Guidelines to oiling a paper shredder begin by checking the oiling needs of the machine, using the correct kind of oil, applying the correct amount of oil, and spreading the oil.
Paper shredder machines are increasingly becoming popular in homes and business offices because of the protection they provide from identity thieves. Nonetheless, just like any other device, these gadgets need regular maintenance to constantly and effectively serve its function, such as oiling. Fortunately, oiling these machines is very simple to do. Just read this article to learn how.
Check the oiling needs of the gadget
Depending on the degree of protection your paper shredding machine can provide, the more secure it is, the more it needs to be oiled. Thus, in other words, strip-cut paper shredders need the very least oiling, and those models used in high security locations require the most. This is because the tinier the pieces of paper are cut, the more dust is generated, which in time accumulates on the cutting blades. Strip-cut paper shredders cut less paper compared to its higher end equivalents, and hence produce only less dust every time the machine is used. Dust also naturally builds up in time and when the unit is frequently used. Many manufacturers would encourage oiling your unit every thirty minutes while being used to an hour. A good tip would be to oil the shredder about 3-4 times per week if you rarely utilize it, and to follow the instructions of the manufacturer if the unit is frequently used.
Use the correct kind of oil
According to paper shredding phoenix, it is important to utilize the right type of oil, one that is meant specifically for your unit and recommended by its manufacturer. You can not just use any type of oil because the oil meant for these units are needed to be heat tolerant and must also have been calibrated especially for these units.
Apply the right amount of oil
Apply oil onto the blades, from one end to the other, at the cutter opening for about 2 seconds. This should be long enough for the right amount of oil to lubricate the cutting blades, since applying too fast may result in an insufficient amount of oil, and too slow may also cause too much oil on the blades of the shredder. Paper shredder lubricating oils also come in various forms of containers. Thus, depending on its bottle, pour, squirt, or spray the oil onto the blades of the machine.
Distribute the oil
Distribute the oil you applied onto the cutters of the shredder by turning the machine on the manual mode and pressing the “Reverse” button. Let the blades run this direction for a few seconds, then hit the “Standard” or “Forward” button. Let it run in this direction too for a couple moments. Running the unit in both directions will enable the oil to be distributed throughout the entire shredder unit. After you have applied oil directly onto the blades, you may also shred a piece of paper with oil to be sure that oil gets to all parts of the cutting blades. To do this, just apply or spray a piece of paper with oil in a zigzag pattern. The zigzag pattern is essential to make sure that oil doesn’t easily get absorbed into the paper before any of it can reach the cutting blades. You can also feed the machine another oiled piece of paper to be sure that the blades are now well lubricated.
It is vital that you use the oil recommended by the manufacturer of the machine so as not to nullify its warranty. In addition, if your unit has not been functioning properly, it is advisable to bring this to its service center instead of trying to fix it on your own.