Office & commsCommon
Paper shredder
Also called strip shredder, crosscut shredder.
A universal motor and a metal gearbox that will outlive the basket it came in. The interlock is there because the gearbox does not care what it is shredding.
A donor is the dead machine. The parts below are what is still worth removing from it. “Leave it” is a part that is physically in there and should stay in there: too dangerous, too worn, or only useful as part of a repair you are not doing.
A scrapped machine is a box of parts that failed at different times. The reason it was thrown out is often one bad piece. The motor, the cord, the supply, and the screws are frequently still good. This index says which is which.
Why it is in the trash while the parts are not
A stripped plastic gear, a full life of paper dust, or a motor that overheated. The motor often survives the gear.
Before you open it
Do this while it is still unplugged, cool, and not leaking. Unplug. The motor is mains and the head is heavy.
Where the dead machine usually is
- Home office — In the house
- Office cleanout — Commercial
- Bulk trash day — Curb
Office cleanouts. Empty it first; the confetti is forever.
How it comes apart
The head lifts off the basket. Screws around the seam. The interlock is the switch the basket pushes.
Tools: Phillips, Meter.
Words on this page
- mains
- Ordinary household wall power. It can kill. Unplug before you open anything that used it, and do not experiment on live wiring.
- interlock
- A switch whose job is to stop a machine when a door or cover is open. Take it for a new project. Do not bypass the one still fitted to a machine you will use.
What to take
The table is the short version. The notes under it describe that part inside this machine, not only the general description.
| Part | Call | How many | How often | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal motor | Prize | 1 | usually | One end of the cutters. |
| Gears | Worth pulling | a train | always | Between motor and cutters. |
| Safety interlock | Worth pulling | 1 | always | Where the head meets the basket. |
| Panel switch | Worth pulling | 1 | usually | Auto / reverse. |
| Power relay / contactor | Bonus | 1 | sometimes | Auto-reverse boards. |
| Mains cord | Worth pulling | 1 | always | Rear. |
Prize
Mains, high torque, intermittent.
One end of the cutters.
Check brushes.
Good if it was a gear failure.
Worth pulling
Some steel. The plastic one is often stripped, which is the fault.
Between motor and cutters.
Keep the metal pair.
Mixed.
Mains switch.
Where the head meets the basket.
A good guard switch for a new machine.
Good.
Mains, sometimes a momentary reverse.
Auto / reverse.
Map it.
Good.
Ordinary.
Rear.
Inspect.
Good.
Bonus
Current-sense reverse.
Auto-reverse boards.
Only with the board.
Mixed.