The appliance includes a DC motor (12) having a rotating output shaft (14). A flexible coupling member (22) is connected at one end to the output shaft and at the other end is connected to an eccentric mass (24). The end of the coupling member with the eccentric mass is connected to a V spring assembly (16) which drives a workpiece assembly (18) on a distal end of which is mounted a workpiece (19). The spring assembly constrains the rotational movement of the coupling member to produce an oscillating back and forth action of the workpiece shaft and the workpiece through a desired angle. The coupling member is elongated and is elliptical in cross section in an active region (34) having a thin dimension (38) in the direction in which the active portion bends during operation of the motor and rotation of the motor output shaft.