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How to choose an MT2 drill chuck

Updated: 2026-10-23

You already have the lathe or the pillar drill, and every shortlisted box on amazon.co.uk says MT2. That word only describes the shank that should enter the machine. The chuck mount is a second decision, and a larger nose will not start in a smaller bore however firmly you tap it. Confirm Morse taper 2, match the mount, choose 13 mm or 16 mm, then read what the listing puts in the box. Prices stay on the [MT2 drill chuck comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/mt2-drill-chuck). The millimetres below are CGTK's Morse table and Arc Euro Trade's taper chart, not a chuck measured in your hand.

You already have the lathe or the pillar drill, and every shortlisted box on amazon.co.uk says MT2. That word only describes the shank that should enter the machine.

Our top picks

Cocoarm Cocoarm 1–16 mm keyless

Best overall

Cocoarm Cocoarm 1–16 mm keyless
7.9/10about £26.00
View offer
Flylin Flylin 1–13 mm keyed

Alternative

Flylin Flylin 1–13 mm keyed
7.4/10about £16.99
View offer
Ejoyous Ejoyous 1–13 mm MT2

Best value

Ejoyous Ejoyous 1–13 mm MT2
7.6/10about £22.59
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Confirm the socket is Morse taper 2
  2. 2.Match the chuck mount, not just the shank
  3. 3.Pick 13 mm or 16 mm for the machine you have
  4. 4.Read the listing for what is actually in the box

Confirm the socket is Morse taper 2

MT2 and MK2 are the same taper. CGTK's Morse table gives the large end as 17.780 mm, the small end as 14.529 mm, and the taper length as 65.087 mm. ISO 296:1991 is the standard for that shank. It is not the number on the back of the chuck. If the tailstock or the quill is already MT2, an MT2 shank does not need a sleeve. If the spindle is MT3, this chuck does not belong in it until you have a sleeve. A Warco Super Mini Lathe lists the tailstock as 2MT and the headstock spindle as 3MT. The chuck for that machine goes in the tailstock. Ordering MT2 for an MT1 socket, or for a headstock that is MT3, is the mistake this check prevents. If you cannot tell the socket from the handbook, measure before you order.

Match the chuck mount, not just the shank

Arc Euro Trade's chart gives B16 a large end of 15.733 mm, B18 17.78 mm, JT6 17.17 mm, and JT3 20.599 mm. DIN 238 names that B-taper family. Those four sizes do not interchange. A B18 arbor is larger than a B16 bore, so a harder tap only marks the mouth. Flylin states MT2-B16. Both Cocoarm keyless listings and the Wakects listing state MT2-JT3. B0931YTNFQ and B07L9N58HX do not share a review count. Warco recommends a 2MT-B12 for these mini lathes. A B16 chuck from this set needs their 2MT-B16 arbor, not the B12. The 17.78 mm figure is the trap. It is the MT2 large end, and it is also the B18 large end. B16 on that chart is 15.733 mm. Kozelo's bullets state B16 and a shank of 17.78 mm. That pairing is a clash on the page, and the listing has no review line.
Cocoarm Cocoarm 1–16 mm keyless

Testsieger

Cocoarm Cocoarm 1–16 mm keyless
7.9/10about £26.00
View offer

Pick 13 mm or 16 mm for the machine you have

Once the mount matches, 1–13 mm is the usual size for a mini lathe and a bench drill. The lighter bodies sit around 872 g for the Ejoyous and about 885–920 g for Kozelo, ZffXH, Flylin and Ausla. A 1–16 mm keyless body is heavier: Wakects about 1.17 kg, both Cocoarm listings about 1.21 kg, and Bohaner 1.33 kg. The WEN LA164K is a 5/8 inch keyed chuck, 15.875 mm, at about 1.11 kg. Warco lists 50 mm of tailstock quill travel on the Super Mini. A longer chuck and a tang eat into that before the drill touches the work. Do not read the Wakects capacity cell of 16 millilitres as a length. Ausla's bullets say 1–13 mm, while the title also says 0.04–0.5 in. Half an inch is 12.7 mm, so those phrases are not the same range.

Read the listing for what is actually in the box

Several titles contradict themselves. Ejoyous says keyed in the title and hand-tightened in an attribute, and the chuck taper is not named. Wakects puts MT2-JT3 in the title and M3-B18 on another attribute. One UK review of the Ausla says the chuck does not fit the arbor. ZffXH reviews report a missing arbor or a nose that will not enter. YDHfdc's title says MT2-B16 and also an SDS shank. One UK review of the Bohaner says a known B16 arbor would not fit. The WEN's 4.7 from 1,378 is not a UK sample. On 22 October 2026 the Wakects listing showed £26.59, against about £23.83 used for the score. If the arbor will not enter, stop. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 11, goods must match the description. A pair that does enter is seated on the how to fit an MT2 drill chuck page.

Common questions

Is MK2 the same as MT2?
Yes. MK2 and MT2 are two names for the same Morse taper. CGTK lists the large end at 17.780 mm, the small end at 14.529 mm, and the taper length at 65.087 mm. That shank size does not tell you whether the chuck end is B16, B18, JT3 or JT6.
Why does the chuck say B16 or JT3 if the lathe already says MT2?
The arbor has two tapers. MT2 goes into the tailstock or the quill. B16 or JT3 is the short taper that goes into the back of the chuck. If you already own a B16 chuck, you need a B16 nose, not a JT3 nose, even when both listings say MT2.
Should I buy a 13 mm or a 16 mm chuck for a mini lathe?
Choose 1–13 mm for most mini-lathe work. Choose 16 mm or 5/8 inch only when you use bits in that range, and expect a heavier body.
Will a listing that says electric hand tools fit my cordless drill?
No. The shank is Morse taper 2, which seats in a tailstock, a pillar-drill quill, or a mill spindle. It is not a thread for a pistol drill. One UK buyer of the Cocoarm B07L9N58HX expected a hand drill, and it did not fit.
Does a shank of 17.78 mm prove the chuck is B16?
It supports the MT2 large end. On the Arc chart, 17.78 mm is also the B18 large end, while B16 is 15.733 mm. Kozelo states both B16 and 17.78 mm. Those two claims cannot both describe the chuck bore.
What if the arbor will not go into the chuck at all?
Stop tapping. An arbor that will not start into the bore is the wrong taper, not a dirty one. Do not grind the nose. A B16 chuck sold with a B18 arbor is a returns question under section 11 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Related pages

Keyed or keyless drill chuck

MT2 drill chuck for a lathe tailstock

MT2 drill chuck

Best MT2 drill chuck for forward drilling or tapping

How to fit an MT2 drill chuck and drift it out safely

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 21 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.

  1. ISO 296:1991, Morse taper standard (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  2. CGTK, Morse taper dimensions (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  3. Arc Euro Trade, drill chuck taper dimensions (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  4. HSE INDG291, isolate before adjustment (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  5. HSE L22, PUWER Approved Code of Practice (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  6. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 11 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  7. GOV.UK, accepting returns and giving refunds (retrieved 21 October 2026)
  8. Axminster bench-drill manual, seat and drift (retrieved 21 October 2026)