Does anyone know how to unjam a shredder ?

Question

I have jammed the shredder at work and am trying to figure out how to dissolve the paper without damaging the metal and plastic parts. I've tried WD 40 to grease up the paper but it didn't work - it didn't soften the paper at all. I will try shredder oil as soon as i get some (btw do u know which is the best brand for this sorta thing) If anyone has any ideas please share!

Answer 1

Unplug it. Take the top off. "Fish" for stuck papers with an unwound paper clip, preferably a long one! Sometimes, you have to help the leftover stuck pieces move along. Thus, remove paper clip, plug it back in, and try shredding some papers. If that doesn't work, fish some more!

...unless, of course, the paper is too wet to be fished out

Answer 2

Fellowes Paper Shredder Troubleshooting

Answer 3

Why not just buy another and have it ledgered to your department's operating expense? I mean, c'mon: typical office shredders do not cost that much, and if you have a high capacity shredder, you should have a service contract on it.

Don't waste time trying to fix something that you're not skilled with doing, especially adding liquids to a piece of machinery that runs off of electricity or sticking objects in it to unjam it!

Sure, it's unplugged while you're poking tweezers, letter openers, flat-head screwdrivers, etc. in it, but you will plug it back in to see if any of these things worked.

If your boss or department head feels that your safety is less of an importance than a $20 piece of equipment, then you may want to consider your importance as an associate of your company...not being crass, just logical.

Answer 4

Goto the manufactures website to find the best solution. Or ask your companies maintenance personnel to fix the problem. If it is a standard waste-basket type of shredder, and the paper is stuck, then just throw it out and buy a new one. However, if it is a heavy duty shredder, then most likely it will have some sort of service agreement, and if you start to take it apart just to unjam paper, you could void its warranty. These shredders will range in price from 2k to 40k, so do some research before you have at it.

Answer 5

Most shredders have a reverse switch. It also helps to keep the shredder as free of
shredded paper as possible. I hope that this helps. Good luck.

Answer 6

You will have to take as much of the paper out as possible by hand.
There shredder oil that will help the shredder from jamming you put it straight on the blades and you need to do this every couple of weeks or as often as you use it.

Answer 7

Most shredders have a limit switch which automatically turns the machine off when over-loaded (ie. too much paper put into it at one time). Try using the reverse switch. It may cause you to cycle through the limit switch numerous time. Toggle this switch, each time tearing off however much paper from the maul as you can until it's all gone.

Answer 8

You aren't going to be able to dissolve the paper. Normally there is a reverse switch. Sometimes you have to go between forward and backwards on the switch several times. If that doesn't work, unplug it then turn it over and pull some of the paper out.

Answer 9

U cant hand pick it out, y? you probably didnt emptyout the container and it started getting to full
Once you do get it clear try tearing your paper in half and once you do feed only a couple of sheets at a time

Answer 10

It should have a reverse switch. If it dont get rid of it. If it does and that doesnt unclog it your only alternative is to take the whole dawgone thing apart. Been there done that with my own, and I learned to be patient and not cram so much in there at once.
Goodluck.