On Jun 11, 12:31*am, Searcher7 wrote:
...
I'm not sure of what, if any MT2 collets I should get. (My lathe
tailstock *and rotary table center bore are MT2).http://littlemachineshop.com/product...ProductID=1752

I'm thinking 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1" "precision"
collets.(In round, square and hex).

Getting all these collets from a quality manufacturer will be tough.
(The various spindle and bore standards are killing me).
Darren Harris

A collet isn't much use in the lathe tailstock, except for this type:
http://www.jtsmach.com/jtswebshop/Pr...Tools/D179.asp

I've used only 1/2" MT2 in my rotary table, to hold centering plugs
that were turned to size as necessary on the other end. The sector
gear job in my photo used such a plug that's 0.500" on one end and
0.508" on the other to fit the original gear. I make repair parts as I
think you do, and nothing is ever accurately to size.

Rather than all those square and hex collets you might consider small
3 and 4 jaw chucks with 5C backs. They have the same advantage that
you can remove the work to test the fit without losing centering, and
are better when you need to alternately turn and mill the part, like
my John Deere choke shaft with the squared end.

I bought the bar stock I needed first and then the collets to fit. As
for hex, electronics standoffs are usually 1/4" so I got that collet,
and I found a scrap lot of 7/8 hex stainless and bought a collet to
fit it. Otherwise I haven't needed them, bolt heads are undersized and
not concentric enough with the shank so instead of a hex collet or
even a 3-jaw I chuck them by the shank and drill the head to run
between centers.

I've never needed a square collet. Square stock can be centered
accurately by measuring with the cross feed dial.

jsw