[slow moving DC motor]

Callahan,

I don't know of a chip already programmed and you are pretty close as to what you will need to make this approach work.  Perhaps someone has a suggestion that is simpler.

Jim

[slow moving DC motor]

Can you use a servo?  You could use a continuous rotation servo motor with a BASIC Stamp (or other processor) and PWM (pulse width modulation) to make it maove at almost any rate you want...especialy slow.

Jim

[AWG?]

You are very welcome.

Jim

[AWG?]

If you go to this site:

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

you will find a chart that shows AWG, Diameter in inches, and diameter in mm as well as some ohter characteristics.

Jim

[Touch sensitive pad]

You might think about a light curtain instead...like a garage door opener but a lot smaller.  Instead of the touch to the surface the trigger is tripped by passing your finger through the light curtain.  With this approach you could trigger the switch by passing anything through the light curtain, not just a finger.

Jim

[datasheet]

try http://www.solarbotics.com/products/index.php?search_id=101

[Help with Timer IC]

You might take a look at

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Bill_Bowden/

he has a lot of circuits and a good tutorial on 555 timers.

Jim