VTA my compromise in setting

Happy Day After Thanksgiving dekay

I had a Gold Prestige and liked it before I started using a Sonata and then a Master wood body . 

I only know the weight because I use my wife's food scale which I use for the records and making chocolate chip cookies . For $10.00 ! at Amazon you might check it out .

Thanks for your responses 

My cartridge is a Soundsmith Carmen mkII the TT is a Merrill Heirloom and the tonearm is the Classic Six that does not have the micrometer .

When using an Azimuth gauge/block to check the tonearm and cartridge parallel orientation to the record the difference between a 140gr and 180gr is very small , I would say that it would be less than 1mm , but this has caused me to think about trying a 1mm mat and setting the arm for a 140gr record and using the mat for heaverier records bring the two just a little closer .  Will a 1mm mat withstand the use of being placed on/off frequently ? If you watch Peter Ledermann's  video on SRA I am probably close enough with leaving my setting using a 160gr record .

P.S. correction

Setting the VTA for a 180gr record and using the mat for the lower weight records. 

@dekay 

The mean might be closer to 155 but the 160 is close enough.  Today I played a 1976 German pressing of the Doors that weighed 114gr and it sounded great to my ears .  What weight record is your cartridge level ? SME like my ex-Rega have tapered arms making the use of a level arm " APITA " .

My thought on mats is that if I used one for lightweight records I would want to use a different weight for the rest of the records to keep the sonic consistency then that would open another can of worms ,Which design , do I try different materials etc .  

So sticking to " My Compromise "  locked in with a bolt VTA setting . 

My TT has an acrylic platter with a lead mat !

@fsonicsmith 

I'm a bit confused and taken back by your response , while I compromised on setting my VTA for a 160gr record or about the middle of the weight range you compromised on Bob !  We're both locked in aren't we ?

@testpilot 

I played a 180gr  , then a 145gr same title , then I made a paper mat just less than 1mm placed it under the 145gr , I could not hear a difference . So I agree with you about what little or no difference there can be ,  Thanks for advising  me to do a test to hear for myself , so a compromise setting at 160gr seems to be just right . I came to this by following Peter Ledermann's advice given on his videos . 

My question was for those of you who can adjust your VTA but have to lock it in  where do you set yours ?  I do not have a dial or a micrometer , my TT has a spring suspension , I have to raise and lower by hand and then lock it at that height .

Happy Thanksgiving 

True, first I check to see if the cartridge is level then I use the straight arm because you have a longer parallel line for better accuracy .

Now in about an hour I'll be ready for pumpkin and pecan pie .