Overview

The Mini Lathe Starter Kit bundles the five accessories a new mini lathe owner needs to cut metal on day one. This kit covers all three: a 9-piece carbide lathe tool set and 4-way quick change tool post for turning operations, plus an MT2 live center, 1-13mm keyed drill chuck with MT2-JT6 tang arbor, and 7-piece center drill set for tailstock drilling. All five components are pre-matched for MT2 tailstock mini lathes — the Sieg C2/C3, Harbor Freight 7x10 and 7x12, Grizzly G0602 and G0765, and similar machines in the 7x10 through 8x16 class.

Key Features

• 9-piece carbide-tip lathe turning tool set (8mm / 5/16" shank): right-hand external turning, left-hand turning, facing, threading, grooving, boring, and parting tools — covers the full range of first-year mini lathe operations on aluminum, mild steel, and brass
• 4-way quick change tool post (2.5 inch): mounts four tools at once; swap between turning, facing, and threading setups without re-tramming — sized to fit 7x10 through 8x16 mini lathes
• MT2 live center with bearing: revolving tip eliminates tailstock friction when turning stock between centers; 60° included angle seats standard center-drilled workpiece ends
• 1-13mm keyed drill chuck + MT2-JT6 tang-type arbor: pre-matched pair for tailstock drilling operations; tang-type arbor inserts into the MT2 tailstock quill and ejects via drift — correct design for lathe tailstocks, NOT a drawbar/mill spindle arbor
• 7-piece HSS center drill set (sizes 1.0mm to 5.0mm): for starting holes in workpiece ends before drilling, and for creating 60° seats used with the live center when turning between centers
• Pre-matched components: all five items are selected for the same MT2 tailstock interface — no guessing whether the chuck arbor fits your machine or whether the tool shank fits the post

What's in the Box

• 1x 9PC Carbide Tip Lathe Turning Tool Set — 8mm (5/16") shank, 9 tools covering right-hand, left-hand, facing, threading, grooving, boring, and parting operations
• 1x 4-Way Quick Change Tool Post — 2.5 inch, fits 7x10 through 8x16 mini lathes
• 1x MT2 Live Center — bearing-equipped revolving center, 60° point, MT2 tang-type shank
• 1x 1-13mm Keyed Drill Chuck — JT6 taper bore, includes chuck key
• 1x MT2-JT6 Drill Chuck Arbor — tang type (self-ejecting via drift), for lathe tailstock and drill press use; NOT a drawbar arbor for mill spindles
• 1x 7PC HSS Center Drill Bit Set — sizes 1.0mm to 5.0mm, for starting holes and creating live center seats

Compatibility

This mini lathe starter kit is designed for 7x10 through 8x16 mini lathes with an MT2 tailstock taper. The included arbor is tang type — it inserts into the MT2 tailstock quill and ejects via the drift slot. It does NOT use a drawbar thread and is NOT designed for milling machine spindles.

The 4-way quick change tool post (2.5 inch) fits the compound slide on standard 7x10 through 8x16 mini lathes. The 8mm tool shank fits the included tool post holders.

Not compatible with: lathes using MT3 or MT4 tailstock tapers (Grizzly G4000/G4002, Precision Matthews PM-1022V, or other bench lathes in the 12" and larger class). Not designed for milling machine spindles.

Unsure if this fits your lathe? Email us the model number and we will confirm before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need anything else to get started cutting metal?
A: This kit covers the five essentials for day-one operations: turning tools, a tool post, a live center, a drill chuck with arbor, and center drills. You will still need: (1) workholding — a 3-jaw or 4-jaw chuck mounted on your headstock spindle (most lathes include one, check your lathe's package contents); (2) cutting lubricant for steel (oil, or cutting fluid); (3) safety equipment (eye protection, chip guard). Beyond those, this kit gives you everything to start facing, turning, drilling, and turning between centers.

Q: Will the 4-way quick change tool post fit my mini lathe?
A: The 2.5 inch tool post fits the compound slide on 7x10 through 8x16 mini lathes, which use a standard mounting stud on the compound. The 8mm tool shank matches the included tool post holders. If your lathe is larger than 8x16 (such as a 10" or 12" bench lathe), this tool post size may not fit — contact us with your model before ordering.

Q: What is the difference between the tang-type arbor in this kit and a drawbar arbor?
A: The MT2-JT6 arbor in this kit has a flat tang end — it inserts into your tailstock quill, seats by taper friction, and ejects by inserting a drift through the ejector slot in the tailstock barrel. This is the correct design for lathe tailstocks and drill presses. A drawbar arbor has a threaded end and is used on milling machine spindles, which have a through-hole for a drawbar bolt. Your mini lathe tailstock does not have a drawbar through-hole, so a drawbar arbor would not work. The tang type in this kit is the right choice.