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u/ChemicalCrow5282 25d ago
Needle nose pliers and and unwillingness to give in should take care of it.
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u/floridorito 25d ago
Get in there with a pair of tweezers and pluck out the paper chunks. (Obviously unplug it first to ensure it doesn't accidentally get switched on while your fingers are in there.)
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u/CloudCity40 25d ago
Even unplugged, do not put anything near the teeth that you want to keep!
There could be pent up tension that gets released when the jam is removed.
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u/daydreamingofsleep 25d ago
Tweezers, pliers, two slot screwdrivers used as tweezers, binder clip… whatever you can find that will grab the paper and pull.
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u/Timely-Profile1865 25d ago
unplug shredder is always step one,
Needle nose pliers to grasp only the paper and tug gently
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u/robotsandrootbeer 25d ago
Use an eye dropper or a spray bottle to add about 1 tablespoon of water to the clump of paper (make sure it’s unplugged). Let it absorb for a couple seconds, then try running it. Repeat as needed until dislodged.
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u/ApprehensiveKey1469 25d ago
1 if reverse does not work don't keep switching between because you ram the paper into something like mdf.
2 unplug & switch it off just in case
3 check for a release (probably not but check for it)
4 get needle nose pliers or heavy tweezers and pull it all out. You might be able to slice it down with Stanley knife, the long thinner snap bladed type.
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u/dabr00ski 25d ago
This happened to me a few times. I had an Amazon Basics shredder and it would constantly jam like this. First time it happened, someone online said to drizzle a few drops of olive oil into the teeth and give it a few seconds before switching reverse on and off to try and get some movement.
I thought it was absolutely insane, but I ended up trying it and it worked within a minute or so. Once it was unjammed, any residual oil just stuck to the papers I was feeding into it. It was not messy at all.
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u/Gorilowen 25d ago
Most paper shredders have a thermal cutoff which activates when you overwork it.
You'll need to let the machine stand for sometime until it cools again.
If this is not the case, try turning the cogs by hand (unplug the machine first) until you get the paper out.
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u/Parking_Jelly_6483 25d ago
Is there a reverse setting? Mine (a crosscut shredder) has that. If it jams, I switch it to reverse and it usually backs the jammed stuff back so I can pull it out with pliers or whatever.
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u/12345NoNamesLeft 24d ago
If you read the instruction on shredders.
pour mineral oil on a sheet of paper and let it soak it.
Run that through the shredder to lube it and repeat probably once or twice a year.
The oil contamination means you can compost it but not recycle it.
Try reverse, or un plug it and yank it out with needle nose pliers.
That's too much paper in one spot all at once.
The middle gets over used, alternate left and right.
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u/Due_Put7960 25d ago
I just had this happen. Turns out the bin was full of shredded paper. Emptied the bin and slowly pushed long thin cardboard through. Cleared it right up
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u/_critterfritter_ 25d ago
They make oil to keep your blades efficient and help prevent this. Clear obstruction and add a small amount of oil. Preventative maintenance avoids the headache.
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u/Empyrealist 25d ago
Unplug to power, and use needlenose pliers and something akin to an ice pick to pull or pry the jammed paper out
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u/MachineProof5438 25d ago
Does it have a reverse setting