For the most part, paper shredders aren’t too difficult to take care of. There are, however, a few basic things you can do to ensure that your shredder will stay in peak operating condition for as long as possible.

Clearing the Cutters:

One of the simplest ways to take care of your shredder is to periodically make sure that the cutting heads are clear of debris. In most shredders over time, paper particles will collect between the blades and can cause all sorts of problems, such as decreased functionality and causing the motor to work harder than normal leading to overheating and shortening the life of the shredder. Clearing out the cutting heads is not something you want to do by hand, of course. The easiest method for clearing debris is to simply run the machine in reverse for 30 seconds or so. This should be enough to remove a great deal of the collected particles from the heads and improve the function of the machine right off the bat. As always, refer to your manual to see if your manufacturer recommends this method, or if they have a different method they recommend.

Oiling The Heads:

The following is something that almost everyone is surprised to learn, and some learn too late to save their machines: All shredders need to be periodically oiled. Oiling your shredder keeps the machine’s cutting heads lubricated and clean and operating in peak condition. Luckily this part of shredder maintenance is not a particularly complicated process. Depending on your machine, often you can oil your shredder by simply squirting special shredder oil in a zig zag pattern on a normal piece of paper and putting it through the shredder, and then running the machine in reverse for a short time.

Depending on the size and model of your shredder, it may have come equipped with a self oiling system. If that is the case, you simply need to make sure that the oil bottle is full and the system is operating as it should. In many cases these types of shredders will have a warning light indicating when the bottle needs to be replaced.

In any event, it is recommended that you oil your shredder every time that you empty the waste bag. This is a great way to remember this vital part of shredder maintenance.

Run Time:

Unless your shredder is specifically rated for continuous operation you need to be aware that these machines are designed to be run for a certain amount of time before they will need to be shut down in order to keep from overheating. Even shredders that are indeed advertised as continuous run machines will likely need a period of rest every so often. This is probably the number one reason for service calls, and often, the machine is back up and running by the time the technician arrives. To find out your machine’s run time, you need to check the shredder’s manual. If it is not listed, it may be worth a call to customer support to find out.

Most if the better machines, it should be noted, come with what is called “thermal protection,” which simply means that it will sense when the shredder is being overworked and shut itself off before overheating has a chance to occur.

Author Bio: If you are interested in more information about Paper Shredders you might want to visit MyBinding.com. They offer a great price on these essential office machines, and even offer Free Shipping on orders over $75. MyBinding also carries large selection of Shredder Accessories, such as shredder oil, bags, and boxes.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: paper shredder,shredder maintenance,cutting heads,shredders arent,paper shredders,take care