Directions for Paper Shredder Oiling
Most manufacturers provide service instructions for the
routine maintenance of your office or home paper shredder.
They also usually have pdf versions of their manuals
available online if you have lost your original copy.
If all else fails, here are some basic directions for oiling
your paper shredder.
Use the Correct Shredder Oil
Shredder oil is specifically formulated to operate in
conjunction with your shredder cutting assembly, and comes
in not only bottles, but also aerosol containers. To
avoid voiding your warranty, you must use the recommended
shredding oil. Do not try to substitute motor oils, WD
40 or other lubricants.
Two Methods for Oiling Your Paper Shredder
One method is to apply the oil through the paper opening
of the shredder and with one motion, squirt a line of oil
across the cutting assembly, The machine can then be run in
reverse for ten to twenty seconds to aid in distributing the
oil throughout the cutting blades, and then feed the
shredder a few pieces of paper to clean any residual oil
from the unit.
Another method which is often used is to spread the oil
over a sheet of paper, and then feed the sheet through the
paper port of the shredder. The oil should be spread
evenly across the sheet to ensure that the entire cutter
assembly is evenly oiled. The easiest way to
accomplish this is to apply the oil through a zig-zag motion
across the page, making certain not to saturate the paper
with oil. It is best to apply a small amount of oil on
the paper, and then repeat the process two or three times
until the paper shredder is well oiled. Then just as
in the first method, a few pieces of paper should be fed
into the unit to clean up any residual oil
Regardless of which method you choose, apply the oil at
regular intervals. It is critical for the life of
office and home paper shredders that they be oiled
routinely. A crosscut paper shredder creates more dust
than strip shredders, so oiling for these units should be
much more frequent. A little maintenance will
ensure that you experience long shredder life, and better
shredding.
Back to How to
Oil a Paper Shredder
