Setting tool height on the lathe.

[Doc]

If you have a 6 inch scale in your pocket you already have the best height setting tool in MHO.
I was taught this back when I first started in the machine shop over 39 years ago and used it through out my career and it has never let me down. Since I seen several posts about building or creating a height setting tool I decided to try and make a short little vid showing the process.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpCu56O8AJ0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpCu56O8AJ0</a>

[Chris J]

Very good, thanks

[Arbalest]

I use the same technique for drilling a hole in a round bar except it's a bit easier with the rule laying flat across the bar!

[PJW]

thanks doc I will remember that 

[Pete49]

I used to use that trick. Shown to me by a fitter & turner mate of mine
Pete

[kevin45]

I'll have to remember that trick. Thank you for posting it.

The way I have been doing it is take a sharp #2 pencil, and with the lathe running, take the pencil and draw on the end of the part until you find the center, then set your tool according to the small circle. I also will leave the tool just slightly below center then leave a small tit on the end. Then if I have a few diameters to turn, I will use that small tit as a reference point and draw the diameters, again with the lathe on to show where your rough cuts will be. It saves a lot of time from, having to stop and check every few cuts. Just add a 1/32" or so when you make a mark from the center tit.

[SteveM]

That is a great tip Doc, many thanks.
I'd like to ask you about that toolpost we can see in the video. It looks like a really nice piece of kit, and I can't recall seeing one quite like that before. Is it commercially available, or did you make it yourself?
Cheers
Steve

[zeeprogrammer]

I learned that trick on the past forum. Really handy and worth repeating for newbies.
Thanks Doc.
Special thanks for the video. Always best to 'see' rather than 'hear' (er...'read').