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BUYING TIPS
Shredders and Oil
Paper Shredders need oil. Paper dust builds up inside the cutting assembly and packs together like cement. Oil softens packed dust, which allows the movement of the cutting head to push it out. The finer the cut the shredder makes, the more oil it needs. Small particle cut shredders and D.O.D. spec machines require a lot of oil, and for these machines we recommend an
Automatic Lubricating device. We sell a special blend of
oil, which works excellently in these machines. Some other fine oils, like 3 in 1 or Mystery Oil, will work in a pinch. We do not recommend the use of WD-40 or any type of spray-on oil.
Shredder vs. copiers and computers
Paper shredders can kill copiers! The sensitive electronics in today's copying machines and laser printers are easily upset by power surges caused by paper shredders starting up and jamming. Additionally, they use an electrostatic technique to apply toner that tends to attract dust from the air, and paper shredders create a lot of dust. In environments with many computers or copiers in close proximity, several smaller desk side shredders would be preferable to a large central unit. When purchasing a 1.25hp or higher shredder, it is recommended that you consider a dedicated 20 amp service for power to the shredder. This will prevent power surges from scrambling your copiers and nearby computers.
Shredders, children, & pets
If you have a shredder in a home environment where there are children or animals, the paper shredder should be unplugged when not in use. Small fingers can get caught in a shredder, and with a photo eye start on the shredder..... There are also cases of cats poking around in shredders, with negative results. It is always better to be safe, than sorry.
Shredders, Paperclips, and Staples
The finer the cut that your paper shredder makes the more susceptible the machine is to damage from paper clips and staples. A large strip cut shredder will probably eat paper clips for years without any noticeable damage (although the number of sheets per pass may drop a little as the cutters become dull). A single staple can easily damage a fine particle cut shredder, used for classified document destruction. If you don't require classified document destruction, you may want to consider a machine with a larger cut.
Sheets Per Pass
Manufacturer's specifications for the number of pages that can be shredded at one time should be taken with a grain of salt. A proven method for calculating the strength of a given shredder is by taking the number of feet per minute it runs, and dividing this by the horsepower. You will end up with a factor, which will then be applicable for any other machine you purchase.
For example, a machine that runs at 40 feet per minute and has a 1.5 H.P. motor will factor to 26.7. Another machine that runs at 40 feet per minute with a 1 H.P. motor will factor to 40. The lower factor is the more powerful machine. The lower the factor, the more sheets per pass.
Higher feet per minute machines are often preferred for data printouts that can be fed as a long single sheet. Otherwise, any machine that feeds at least 30 feet per minute will be fast enough to keep up with your ability to feed it.
Do not use this factor to compare straight cut and particle cut machines.
Cleaning
If you are using a cross cut or particle type paper shredder remember to oil the cutters frequently and have the cutting head cleaned out at least once a year. Cross Cut Paper shredders require a lot more maintenance than strip cut machines because the particles become lodged inside the cutting head. This is one of the principle reasons, aside from the additional purchase cost, to consider a strip cut paper shredder. A poorly maintained cross cut shredder might only last a year or so.
Jams
If you have a bad jam in any type of paper shredder that you cannot back out, soak the paper in
oil, wait 15 minutes and try again. If the shredder has stopped working, check to make sure that its circuit breaker is pushed in. If the jam is not moving at all, DO NOT continue backing it out using the forward and reverse buttons. If the motor does not move, it will burn out relays, switches or perhaps the motor. This is a major cause of repairs that we perform. If you follow the precautions mentioned below you can back the jam out using the fan on the paper shredder's motor. This almost always works. If you are not comfortable with machinery or are accident prone - do not proceed. There are a lot of ways to hurt yourself on a shredder.
Shredder Runs Continually
Check that the photo eye, which is located in the middle of the in feed chute where the paper goes in, is not obscured. This is most often caused buy a build up of paper dust and perhaps oil. Unplug the shredder, and clean the photo eye with a soft rag or cotton swab. If this does not correct the problem, the shredder will most likely need a new photo-eye assembly or circuit board. If the board has a trim pot on it you might try to adjust it, however you should take normal safety precautions. Reading the suggestions at the end of this section might offer additional ideas.
Repairing Paper Shredders
Paper Shredders are fairly simple to repair. ALWAYS UNPLUG THE SHREDDER and check for the
availability of replacement parts before disassembling. Many problems are caused by broken gears, which are relatively easy to replace. On some shredders the most difficult part is determining how to get the case off! The cases of some smaller shredders are sonically welded to prevent user-access. These machines are generally inexpensive, and are designed to be replaced, rather than repaired.
The motor phasing capacitor holds electrical charge and can give out a nasty bite. Short-out the two terminals on the capacitor (it usually looks like a shiny metal cylinder) with a screwdriver that you don't much care for (it might arc over quite dramatically). This writer has been zapped every five years or so and claims no permanent damage. This, of course, is a matter of opinion!
The other major source of problems, are bad circuit boards and switches. If the shredder runs in reverse but not forward you usually have a bad on/off/rev switch or circuit board. We recommend replacing these as a set. If you have power, but no activity at the motor, it could be the parts mentioned above, or a safety or indicator switch. Check the action on all the switches you can find. If everything looks good, go with the switch/circuit board mentioned above. We can support you with parts and a little technical advice over the phone.
We are always happy to respond to emails regarding paper shredder questions. (service@compax.com)
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