Shred's dead, baby

[undyingking]

Bah, my lovely new shredder has jammed at just the second time of using, on a particualrly chewy piece of shrub. Anyone got any tips on unclogging? I've tried running it backwards, but it's jammed that way too. And I can't take it apart, it's fastened with special pecularily-shaped bolts.

Comments

[wimble.livejournal.com]

Step 1. Unplug it from the mains.

I've seen people get this wrong, and very nearly come to grief as they attempt to coax the shredder into working. The problem being when it starts working suddenly.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I had actually got that far myself, but thanks for the protective thought ;-)

[rotwang.livejournal.com]

Usually the problem is too much soft green stuff. If you have some nice dry sticks (e.g. bamboo canes) to push through, that can clear it.

Having said that, and I don't know what sort you have, we took back the first one we got from Homebase because it was completely hopeless and blocked all the time. It was a rotary disk kind of shredder, as I think most are. We replaced it with a nice Bosch corkscrew type (alas, about three times the price) and that has been excellent.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

undyingking bought the same model we have, or potentially the next one up (forget offhand which). Not the crappy rotary type.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

In this case it is one large piece of dry stuff which has caused the clog. It's clogged sufficiently that the corkscrew (which has this chewy bit of stick kind of wound round it) cuts off as soon as you try to turn it on.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I have occasionally found that trying to run it forwards for a bit, then backwards for a bit, repeating as necessary, has helped. Otherwise, you might just want to leave it for an hour or two to see if whatever ails it loosens of its own accord, but dry stuff can also help, as rotwang mentions.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mm, I can't actually run it at all atm, as it cuts out as soon as it tries to move in either direction -- and the piece is already dry. I was wondering if there might be proven method of breaking up the stuck piece while it's still jammed in situ, by analogy with the carrot / shower procedure maybe.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

Hm. No, in that case I think you might need to call Bosch and ask their advice -- if the screw won't turn then actually getting at the relevant bit will of course be a bit tricky. About the only thing I can think of would be setting light to the dry stuff and hoping it burned far enough down to free the rest, but methinks that could be a bit counterproductive ;)

[chrisvenus]

I do however like the idea of setting light to the shredder because its not working. It has a certain simplistic mindless charm. (yes, I know that's not what you said but its the thought that came into my head)

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

Well, it's certainly another option. ;)

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I suspect their answer will be along the lines of 'take it in to our registered repair partner in Croydon / Suttgart', but I guess I'll have to give it a go.

[hendybear.livejournal.com]

I no doubt have the required tools to undo the bolts... Of they are in Cambridge/Oxford. No plans to be in either I guess?

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I've freed it now! -- I managed to dissect the blockage from above. Thanks for the offer though!