A press jaw made of hardened steel needs little, but not nothing. Four habits decide whether it lasts thousands of presses or has play after a year.
Four habits
Contour clean and dryWipe the press contour clean with a cloth after the job. Caked-on dirt or sand in the contour is imprinted into the next fitting. Never sand or grind inside the contour: the shape is the jaw.
Oil the hinge lightlyA drop of machine oil on the hinge pin and springs, a few times a year or after wet work. Wipe off excess oil, otherwise it attracts dust.
Check the contourBefore big jobs, take a quick look at the pressing surfaces: small dents, rust or worn shiny spots? A damaged contour presses a damaged profile.
Store dry in the caseSounds simple, but it is the whole trick against rust. Jaw got wet: dry it, apply a thin film of oil, leave the case open to dry.
Our jaws are made of hardened steel (55-60 HRC). That makes the contour highly wear-resistant, but hard steel is also sensitive to knocks: a drop onto concrete can raise a burr on the contour. Treat the jaw like a measuring tool, not a hammer.
Frequently asked questions
Same rules: clean, dry and checked now and then. Pay particular attention to the click connection that holds them in the master jaw; it must stay tight.
First clean it and oil the hinge. If there is still play or it does not close fully, stop pressing and email us a photo, and we will take a look with you.
With normal use and dry storage you are talking about many thousands of presses. The hardened steel contour barely wears; neglect (rust, dirt, drops) is almost always the real cause of death.