DW said here shredder stopped taking paper.As usual we never read the instructions, so I went to Google and found that they need to be "Oiled" periodically due to a build up of paper dust residue. I read that you can buy special oil, but I tried "3 in 1" oil and voila.After applying a quick, thin stream of oil on the shredder gears and running it for a minute or two it now shreds up a storm, not to mention it runs faster too. :)Warning, never stick your fingers in the gears while plugged in to power. My disclaimer!:S

Hah! Now you've got me another honey-do project.I never thought about that either and of course did not read the directions.Would the use of oil make the dust stick and gum up over time?Maybe graphite should be used?Graphite - the kind of lubricant used on locks.

You can pickup oil for paper shredders at Office Depot.

I didn't know. Now I do. Thank you!

Just feed some wax paper through every so often to lube the cutters.

Whatever you do, do NOT use a spray lube in your shredder. I once used white lithium grease from a can on a shredder. When I turned it on to run the lube into the blades, a spark from the switch ignited the propellant and blew a giant fireball straight into my face. I lost my eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, moustache, arm hair and a fair portion of the hair on my head. Aside from feeling like a dumb***, I looked pretty stupid for about six weeks.

Paper shredder stopped shredding,who knew | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

You_can_t_take_
Explorer
Sep 14, 2013
BuckBarker wrote:
Good thing about the mineral oil is you can take a spoonful every now and then for regularity.

I just tried that.... Now I Gotta Go..............
mockturtle
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2013
BuckBarker wrote:
I worked awhile in the office equipment business and we always used mineral oil to lube the shredders and we sold and serviced some massive beasts. Good thing about the mineral oil is you can take a spoonful every now and then for regularity.
I use it to remove eye makeup. :)
BuckBarker
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
I worked awhile in the office equipment business and we always used mineral oil to lube the shredders and we sold and serviced some massive beasts. Good thing about the mineral oil is you can take a spoonful every now and then for regularity.
mockturtle
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2013
accsys wrote:
Staples sell the oil and they also sell lubricant sheets for this purpose. Personally, I use their oil just do a "light zig-zag" down a sheet of paper and feed it through the shredder after allowing the oil to soak in. I do it about once a month and I still have over half bottle of the oil after two years.
Thanks for the 'zig-zag' idea. Just tried it only with 3-in-1 oil. :)
accsys
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
Staples sell the oil and they also sell lubricant sheets for this purpose. Personally, I use their oil just do a "light zig-zag" down a sheet of paper and feed it through the shredder after allowing the oil to soak in. I do it about once a month and I still have over half bottle of the oil after two years.
LittleBill
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
my shredder said use vegetable oil layed over a blank piece of paper and shred it.

i lost a shredder too before i realized what happened
Stefonius
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
Whatever you do, do NOT use a spray lube in your shredder.

I once used white lithium grease from a can on a shredder. When I turned it on to run the lube into the blades, a spark from the switch ignited the propellant and blew a giant fireball straight into my face. I lost my eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, moustache, arm hair and a fair portion of the hair on my head.

Aside from feeling like a dumb***, I looked pretty stupid for about six weeks.
BurbMan
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2013
Just feed some wax paper through every so often to lube the cutters.
mockturtle
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2013
I didn't know. Now I do. Thank you!
1492
Moderator
Sep 13, 2013
You can pickup oil for paper shredders at Office Depot.