Shopsmith Forums

I just ordered a universal tool rest and will be using it on my 520 equipped with a lift assist. Will the tool rest base bump into the lift assist bracket on the right increasing the minimum distance between the lathe center points? If so, by how much? I have an extension for my live center but wondered if I should consider ordering a second one before the price goes up at the end of the month (the catalog says up to two extensions can be used together).

IMHO get a second spacer regardless.

The Universal Lathe Tool Rest Base attaches to the Carriage and sits low enough it does add an additional limit as to how close the Headstock and Tailstock can be to each other. As seen in the picture of my Mark 7 below it adds around an inch plus it adds some distance to the Headstock side too. I believe the Base overhang of the Carriage is wider than the Headstock/Carriage Spacer. Sorry the Headstock side is blocked in this picture, but it was taken to show lowering the Table is limited with the Universal Lathe Tool Rest Base mounted.

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My Lift Assist is spaced away from the Arm of the Mark 7 Double Tilt Bench Ends to allow better access to the Lock Knob. On a Mark V without the Double Tilt the Lift Assist can be mounted against the Bench End on the Way Tubes.

The picture below shows how close the Lathe Points get on my Mark 7 with the Lift Assist and no Universal Lathe Tool Rest mounted. The Live Tailstock Center has an Extension attached. It would take a second Extension for the points to be able to touch without extending the Quill.

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Thanks for this - I thought that the tool rest base might run into the lift assist bracket.

I have a single tilt 520 and need about the same lift assist bracket offset to hookup the lift cylinder.

I have a single live center extension as well but the lathe center points are about 5.25” apart with the quill fully retracted. With the quill fully extended that distance drops to 1”. Even with a second extension it would be necessary to extend the quill 3.75” to get the points to touch.

Perhaps your quill was partially extended in the photo you shared?

JPG wrote: ↑Sun Jun 29, 2025 5:10 pm IMHO get a second spacer regardless.

Done!

The picture I posted likely has the Quill fully extended although I can't tell since the top of the Headstock isn't in the picture.

Food for thought, how often would one need the Lathe points to touch during use?

Not during use, just to check alignment. I’ve started into lathe work more seriously since installing my lift assist and realized I can’t check alignment without removing the lift assist bracket. That is, until I get a second live center extension.

I understand bringing the points together to check alignment. I do the same thing. If I remember correctly that is what I was trying to show in that Lathe Points picture used in another past topic here.