Universal Lathe Rest System

[rwilabee]

Does anyone know if the Universal Lathe Rest System will work with the Shopsmith 500 or just the 510's and up. How does it attach?

Rich

[beeg]

Yes it will fit all three models. It sits on top of the carriage with a bar underneath the carriage, with 2 bolts running from the top piece to the bar. Here's a pic of it mounted.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... olrest.htm

[rwilabee]

Since the entire tool rest doesn't adjust up and down like the tool rest that comes with the Shopsmith do the tool bars just adjust up and down. I'm trying to make sure that you can adjust to the center of the work no matter what lathe tools you are using.

Is this really a nice upgrade?

Rich

[beeg]

YES this is a really nice upgrade. All three top pieces rotates 360°, the round piece remains stationary. The tool rest can be adjusted up and down, along with it's rest.

[oldc6]

i just received one a few weeks back. will attach pictures. the round plate that lays on top of the carriage assy. has two sets of holes. one for the 500 the other set for 510,520 machines.

one pictures shows the tool rest as high as it will go. it is will above the center line of the lathe. the other picture shows how low it will go.

the thing swings in any direction you would ever want.

i made a bracket to store it on the wall. just cut out the shape of the long arm and slide it in. i do not have a shelf that would support 36 pounds of iron and i would not want to lift from a high shelf.. have not used it yet so this is about all i can tell and show about it.[ATTACH]17578[/ATTACH]

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[rwilabee]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to order one.

Rich

[rwilabee]

YES this is a really nice upgrade. All three top pieces rotates 360&#176]

I just had a thought. Can you still get the head as close to the tail stock as the stock tool rest. If not does it take long to install it so that you could use the stock tool rest until you didn't need the tail stock any longer and then switch to this tool rest system.

Rich

[cdmclain]

I just had a thought. Can you still get the head as close to the tail stock as the stock tool rest. If not does it take long to install it so that you could use the stock tool rest until you didn't need the tail stock any longer and then switch to this tool rest system.

Rich

rwilabee, I found that I really enjoyed turning so much that I have Shopsmith setup as a dedicated lathe along with the UTR and under cabinet storage. Since the circular banjo base of the UTR is wider, the headstock cannot get as close to the tail stock as the stock rest but I haven't found that it affects me. I just extend the quill if I am turning a shorter piece. There is an extension for the SS live center that you could use if you found the need. I usually use a 60 deg. cone live center that I ordered from Penn State. It is a bit longer than the SS live center. The UTR gives you more flexibility than the stock setup and I am very pleased with my purchase. Hope that helps.

[rwilabee]

I was looking at a picture of the Rest and I'm wondering if the two bolts that hold it to the Shopsmith with the bar underneath are going to be a weak spot. Could they possibly snap if you got a tool catch. They just don't seem like a very big diameter bolt.

Rich

[fredsheldon]

If you hurry you can get one on e-bay. I quit bidding at $85 because I have to pay for my PowerPro upgrade

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shopsmith-Unive ... 3cc71d4956