Owning and using a paper shredder is a fantastic way to prevent yourself from being an identity theft victim. It also means you must take care of your machine on a regular basis and the best way to do that is to oil it. This one act of maintenance will prevent the machine's parts from wearing out prematurely, as well as cut down on the amount of paper jams you experience. Here are four ways you can perform this task.
1.) The old-fashioned way. The most common way to oil your shredder is by applying the lubricant directly to the machine's cutting head. It's easy to do this if your oil is stored in a squirt bottle. Just squirt some of the liquid on their entire width of the cutting head and then run the machine in reverse for up to a minute. Doing so will ensure that the lubricant is applied evenly. It will also cut down on the amount of dust in the machine. When you're done with that, run some paper through your shredder to absorb any excess lubricant. That's all there is to it.
2.) The zig-zag method. Another quick and easy method is by dampening a sheet of paper with the lubricant. To take advantage of this method, all you need to do is apply the liquid to the sheet in a zig-zag pattern and then shred it. Use the reverse mode on your device to ensure that the oil reaches all of the blades. If you want, you can repeat this process a couple of times to make sure your machine is fully oiled. Note: you don't need to soak the paper. Just make sure that your zig-zag covers most of the sheet.
3.) Lubricant sheets. If you would prefer not to work with oil directly, you can purchase special sheets that are already lubricated. Just feed one into your machine and then, as with the other methods, employ the reverse mode. Using these sheets will eliminate the chance of either using too much lubricant or making a mess with it, so you may prefer this method over the previous two.
4.) Automatic oilers. The final way you can oil your paper shredder is by using an automatic oiler. This is a device that can be attached to your machine and it takes the whole task of oiling out of your hands. A lot of the higher-end models can be installed with oilers, including machines manufactured by Dahle, DestroyIt, and Martin Yale. One drawback to this method is the cost of the oiler, which can cost several hundred dollars. Also, some of these devices need to be installed at the time you buy the machine and you must use one that's made by the same company that manufactured your shredder. If you're unsure of whether you can use one of these products, consult the manual that came with your machine
Finally, no matter which method you choose, be sure to only use a lubricant that is designed for use in shredders. That means you can't use WD-40, olive oil, or anything you would put in your car. Not only could this damage your machine (and void the warranty), it could be hazardous to your health and possibly start a fire.
Now that you know four different ways of oiling your paper shredder, selecting the one that's right for you will be easy. Just remember to oil it on a regular basis and your shredder will be a vital part of your office for years to come.
