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LarryG -- The old-time rule of thumb is that a toolbit used to cut the outside surface of a workpiece should be set on-center or slightly above, a boring tool should be set on-center or slightly below. (Slightly is a key word in the preceeding sentence.) Better-grade tool holders have a height adjustment, frequently using a vertical screw to jack the tool holder up-or-down relative to the tool post, but sometimes using a sliding wedge. With the type of tool holder you have, you'll need to adjust the height of the toolbit -- and that's best done by shimming. Feeler gage leaves make great shims, but you should make a point to use the thickest leaves you can rather than stacking up a whole family of thin ones. Don't even bother trying to use soft shims, because they'll compress and the toolbit will loosen. Another point, the toolbit clamping screws that come with these machines are notorious for being low-grade and their hex recesses strip out very easily and rapidly. I'd STRONGLY advise you to replace the factory screws with good-quality screws. (Some mini-lathe owners change from socket setscrews to standard socket head cap screws when they buy new screws. Your choice.) Then take the original screws outside and throw them over the fence or into the bay. I'll also encourage you to find a high school machine shop textbook from the 1950's, 1960's, or early 1970's and study it. Most public libraries have a number of books that will fill the bill, and I suggest that you review them all and select the one that speaks to you. There are dozens of books fitting this description, by almost as many different authors, each with his own style. The book that I just love may be hard for you to follow, and vice versa. Having said that, I consider Volume 1 of Machine Tool Operations by Burghardt and Axelrod (those names are from memory and may not be spelled correctly) to be one of the very finest lathe manuals ever written. Ok, that's a lot more answer than you asked for and I'll pipe down for now. If you have any more Q's, post back either here or at the Chaski Home Machine Shop bulletin board (www.chaski.com and follow the links to "bulletin boards", then to "machine shop") John
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