{"id":3009,"date":"2024-12-13T09:27:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T14:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penblanks.ca\/blog\/?p=3009"},"modified":"2024-12-13T14:47:37","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T19:47:37","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-an-mt1-and-mt2-lathe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penblanks.ca\/blog\/index.php\/2024\/12\/13\/whats-the-difference-between-an-mt1-and-mt2-lathe\/","title":{"rendered":"Lathe Questions: What’s the Difference Between MT1 and MT2?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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<\/a>, 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<\/a> and compare it to the chart below.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Wood turning with MT1 and MT2 lathes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll also come across lathes with morse taper 3, which are used by machinists for metalwork and very large turning projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kind of lathe is best for pen turning?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morse Taper #1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Common brand: King, Model KWL-813VS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n