Vice Maintenance and Care

3rd March 2020


Vice maintenance and care


	Shop for Engineer’s Vices


		Caring for your vice
		To care for your vice, there are a few simple tasks that should be completed on a regular basis.

		Cleaning and oiling To keep your vice in tip-top condition, always keep all threaded and moving parts clean by wiping the vice with a cloth after each use. This will clear any grit, dirt and debris from building up on the vice.

		Make sure to oil and lubricate the joints, threaded parts, and sliding section often. This is essential in order to maintain the smooth opening and closing of the jaws. Use machine oil on your vice as this will help prevent it from rusting.

		To oil the sliding section, open the jaws completely and apply a layer of grease to the slide. Move the sliding jaw in and out a few times to distribute the grease evenly over the slide and vice’s body. This will keep the sliding section lubricated, thus allowing the jaws to move freely.

		Removing rust There are many different methods to remove rust if it appears on your vice. However, the easiest is by using a rust remover chemical.

		Simply apply the chemical to the rust and leave to stand overnight. Once the chemical has been left for the allotted time, scrub the rusted area with a steel wool brush until the rust comes loose, before washing the chemical off with water.

		After washing, it is important to dry your vice completely to prevent any rust from returning. You can then use a dry cloth to rub off any remaining loose rust and your vice should be back into top-quality condition.

		Repainting If the paint on your vice starts to chip off it is possible to repaint it by applying a fresh powder coating. Alternatively, for a quick and easy solution, the user can also repaint the vice by hand using a rust-resistant protective paint.

		Replacing parts Some metalworking vices have jaws which will need replacing during the vice’s lifetime, due to constant wear. Replacement jaws are available to purchase and are easy to install. For information on how to do this, visit our page: ‘How to replace the jaws on a metalworking vice’.

		Storage
		When your vice is not in use, bring the jaws lightly together and place the handle in a vertical position.

		If your vice is placed outside then cover it with a cloth to keep it dry and prevent it from rusting.