The lathe is one of the most loved and most hated tools on the Shopsmith Mark V. One huge advantage is variable speed, while for most of the the lathe is a little too low. Another advantage is a long bed, but the tool rest is a pain to adjust with a hex wrench. Shopsmith to the rescue!

The Universal Tool Rest is a massive 35lbs of cast iron that bolts to your Mark V's carriage, and allows you quick maneuvering with levers replacing the set screws. Now, that's not too fancy a trick, and any Mark V owner can swap their set screws for these same levers at any time. What really makes the difference is the extra weight.

The bad news today is that RLF Shop LLC, the current manufacturer of the Shopsmith line, is having trouble fulfilling orders for this accessory.  Apparently, the foundry that supplies the massive castings unexpectedly closed their doors, so if your order one of these there will be a delay if your order. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I don't own a Shopsmith Universal Tool Rest, so if someone wants to add to this review, I'd love to hear from you!
(That's a hint Bill)

Email me at MrToolHunter@gmail.com 

You'll rarely find this for sale on eBay, but just in case, here's the link for Shopsmith Universal Tool Rest for sale.