As people become more and more aware of security issues and privacy concerns, the sales of shredders in the consumer marketplace has increased dramatically. Unfortunately this has also led to an increase in shredder related accidents. Before planning maintenance for your home paper shredder it is crucial to consider the safety aspect first. Every year there are serious injuries resulting from careless use of home shredders. Taking steps to avoid one of these life changing injuries should be foremost on anyone’s mind when using and maintaining a shredder.
A study undertaken by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission revealed many unfortunate circumstances of injuries leading to amputation of fingers and limbs of children, adults and pets. Children are naturally drawn to and intrigued by gadgets and machinery, and will often show an interest in helping a parent shred documents, or help with shredder maintenance by holding parts or using a screwdriver. Adults should be aware of the dangers associated with shredders and resist the interest shown by a child to help, and equally they should be aware of the risk to themselves when carrying out routine or emergency maintenance to a shredder.
There is one very basic preventive way to decrease accidents when clearing jams – unplug the shredder first! Do not rely on the automatic start and stop. Be safe and unplug.
Safety issues considered, what kind of maintenance can a householder expect to carry out on their shredder? Routine maintenance to ensure the smooth operation of a shredder will for the most part consist of the regular oiling of the cutting blades. All but the most expensive of shredders will require manual oiling. This will not only reduce the risk of paper jamming by preventing a build up of paper dust, and extend the lifetime of the shredder. It is also usually required to comply with warranty terms and conditions. The type of oil will be specified in the shredder manufacturer user guide, don’t be tempted to use any old oil you may have to hand, only use the recommended type. There are plenty of online stores that sell 12 oz. bottles of shredder oil that is specifically designed for shredder blades.
Application will depend on the model, but if possible use an aerosol to apply the oil, as this is by far the safest way to carry out this essential task. Without an aerosol there are two ways to apply the oil: 1) the oil can be squeezed directly onto the blades through the shredder opening, 2) the oil can be poured in a zig-zag fashion onto a few sheets of paper which are then fed through the machine as normal.
Which ever way is used, you should subsequently run two or three pieces of dry paper through the shredder to clear up any excess oil and prevent balling up of paper dust. Alternatively shredder oil sheets have become available that users can run through the shredder as normal that will clean and lubricate the blades as it passes through.
Sharpening shredder blades is a task best left to specialists, however there is another option for the home user. Some users have found success by feeding aluminum foil through their shredders. This may prolong the sharp edge on the blades, and can even recover dull blades back to their former sharpness. If this foil technique does not prove successful, contact a professional restorer who will have the correct tools to carry out the maintenance quickly and safety.
Following these simple principals will result in the safest and best home paper shredder maintenance plan.
Is it safe to run aluminum foil through the machine? I’d be a bit nervous, but if it can safe me money and the time that would be wasted bringing it in somewhere I’d have to consider it. I had no idea you should oil your shredder. Thats a new thing for me, I’ve never had problems but couldn’t hurt I guess. How often should you do either of the mentioned?