Dear Friends,
We are having at our work site a large quantity of electrical driven hand tools of varied makes.Currently I am facing problem in getting the proper replacement carbon brushes for some of them.One of my colleagues has come up with a quick fix solution
ie., ON A WHITE PAPER MAKE A MARK WITH THE ORGINAL BRUSH(now worn out) AND ANOTHER MARK WITH THE (PLANNED) REPLACEMENT - IF THE MARK TEXTURES MATCH GO AHEAD.
Would somebody please comment

It pays in the long run to get the correct factory brushes - too soft and you carbon up the motor - too hard and you wear out the commutator. I've heard of people using paper to establish "hardness" but I wouldn't trust it with my tools, and especially not with my employer's motors!

Don't know if the following links might help.
http://www.ebcis.co.za/carboquip/Brushes.htm
http://www.toolmarts.com/repair.html

I agree if you use the wrong brushes and they dont seat correctly, they can arc put too much carbon on the commutator, and little motors are really tuff to 'Stone'.

WOC

Len _B and wocolt hit it on the head, use the factory replacements and if you are having increased brush wear it may be indicative of another problem OR your Colleague may have already changed the brushes once.