This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … How NOT to Oil a Paper Shredder. Please feel free to check out this post along with many other helpful reviews, demos, how to videos and more on the official blog of MyBinding.com.
Oiling your paper shredder is the best way to keep it in good shape. The oil helps reduce wear and tear on the motor and gears, so you can extend the life of your shredder. Also, the oil cuts down on paper dust so your workspace can stay clean.
Oiling your shredder is pretty easy to do. However, there are definitely some things you should not do. Here are a few examples:
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Although oiling your shredder is another item on your “to do” list, it's important to do it anyway. Skipping this task can cause the shredder to wear down. If that happens, you'll either have to replace the shredder or get it repaired.
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If you have vegetable oil on-hand, resist the temptation to use it. Vegetable oil is for cooking, not for oiling paper shredders. Yes, it is cheaper than shredder oil, but it can also damage your machine.
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One of the most convenient ways to oil your shredder is by dampening a sheet of paper with oil and then running it through the machine. However, you shouldn't soak the paper. Soaking the sheet is overkill and it's likely to make a mess.
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Some people might be tempted to use peanut butter to oil their shredders, given that foodstuff's natural oiliness. Naturally, this messes up the shredder, and can render it useless. Therefore, save the peanut butter for lunch, not shredder maintenance.
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Squirting some oil directly into the shredder's feed opening is one way to properly lubricate the device. However, this is only true if you don't pour a lot into the machine. If you use too much oil, it will just pool in the waste bin.
There are a couple of right ways to oil your shredders and, as you can see, there are also some incorrect ways. Make sure you check out the embedded video so you can learn how to not oil your paper shredder.
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