Electrical Projects Most appliance manufacturers package various grades of grease for their products. If you use these specially formulated greases, you should have fewer callbacks. However, you can use ordinary off-the-shelf lubricants if you choose them wisely.

Lithium-based automotive chassis grease is excellent for high-pressure sliding loads such as developed on the crank mechanism of hedge shears. It is water resistant and resists throwoff. On the other hand, this grease is somewhat heavy for small-motor gears. These applications require something on the order of Lurbri-Plate 777. Delco "Ignition Cam Lubricant" is available from auto-parts jobbers. It is designed for high-heat applications where ordinary greases would melt. Small motor bushings should be oiled lightly—a drop or two is enough—with high-grade engine oil. Do not use animal or vegetable oil or some blend of these oils on small-appliance parts. Silicone, usually packaged in spray cans, is not the world's best lubricant, but it does do wonders for grommets, hoses, and other nonmetallic parts. WD-40 is a reasonably good preservative and can be used to remove moisture from motors and circuits.

August 20, 2008