Shout out to Kent White
 

Kent,
I ordered some stipple dies for my Lancaster Shrinker/Stretcher. from you Thursday morning.
They arrived Saturday afternoon.:D That was fast and they work great.
Should have ordered them a few years ago.
Anyway just wanted to say thanks ;)

Yo Dave,
Glad delivery is speeding up!
(psst - don't lube the sliding faces, but you already knew that. :):))
yeehaw,

Why not lube the sliding faces? :confused:

B'cause:
Geometry of pressure block angles is steep - steeper than all other "grab and shove" shrinker machines that I have seen. The design dates to 1939, so not arguing with success here, at all. Just saying that the design has a different sliding angle that is steep enough to need Friction, and Not lubricity. :confused: :cool::cool:

I have modified and tuned these machines up for many years, in many shops. Including the "MMA" versions of these machines (stamped such on the fronts.)

I have even added light 120 "grit lines" across the blocks and across the jaws when they get worn enough to slip without grabbing.

If you scrutineer the mating surfaces on new blocks and jaws you will see "texture" that offers friction against sliding. These surfaces polish up with use and thus friction can decrease, losing the "grab and shove" which is so ideal for function. :):)
... Note: lube can be added to vertical surfaces and corners to ease movements, but just not on the angled sliding planes.
- Also, might want to check front outer jaw corners to make sure there is a chamfer there - where they might contact the inside corner of the shroud/retainer, avoiding friction there.
- That is all -
:):)