Customer Reviews

JessEm Rout-R-Slide Sliding Router Table

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At $400 this routing table isn't cheap, but on the sound recommendation of a trusted professional tool rep. I decided to give the Jessem table a try.

First, I'll comment on the construction. Simply put - It's first class. This table enjoys the same attention to detail I put into my work. I can't say that about many "off-the-shelf" products manufactured today. It falls into the same mfg. category as Powermatic tools (read high end detailing). However, at 40lbs, this is not a big and heavy table or shaper base. It provides the advanced craftsmen or woodworker with a way to produce finesse and precise routed product.

All-in-one flexibility is where this table really shines. When I'm asked to consider the benefits of "all-in-one products I usually assume "it does many things, but it doesn't do anything well.

I'm happy to say this isn't the case with the Jessem table. As a high end craftsmen, I produce a variety of woodwork - ever more difficult and challenging. The Jessem has yet to fall short. It's joint making flexibility is outstanding.

Because you move the router using micrometer like adjusters, you can produce accuracy you can't achieve with handheld routers and jigs. Plus, to shape an edge you simply lock down the router and use the unit like a standard routing table.

The bottom line is this... If I could afford only one routing tool this would be it. If I could afford more, but I needed a place to start, the Jessem table would be my first step.

Happy woodworking - I hope this helps,

Ben

I am not usually one to "promote" products, but this table is amazing. Like a grand piano, this machine allows you to produce works of beauty, and it is wonderfully attractive as well. It has quickly become the heart of my woodshop. I have used several "traditional" tables, where the router stays still and the wood is moved across the blade. But for years, I knew there just had to be a better way. When I wanted to rout a dado, I used to have to do it free-hand; to cut dovetails across a 1x10 or a 1x12 I needed a jig; and I simply could not cut box joints on anything over 1x6. There are many other examples of limitations that exist when you can't get the router out across the wood far enough with a table.

The Jess-Em table is an amazing breakthrough. It allows you to be very creative about how you do routing because you can reach just about any spot on your boards -- you're not limited to the edges as you are with traditional tables. The way it does this is by having the router slide through the middle of the table. You control it with a handle, connected to a router base plate. You either push the router through the wood from front to rear, or you pull it through the wood from rear to front. You can also, if you want, use it like a traditional table, where the router remains stationary and you slide the wood over it. The fence, which is composed of high-grade aluminum, adjusts to all possible angles, and can be moved to either the back or the sides of the table, thus providing a straight-edge anywhere you need it. The splinter guard allows excellent visibility, and can be moved in many positions relative to the wood.

The overall craftsmanship is tremendous. Starting with the directions, everything is done with care. An instructional video that comes with it shows you how to do a lot of the basic functions that this table is capable of. The legs are made of solid hardwood -- something that a woodworker would be proud of. The table top is thick wood with an easy-slide surface, and it is smooth, with no annoying "rises" impeding smooth sliding like you find on most other tables. The router mounting plate, along with the rest of the sliding mechanism, is heavy-gauge steel. The table top also has embedded rulers on either side to allow for accurate measurements, and to help you perfectly align each side of the fence. The fence inserts slide apart or together to allow zero-clearance cuts.

The price of this table really is not that high when you consider that, with it, you do not have to purchase jigs which often run around $75-$100 each, you do not have to use a table saw to do dadoes (which is a lot safer and a lot more accurate), and you can do things that would normally just not be possible.

This represents the way of the future with router tables.

