Morse tapers are all close to 5/8 inch per foot (about 1.43 to 1.51 degrees per side). The 7x mini lathe uses MT3 in the spindle and MT2 in the tailstock; most benchtop drill presses use MT2 or a JT33 arbor.
A Morse taper is a self-holding taper: friction alone keeps a drill chuck or center seated. That only works if both surfaces are clean and undamaged, so wipe every taper before inserting it.
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Morse taper dimensions
| Taper | Large end dia (in) | Taper per foot (in) | Angle per side (deg) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT0 | 0.356 | 0.62460 | 1.4908 | small instrument lathes |
| MT1 | 0.475 | 0.59858 | 1.4287 | small tailstocks, jeweller lathes |
| MT2 | 0.700 | 0.59941 | 1.4307 | mini lathe tailstock, benchtop drill press, wood lathe |
| MT3 | 0.938 | 0.60235 | 1.4377 | 7x mini lathe spindle, larger tailstocks, mill drills |
| MT4 | 1.231 | 0.62326 | 1.4876 | larger lathe spindles, floor drill presses |
| MT5 | 1.748 | 0.63151 | 1.5073 | large lathes |
| MT6 | 2.494 | 0.62565 | 1.4933 | industrial machines |
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Frequently asked questions
What Morse taper does a 7x14 mini lathe use?
The common 7x12, 7x14 and 7x16 lathes use MT3 in the headstock spindle and MT2 in the tailstock. That is why MT2 live centers and MT2 drill chuck arbors are the usual first tailstock accessories. Confirm in your manual, because a few variants and most 8x16 machines differ.
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Figures are from published standards and handbook values, reproduced for convenience. Check critical dimensions against the standard or your tooling manufacturer.