Mini lathe - my first attempt turning plastic - useless!

[BillTodd]

As Robin said, for plastic, use a HSS tool ground with large positive rake and lapped to a sharp edge.

To check the tool height quickly: gently clamp a 6" rule or similar strip of thin material between the work piece and the tool - It should be vertical if the height is correct. If the top of the rule leans away from the tool the tool is too high, if the top leans towards the tool the tool is too low.

and by the way

NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK
NEVER LEAVE THE CHUCK KEY IN THE CHUCK

even on a mini-lathe ! it is a bad habit to get into.

[edit] You might be able mill a mm or two off the bottom of Kip's old tools to make them usable in your mini lathe, if they're not too high in the holder.