After reading the above reviews I am shocked at the poor quality of this table.
After recieving the table I was quite excited. However, the excitment went to disappointment as I removed one part after another.
First the base. Constructed of oak, it is clear that the pieces were run through a planer with very dull knives as gouges were taken out of half of the parts. The bolts did not match and 2 were actually short. The edges were sharp and you need to be careful not to catch any splinters. You will need to sand over the edges before handling.
As far as the table mechanism itself the aluminum scales were scratched, dinged and showed signs of wear. Two of the brackets for the fence were actually different models. The support bracket for the plastic gaurd was actually pitted and weathered with some of the anodizing coming off.
I called Jess-em and they could not understand how I would get such poor quality and suggested that the dealer had misused this product before I recieved it. They assured me that it was not Jess-Em's normal quality and indicated they would send me an entire new table.
When I recieved the new table, Although the legs were no longer gouged, most of the same scratches, dings, etc were there. I called again and the person then asked me to describe the problems. I started with the pitting in the support bracket. She went to thier inventory and actually looked at their part stock. She agreed that the bracket was pitted discollered, etc However, she said that it was not Jess-Em's quality rather it was a problem from their supplier. As far as the scratches, mostly from handling in their own shop.
She finally asked if I was from Canada. I said no. She said "Canadians are very fussy about this stuff. Most Americans are not."
I would not recomend this product.

Let me start by saying that I do love the table and would never part with it. The possibilities appear endless. The linear measurements are great, and the table is built to super accurate specifications BUT: I was disappointed in the few less than stellar accurracies. The table is designed to be flat, but it comes in three sections- a center, and two wings one to the left and one to the right. When installed the wings slope up to the outside. It would be easily corrected if they would add holes and attaching screws on the outer wings, so the rear stabilizing board would attach it along it's full length. Rather than drilling, I added shims under the center section edges, thereby leveling the table top. At some point in the future I might finish the manufacturing, and locate the proper screws, and drill the holes. When you get yours, you will know what I mean. It is a simple logical need that was not filled. ???
Additionally the legs are predrilled and countersunk for attaching screws. One of the holes in the legs did not line up, so I had to enlarge the opening. Now the table is perfect. I was expecting this dream machine, being all accurate, and heavenly in its precision, so finding a couple of basic flaws in its manufacturing, was a bit disappointing. Tweaking is not what I expected. I don't mind logical adjustments, so that is not what I am talking about. All other aspects of the table are very precise. Using it is a dream. Great adjustability, with setting knobs easily available, true, and smooth in tightening.
At 70 pounds it is solid enough to be stable, not on the large side.
Their is two different forces at work on this machine. On the one hand you have precision table top fixtures, fences, and adjustability. The unit is well packaged BUT: The directions are not as well planned as the table top. Some illustrated diagrams, beyond a single composite sketch at the beginning,would be helpful. Calling a part the same name as used in the sketch would be beneficial as well. Sometimes you have to decipher the alternate name. They give you word only directions in the assembly section, then you read the part name, go to the diagram to see what it is, and you can't find a part of the same name, just one close to it. It's an engineering thing, know what I mean? Ironic when you are buying a table to create the ultimate in engineering.
They provide a video with the unit, which shows you how to make dovetails, and box joints, and their respective jigs. Nice touch, but the video looks like something that we could make in our basements. Additionally, the owners-instruction manual is an inexpensive loose leaf binder with photo copied instructions. The clear plexiglas safety shield had a protective paper on it, with GE or an outside manufacturer on it, with plants in the US and Japan, maybe that is just the plexiglas, or more like the manufacturer of the aluminum precision components. Anyhow I get the feeling that their is a top drawer sophisticated engineering and production facility involved with the top, and gold plated aluminum guides, fence etc, as well as the steel router mounting plate, and their is a newer startup organization involved in the marketing, instructions, and possibly the legs. Don't misunderstand me, the ash legs are nice. Strong and well made.
You can save your money on a biscuit cutter, a dedicated dovetail jig, and several other items, by owing the Rout-R-Slide. Cutting biscuits on this is possible because you move the router into the work. You wouldn't be able to cut biscuits with a standard table, because as you try to move the wood into the bit, it would tend to jump. With this you secure the wood and move the router into the workpiece at a preset depth, although a dedicated biscuit cutter would save adjusting time, because they give you preset biscuit size depths on the dial. This thing does dovetail joints, that are like the hand cuts, completely through the work. Not like most jigs which give you a rounded machine looking dovetail. BR>(...) I am not trying to dissuade you away from buying the Rout-R-Slide. Oh contrare, you don't want to live without one. This new technology is so radical that it makes routing so improved I would have to compare it to tightening nuts with a wrench or socket, instead of a pair of pliers. The price is a little heavy, but if you haven't already sprung for a dovetail machine, the Rout-R-Slide is a no brainer, not counting the endless other possiblities that are created. One last note: Don't try using a plunge router under this table, or any table for that matter. Plunging a heavy duty spring, upside down is difficult to say the least, unless you are using the new Bosch 1619EVS which has the exclusive defeating system for the plunge spring and lock. I just bought that router, and it seems like this table was made just for that router. The attaching plate on the table is universal, so all routers will work on it, but I just installed the Bosch 1619EVS and the plate that comes with the table, mated to it with an area of raised metal that the Bosch perfectly fits into. That is something because the Bosch has the largest base. 3 1/2" bits not only work, but are able to plunge back into the base without touching. You don't have to fully extend the router to allow for them. True 3 1/2" bit capabilities.
Of course fixed base adjustable routers work fine in this table also.
The base plate that comes with this table, requires drilling to mate it to your router. A universal base, with the more popular manufacturers holes predrilled would be nice. All in all I give it 5 stars for usability, and tool usage accuracy, but 3 stars for the mixed experience, averaging it out to a 4. Buy it, you won't be sorry.

