Tool Rest upgrade

Bruce

Does anybody know if the tool rest can be upgraded to the lever style just by ordering the levers (part #'s 521688 and 521689)? The upgrade kit costs $23.48, but I can by the levers for $5.15 total. I have a 510 that was upgraded from a 500. I think I've attached the diagram of the tool rest. The parts I am considering are labeled 296 and 296a.

reible

Hi,

The old 500 model is different then the newer models by more then the levers. How ever the "kit" they sell says it doesn't come with the arm so to me it is unclear how you get to the current version. I think a call to shopsmith might be the best way to go.

What I can tell you, (and I know it would be easier with pictures but for now...) (the current one I got with my 500 to 520 upgrade) is:

The part #293 is longer (3/4"??), it has the "teeth" along a single strip up the post, and the bottom of the post has a flat at the bottom of the "teeth" as compaired to the old 500 I had.

The part #294 is even more different, the threaded hole for the lever is to the side of it rather then the back (where #293 mounts). There are two locations for the part #293 to mount, the arm length is longer, the angle is flatter, and the vertical thickness is larger the the old 500 one.

Now I don't know if you feel having a 2-postion tool rest is what you need nor any of the other changes. The levers could be all you need/want. I also recall a post where someone had modified their equipment with a longer t-style home made device... you could look for that and see if that might be of interest to you.

Ed

Bruce

Reible,

Well, from your description it sounds like I have the newer tool rest, except for the levers. I can't remember if a new tool rest was part of the 510 upgrade kit or not, but I assume it must have been. I'll go through my pile of 500 parts I took off to verify, if I haven't already thrown them out. Thanks for your reply.