MyBinding Knowledge Base
What are some troubleshooting tips for my paper shredder?
Paper shredders are great machines that can help keep everyone’s private information under wraps. However, it doesn’t matter if you own a personal-sized device or a large departmental one, you probably will experience some problems with it at some point. Here are five common problems and some ideas on how to fix them.
- 1. The shredder won’t operate – at all.
- This is a very common problem and it often can be solved very easily by ensuring the device is securely plugged into the wall. This alone fixes the problem a lot of the time.
- You should also ensure that the cutting head is situated properly since some machines won’t operate if it’s out of place for safety reasons.
- You can also check your owner’s manual to see if it could be something else if these two options don’t work.
- 2. The machine suddenly stops in the middle of a job.
- If this occurs, chances are your shredder just needs a break. Most of the smaller ones lack continuous-duty motors and can need as many as 20 minutes before they’re ready to go again.
- You should also check to see if the machine is jammed or if the waste basket is full. A lot of devices will cease operating when the bin fills up to give you a chance to empty it.
- 3. There’s a paper jam. Even if you have a jam free shredder, you might still have to deal with a paper jam at some point, depending on your usage.
- Most jams can be cleared up by simply running the machine in reverse and removing the paper.
- If the shredder keeps jamming, you can help resolve things by oiling it. (The next section contains information on how to do this.)
- 4. The shredder makes too much noise. Some of the units out there are noisy from the get-go. However, if your machine is making more noise than usual, there could be something wrong with it. Or it could just need to be oiled. It’s important to oil your shredder on a regular basis so that it stays in good working condition. (And to make sure it runs as quietly as possible.) Your instruction manual should have some information on how to oil the device, but if it doesn’t, all you need to do is soak a sheet of paper with oil and run it through the device. Follow that up by running a dry sheet through it and you should be good to go. (Note: don’t use anything but shredder oil. Using other liquids could damage the machine.)
- 5. The device won’t take in any paper – at all. Finally, if your shredder refuses to take in any paper, it may have stripped gears or be damaged in some other way. If the cutting mechanism isn’t rotating, you’ll probably need to have the machine serviced. (Or, in some extreme cases, you might have to replace the device.)
For repairs and parts, contact customer service.
< Over the years, a number of customers have asked me whether they can use twin loop wire with their plastic comb binding machine. These customers often don’t want to have to buy a brand new machine but like the look and feel of twin loop wire binding. However, the answer to their question isn’t as simple as it seems. You see, they actually do make twin loop wire that is designed to work with the plastic comb binding hole pattern. With that said, if you want to use these wires you are going to need a way to close the wires. What is Spiral-O Wire? Let me explain a little bit more…There is a product that we carry called Spiral-O Wire. This wire has 19 loops and is designed to work with the hole pattern from a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O Wire is sometimes called Wire Combs or Ibico Wire and was originally designed for use with some of the older Ibico binding machines. A number of the older Ibico plastic comb binding machines also included a twin loop wire closer on the front of them to allow users to use both plastic combs and wire. This 19 loop wire was designed for this purpose. What Equipment is Needed? As the Ibico brand has been phased out by GBC and all of the older Ibico plastic binding machines have been replaced with new models, they no longer have the twin loop wire closer on the front of them. This presents a problem in trying to use these spiral-o wires since you can’t use the wires without a way to close them. One of the only options left is to purchase a Twin Loop wire closer. However, since twin loop wire closers are not incredibly cheap this option usually only appeals to users who have larger electric plastic comb binding machines. Otherwise, it is often advisable to simply buy a low end 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine (the supplies are cheaper). This being said, if you have one of the older Ibico binding machines that has a wire closer included you are in luck. The Spiral-O binding supplies that we carry will work perfectly with your machine and you will be able to use both plastic combs and wire depending on your needs. These Spiral-O binding supplies are available in Black, Silver, White, Blue and Red and in sizes up to 1″ in diameter. If you aren’t sure what type of wire binding supplies that you need to work with your machine simply give us a call. Our trained sales representatives will be glad to help you find the correct supplies for use with your machine.(Read More)
