Dual Lathe Tool Height Setting Aid

**natie123** · Jun 16, 2018, 03:09 PM

Another lathe tool height setting aid. Not very elegant, but simple and quick to make. The base was cut off a piece of 30mm bms round bar, drilled and tapped for M6. The two tabs are 22 mm lengths of 20 x 5mm bms flat bar, each drilled through 6mm near one end. The gauge was assembled with 6mm threaded rod, nuts and washers as per Photo 1. The assembly is adjusted until the junction of the two pieces of flat bar is exactly at the lathe center height from whatever datum you choose (mine rests on the lathe saddle).
The bottom of the top tab is used to set the height of tools held in the front tool post (Photo 2) and the top of the bottom tab is used to set tools mounted upside down in the rear tool post (Photo 3).
Attachment 24385 Attachment 24386 Attachment 24387

**DIYer** · Jun 19, 2018, 06:10 AM

Thanks natie123! We've added your Lathe Tool Height Setter to our Measuring and Marking category,
as well as to your builder page: natie123's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Lathe Tool Height Setter by natie123

tags: lathe

**Toolmaker51** · Oct 16, 2018, 10:54 PM

Inelegant? Not really, a better term is 'functional'.
Especially when compared to fancy boogers sold by all the supply houses, attracting the gotta-have-it crowd as a conversation piece. This one-ups most center line gauges by representing both upper and lower planes.
I'll re-recommend finding centerline accurately, procedure that works if decent flat surfaces occupy the carriage.
Chuck and dial in or turn round stock of stout diameter, measure resulting size, divide that in half and record.
With height gauge, or depth mic and 1-2-3 blocks, 4-way caliper; find height from flat datum(s).
Subtract the half diameter from height just measured.
Centerline found!

**natie123** · Oct 17, 2018, 06:44 AM

Thank you for this useful tip Toolmaker 51. In the past I relied on the dimensions provided by the lathe manufacturer, but I am sure your method is going to be more accurate as my lathe is 42 years old.

**marksbug** · Jan 17, 2019, 08:13 PM

now thats a eazy&fast tool to make that makes for a very fast setup of 1 this tool and 2 the carbide hight!!! I like it!!!! and 3 hang it somewhere near where it wont be in the way and never lost!!!

**Fast.Eddie** · Jan 17, 2019, 10:40 PM

Ingenious! If it's inelegant and it works, it ain't inelegant!

The only thing I would change is maybe use a 2" magnet for the base, but it's durn near perfect the way it sits. Kudos and attaboys!

**natie123** · Jan 18, 2019, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by Fast.Eddie

The only thing I would change is maybe use a 2" magnet for the base, but it's durn near perfect the way it sits. Kudos and attaboys!

Thanks Fast.Eddie the magnet is a great idea. Will drill into the base from below, add magnets & see how it works.

**Fast.Eddie** · Jan 18, 2019, 02:51 AM

This is a simple solution:

https://www.harborfreight.com/50mm-r...net-96651.html

**BigAl6670** · Mar 23, 2019, 02:58 AM

This is going to be the first tool I make from HOMEMADETOOLS.NET as its simplicity makes it truly a beautiful piece of work.
Thank you for sharing it with all of us here. It's an absolute gem of an idea.
Cheers, Al.

**cubcouper** · Dec 14, 2022, 10:18 PM

I built one just like it years ago... super-useful. Mine is set so that I can just set it on a flat part of the ways of my lathe and adjust a tool right in the QC holder. Two best features are that you can set up a new tool without interfering with anything that might already be in the lathe chuck, and you can set up upside-down cutters like my cut-off blades.