I have always thought that a rear tool post and cross slide t-slots were great ideas, and wondered why they are not fitted to all lathes. My 13x40 lathe has a very thin top surface on the top of the cross slide, so it does not lend itself to easy modification. However, looking at the links that Brino put up immediately gave me pause. Adding a rear tool post or t-slots pretty much requires a much thicker top surface of the cross slide, and that limits lathe swing over the cross slide. I don't like that side effect at all, it would interfere with work much more often than the t-slots or rear tool post would help. My lathe is heavy enough that I have not had problems with the usual cutoff from the front side. So, now I am not as excited about adding those features, and I do not see a way to add them without also reducing swing over the cross slide...