JessEm 3005 Router Table Top

Unlike the phenolic table top that Jessem offers, the 1.25" MDF top is flat out of the box. It does not require the frame of the stand to maintain a flat plane as the phenolic seems to. Although with the weight of a 3+ horsepower router, I would still want it well supported to avoid sag. The Incra Mast-R-Lift fit perfectly in the opening. It differs from most tables that have a recessed rabbet that supports the plate. Instead, Jessem has plastic tabs with brass threaded inserts that are screwed to the bottom of the table. It comes with jack screws and lock nuts to level the plate with the surface of the table. This seems to work okay, but two of the holes line up with the threaded holes in the Incra Mast-R-Lift (made for Incra by Jessem), so that the jack screw actually threads through the support and then threads into the plate which makes adjustment impossible This is easily fixed by running a short grub screw into the plate so that the lower jack screw has a surface to push against.I have no real complaints about the Jessem 3005 other than the fact that the underside support tabs are 13" apart at the far left and far right. That means that a box to enclose the motor for dust collection purposes has to be much wider than necessary to fit up against the underside of the table and provide an air tight seal. I'd prefer to have that lost width to use for storage drawers or shelves on both sides of the motor.

I just bought my second router table top due to the first being damaged beyond use by an accident in my shop. Just to be clear, the first table was damaged by me and my brother and had nothing to do with the quality of the product. I didn't even have to think twice about replacing with the exact same item. It does exactly what it's supposed to do and fits my router lift perfectly.