The invention relates to a taper turning attachment for a lathe or the like and includes a template which may be selectively moved to either a first position where it will engage a portion of the cross-slide or to a second position wherein the movement of the cross-slide is unaffected. The template is either raised or lowered by means of a piston and cylinder arrangement laterally mounted on the bed of the lathe and may be automatically actuated through the action of an appropriate programming mechanism. The cross-slide includes a downwardly extending lug which is provided with a roller for the purpose of engaging the guide face of the template during the lateral movement of the cross-slide with respect to the carriage thereby causing the tool to move in a path paralleling the template guide face. The angle of the guide face with respect to the spindle is angularly adjustable in the plane in which the cross-slide and carriage move.