A quick and easy way to set the tool height on your lathe using only basic tools.

There are lots of ways you can set the tool height on a lathe... Here's a quick and easy method I often use to set the tool height on your lathe using only basic tools that any lathe owner is likely to have. Especially useful if you don't have a quick change tool post and are using shims to set your tool height. This technique gives you a quick measurement of what thickness shim you need to add or remove from beneath the tool cutting down on trial and error. Also comes in useful if you need to set a tool part way through a job and you can't use the "facing off to a pip" technique because you have already faced the part or have bored the end out and there is nothing to face. At the end of the day use whichever technique works for you in a given situation, and add this one to your repertoire in case it comes in useful one day.