Being a beginner, I wanted a table that I wasn't going to outgrow for a long time. After reading many reviews on router tables, I decided to spring for the JessEm. Yes, it's more money, but more often than not, you get what you pay for. So far, I haven't been totally disappointed. After waiting over a month, and returning the wrong item shipped, the table arrived in good shape...none of the scratches, marks, or leveling problems reported by other reviewers.

I will agree with another reviewer, that the video and manual that come with the table are not professional quality productions. They offer enough to get started on a few basic operations. For an accomplished craftsman, this is probably enough. For the price, I would like to have seen better literature and/or more (and higher quality) video. I guess part of the learning experience is experimentation and trial and error. The projects I have done turned out well, but it took a long time to figure out the setup procedures.

One operating problem I have is a sticky carriage. It's very difficult to move at a controlled speed on one end. The further I push the slide in, the easier it moves. This tells me that the carriage is too tight on the near end. I will have to see if I can remedy that one.

For now, I will give this item four stars. I would only give it three, but can I see the potential exists for five. I'll try to get more out of it as I gain experience.

I have to add to my other review. I came to realize what the Jessem Rout-R-Slide can do when making mortises.
Since you have the option of fixing the workpiece to the fence, and moving the router instead, AND you have the option of attaching the fence front to back, AND you have front and back measuing tapes, as well as side to side, you can make mortises perfectly, with the least amount of effort.
So here it goes, you mount your workpiece by clamping it to the fence, going front to back. Loosen the fence, and slide it over to just touch the outer edge of the router bit. Note the measurement. Then to set up for the overall length of the mortise, you use the stops on the sliding mechanism, you lock your stops, at where you want the mortise to begin, and the second one where you want your mortise to end.
Now you lower your router bit, so it will clear your workpeice. Loosen the fence, using the imbedded tape guides, you move it over as far as the distance you want your mortise to begin from the edge of your workpiece, plus the width of the bit.
Let's say you want to create a mortise that is one inch away from the edge, and is 3/4" wide. If you are using a 3/4" bit, you move the fence one and three quarter inches over. The 3/4" router bit will give you a perfect 3/4" mortise, exactly one inch from the edge. (I use an upward spiral bit, they leave perfect walls, even when you make multiple graduating passes, and perfectly flat bottoms.)
If you want to make a wider mortise, let's say a 1", then after making your first passes with the 3/4" bit, you move the fence another 1/4" for your final passes. Any size mortise can be made with different size bits, by simply making multiple passes.
Since a router bit leaves a rounded edge, your tenon will need to be rounded as well. I use a Delta Tenoning jig, and then a sharp chisel to create that slight roundness on the tenon.
If you consider all of the alternative to making mortises, this one has them beat. Why? Because it makes an accurate, perfectly smooth, even walled mortise, that can be done easily, at no additional expense.
It blew my mind when I first discovered it. So this table doubles as a super precise mortising machine, in addition to all of the other capabilities. Hope this was helpful.