Cut kerfs for easy tool-rest adjustment

When turning, almost every tool change requires resetting a lathe's tool-rest height. To make switching between common heights simpler, lock the tool rest to the desired height, and then cut a shallow kerf around the tool post, resting your hacksaw on the lathe's banjo to keep the cut straight. De-burr the kerf, mask it off with tape, and paint the kerf. Apply a different color paint or nail polish for each ring to make coordinating tools with their corresponding heights a breeze.
—Michael Cyr, Westport, Mass.