| When a new home appliance or power tool is | | | | installed. |
| delivered, always make certain you read all | | | | |
| instruction booklets and other accompanying | | | | Prevent Kinking |
| literature carefully before putting the | | | | |
| gadget to work for the first time. Fill out | | | | To prevent electric power cords on portable |
| and mail whatever guarantee cards accompany | | | | appliances from twisting and kinking, home |
| the item, and, most important of all, be sure | | | | handymen can cover them with a spiral plastic |
| you file this literature in a safe place | | | | cord wrapper of the type that is sold in many |
| where it can be referred to later on whenever | | | | hardware and home-furnishing stores for use |
| repairs are needed. | | | | on telephone cords. These are installed by |
| | | | simply twisting in place around the outside |
| The booklet may tell you how to make some of | | | | of the cord. |
| the simpler repairs and adjustments yourself, | | | | |
| and will give you serial numbers, model | | | | Electric Plugs |
| numbers and other pertinent data which you | | | | |
| may need in the future when trouble occurs. | | | | To keep plastic electric plugs on appliances |
| | | | from cracking when they are accidentally |
| Lubrication | | | | banged or crushed, wrap them with one or two |
| | | | layers of plastic or rubber tape, |
| When oiling small motors and other delicate | | | | particularly if the appliance is to be used |
| moving parts of appliances, most | | | | around the garage or workshop. This method |
| manufacturers recommend that only a few drops | | | | can also be used to make an emergency repair |
| of light oil be applied. To simplify the task | | | | on one of these plugs after the damage has |
| of measuring out the required amount, and to | | | | been done. However, replace it with a new |
| avoid dangerous over-oiling, apply the oil | | | | plug as soon as possible. |
| with an eyedropper so that the exact amount | | | | |
| can be accurately measured. | | | | Parts Tray |
| | | | |
| Clean Motors | | | | When making repairs on small appliances, |
| | | | screws, gears and other miniature parts are |
| Electric motors in appliances and workshop | | | | often easily misplaced. Eliminate this |
| machines can have their efficiency cut | | | | problem by folding up a small tray of white |
| considerably if heavy accumulations of dust | | | | cardboard or aluminum foil. The light-colored |
| or grit are allowed to accumulate on the | | | | material will make parts easier to spot, and |
| inside around the windings, bearings or | | | | the lip that is folded around the edge will |
| commutator. To prevent trouble before it | | | | prevent the parts from accidentally rolling |
| happens, the homeowner should get in the | | | | away. |
| habit of cleaning all motors thoroughly with | | | | |
| a vacuum cleaner at least twice a year. Use | | | | Appliance Touch-Up |
| the narrow crevice attachment to suck out | | | | |
| dust and dirt where possible. Then use the | | | | When the finish on a kitchen appliance |
| blowing end to puff out the remainder. | | | | becomes scratched or nicked so that the bare |
| Needless to say, make certain the motor being | | | | metal underneath is exposed, it should be |
| cleaned is turned off before starting this | | | | touched up as quickly as possible to prevent |
| job. | | | | rusting. Special touch-up materials are sold |
| | | | in most paint, hardware and appliance stores, |
| Preventing Motor Burn-Out | | | | or you can use any good grade of enamel in a |
| | | | matching color. |
| If a homeowner has trouble with motors on | | | | |
| power tools or appliances burning out for no | | | | In an emergency even a little clear |
| apparent reason - especially if several are | | | | fingernail polish could be used to protect |
| plugged in on the same circuit - he should | | | | the metal till a permanent repair can be |
| call a competent electrical contractor to | | | | made. Apply the touch-up with a small cotton |
| check his wiring and to check the loads on | | | | swab wrapped around a toothpick, and build up |
| each circuit. When circuits are overloaded, | | | | in layers if necessary to fill in a deep |
| voltages delivered at the outlets will drop. | | | | scratch. |
| Though this may not be severe enough to blow | | | | |
| a fuse, if continued long enough it may | | | | Take care of your appliances in the ways |
| eventually cause motors to burn out. The only | | | | mentioned above, and they should give you |
| sure cure lies in adding extra circuits, or | | | | years of good service. It's worth taking the |
| in having a larger meter and fuse box | | | | time and making the effort. |