (like the Milwaukee) would be a good choice.

[Eduard Nemirovsky]

I like my 5625, but I would add a lift to it.
Ed.

[Joe Scharle]

I've had my 5625 for 4-5 years and never felt a need for a lift. I don't even use the above table wrench that came with it. My method of work is to adjust the bits from eye level, so the knob is more convenient for me.

[Eddie Johnston]

Thanks everyone, this is a tough one.

Eduard,
Great name....Why would you add a lift on your 5625? Is the adjustment system not as good as everyone says?? From the pasts I've read, it seems like you don't need one.
Eddie

[glenn bradley]

I ran my 5625 without a lift for quite awhile. When Woodpecker's PRL V2 came out the original went on sale and I got one for a good price. Otherwise, like Joe I would probably still be running it without. Tons of power, electronic feedback for constant torque under load at any speed setting, massive chuck structure, etc. If mine vanished, I would order a replacement in a heartbeat without any need to shop around. Like the old commercial said . . . "ask an owner".