A hydraulic tool having a frame, and a movable adapter. The frame defines a workspace with an anvil adapter at one end and a substantially flat face guide surface on one side of the workspace. The movable adapter is used for working a piece in the workspace against the anvil adapter. The movable adapter is movably mounted to the frame to move in the workspace relative to the frame along an axis of translation. The movable adapter has a substantially flat face seating surface seated against the guide surface of the frame. When the movable adapter is moved, the seating surface of the movable adapter rides upon the guide surface. The seating surface and guide surface interface with each other for maintaining the movable adapter in a predetermined orientation relative to the frame.