Maplin Paper Shredder

[trish1234567]

Does anyone know how to 'unjam' one of these???

[boxtops]

I haven't got a Maplin shredder, ours was from Staples - but I jam ours regularly :-(

Press the reverse button to make sure you can't free it that waya. If not - UNPLUG IT - turn the top over, and work away at the jammed paper with a paperclip or the points of sharp scissors. I can't reiterate often enough that you must have the power off, in order to poke about!

[vulcan42]

Thin nosed pliers are very useful, tweezers just aren't strong enough to grip the jammed paper.

[retrocop]

My favoured tool to prise out the paper from the rollers is a cheese knife with the curved,pointed prongs at end.Please do as boxtops suggests.Turn off or unplug from mains first or you wont need to worry about a jammed shredder!!!!

[sunny-dave]

Once you are unjammed ... it does help if you lubricate the cutters occasionally.

I give a piece of thick A4 paper a spray of WD40 on both sides and then feed that through, followed by a couple of sheets of newspaper to sop up any excess.

[trish1234567]

Hi all - have tried the long thin knitting needle, paper clip and tweezers,
have even tried spraying with my sewing machine oil - all to no avail.

I'm now off to try the thin nosed pliers and the sharp pointed scissors.
This cross shredder has been jammed for so long now that if I can't succeed, then I'm off to buy the confetti type, if only to end my frustration!

Many thanks for all your suggestions.

[trish1234567]

Thanks sunny-dave, your answer crossed with mine.
Will try oiling the paper on both sides first next time.

[sunny-dave]

Don't oil it too often, or too heavily - just a light coat every now & then.

[Old_Jim]

It's messy so do it in the garden!
With the thing unplugged, take the working bit off the basket and turn it upside down. Use a pair of long-nosed pliers to pull out as much paper as you can. After you've shifted a few bits, you'll find it becomes gradually easier as the cutters free up. Once you've pulled out as much as you can get hold of, put it all back together and it should eject the little bits you left behind.

Now get a sheet of paper and spray it lightly with WD40. Shred that and it will lubricate the cutters.

[trish1234567]

I’ve only just read your suggestion old-jim. Actually, I became so frustrated in the end with the cross-cutter shredder I decided to take it to the tip. As fast as I cleared the thing, it tangled up again and three of the cog wheels stopped rotating.
My husband suggested returning it to Maplins. I was not expecting any refund after having had the shredder for eighteen months. However, the Manager was very obliging (knowing how the cross-shredders mangle up the paper) and he offered me a replacement cheaper model, plus £10’s of Maplin batteries, to compensate for cheaper priced shredder.
The new ‘strip-cutting’ shredder is working beautifully …… so all’s well that ends well! Thank you all abbers for brilliant suugestions ………. I did try then all!