Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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121 of 123 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super Flexibilty!, December 11, 1999
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
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90 of 90 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deserves 10 Stars -- A Real Breakthrough, July 24, 2000
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.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Poor Quality of parts, November 9, 2001
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.
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