As you recently mentioned already owning some WW collets: It would be worth checking the details of those, and making up a set that match.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Collet a.
Do you have a draw-tube for yours … and does it fit nicely ?
MichaelG.
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P.S. This book is 'definitive' on Moseley and Webster Whitcomb:
The company is the world’s best Collet Milling Machine supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
https://archive.org/details/watchmakerslathe00good
I recommend reading all of it, thoroughly … but you might want to look at Chap. III first.
Edited By Michael Gilligan on 26/08/2019 13:43:36
#2 MT is a bit odd for a spindle nose. It means you a very small spindle bore, and I would guess a small spindle for mounting chucks.
The upside to tooling up in #2 mt is when you sell the lathe, the collet system could transfer to a drill press or mill. The down side is thats what most of the #2 MT tooling is intended for. It will be available in fractional sizes, not have a hollow back to allow work to pass through and its designed to resist radial loads. The thrust load of a drill bit or mill is intended to be constrained by the blind hole in the collet. #2 MT is also a self locking taper. Simple removing the tension from the draw bar will not free the part. You will have to unseat the collet every time you change parts. These collets wont be designed for lathe work and may give marginal performance.
Its unlikely you will find anything other than a #2 MT that will close with a drawbar on your machine. Remember, #2 MT is a self locking taper. If you go that route, design a retainer for the drawbar to eject the collet as you unthread the drawbar. Repeted bashing of the drawbar to eject the collets will dammage your spindle bearings.
ER series collet chucks are available on a #2 MT shank. They will have the same issues, but will do a better job of constraining axial loads. The collet nut will restrict how close you can work tho the collet. The collets will close on a larger range of sizes, but break easliy when over flexed.
Given the choices proposed, I would chose the ER series, but I think its a compramise.
When I think about small work holding collets, my personal preferance is 5C. I use them on two lathes and my mills. 5c is about the most poplular work holding collet. Almost any common shape is available for a reasonable price. Blank, nylon, brass, etc are all reasonably price. Everybody and there dog sells them. A wide variety of price and quality is also available in these collets. You can also pick up 5c indexers for you milling machine. - 1 collet set, two ways to use it.
For your situation, I would look into on of the 5c collet chucks sold by Enco and others that tightens collets with a chuck key and has an interchangeable back to allow mounting on lots of different lathes. Yes, they are pricy, but you can change back an put the chuck on another lathe if you outgrow the one you have. It also allows you to pass work throught the collet into the spindle.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Collet Styles. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.