While browsing products for pen making and other wood turning projects, you’ll have seen references to MT1 and MT2. The letters stand for “Morse Taper”. A morse taper is a tool that fits into the headstock and tailstock of a lathe and has a hollow housing for inserting chucks, live and dead centers, drills, collets and other accessories. When the lathe is running, the surface pressure between the morse taper housing and the inserted tool causes friction which prevents slippage. Morse tapers 1 and 2 have the same angle-per-inch but are a different length and overall size. If you’re not sure if your lathe has a MT1 or MT2, you can check the user’s manual or measure the morse taper and compare it to the chart below.
Wood turning with MT1 and MT2 lathes
Most wood turners are happy with a lathe that has morse tapers 1 or 2. MT1 is suitable for turning pens and other small projects such as keychains or pipes. The tooling required for a lathe with morse taper 1 is lighter and smaller than what is needed for larger lathes. It’s great for precision work and fine details and is perfect if you have limited workspace or if you’re turning as a hobby.
A lathe with MT2 is also excellent for pen making, but is suitable for larger, heavier projects as well, like bigger bowls and table legs. A lathe with MT2 can handle heavier projects that require more torque and stability. A lathe with MT2 is sometimes found in professional settings, although it’s very common for wood turners to have one at home.
You’ll also come across lathes with morse taper 3, which are used by machinists for metalwork and very large turning projects.
What kind of lathe is best for pen turning?
Lathes with MT1 and MT2 are both suitable for making pens, jewelry components and other small projects. However, there are things that an MT2 lathe can do that an MT1 cannot.
Morse Taper #1
Common brand: King, Model KWL-813VS
Pros:
- A bench-top lathe that fits in a smaller space.
- Great for small projects like pens.
- Lower price point.
Cons:
- Not suitable for large, heavy pieces.
- Limited tooling and accessories available.
- Less stable than larger lathes.
Morse Taper #2
Common brands: King, Model KWL-1218VS and Craftex, Model CX813
Pros:
- Can take on a wider range of projects.
- Can be used for larger items in addition to all the small ones.
- Many compatible tools and accessories available.
Cons:
- Can take up more space than a smaller lathe.
- Higher price point.
If you start out turning pens on an MT2 lathe, you can easily progress to bigger, heavier projects. However, if you plan to stick with smaller items and are happy with the available tooling, MT1 is okay.
Caring for and maintaining your morse taper
If you ever find that your pen mandrel isn’t secure while turning or that it can be easily pulled out of the lathe with your fingers, it might be time for a cleaning.
If you shine a light into the morse taper housing, you will probably see a lot of buildup and dirt. There are rubber cleaning tools available specifically for this purpose. This tool is inserted into the housing while turning the lathe by hand and the drill-bit-like shape pulls the muck right out. Another option is to get a soft, small scrub brush and every so often just swipe it around the inside of the hole. It’s important not to use any oil, abrasives or coarse materials like steel wool. They can interfere with the grip, leading to chatter and vibration, which ultimately impacts the quality of your wood turning.
Another thing to keep an eye on is that the chucks and other tools that you’re inserting into your lathe are clean and don’t have any barbs on them. If you drop one, be sure to look it over carefully and address any damage before mounting it.
Tips and tricks for wood turning
Still have wood turning or pen making questions? Visit William Wood-Write’s information page for resources. We have full instructions for almost every pen and project kit in stock, as well as how-to videos and a newsletter to keep you up to date on the latest turning tools and projects.
