Just now in the evening, I was at home. Thinking of clearing up some stuff that have been left lying around the house, I picked up a pile of flyers and promotional booklets that managed to find their way into our weekly mail.
Two of those booklets came wrapped up in clear wrappers with a piece of sticker with our names and address printed on it. Not wanting people to find out our address and our names, I removed those plastics wrappers and fed one of the pieces to the paper shredder. Since the shredder claimed it could even shred credit cards, I expected it to be able to work on thin plastics wrappers.
To my horror the plastics wrapper became entangled in the shredding mechanism! The motor ground to a halt and refused to advance any more. After a few more attempts at stopping and starting the motor a few more times without getting the film out, I stopped the motor and peered into the mechanism from below.
Being able to stretch and wrap itself around, the strips of plastics clung to the mechanism. I think this happened due to the fact that unlike regular pieces of paper, and credit cards, the plastics film is stretchable, even though it may be thinner. The motors heated up after my repeated attempts to get the gears to turn after they were stuck. That did not help the situation when it further softened the plastics and make them stretch and wrap around the gears even more.
![]() |
The plastics sheet that caused all the trouble! |
![]() |
The clear plastics film wrapped itself around the shredding gears inside in clumps of mashed up strands. |
I spent the next hour trying to sort out this mess, untangling the stretched plastics strands wrapping itself around the shredding gears. Here's what to do if you ever find yourself in the same situation.
Note: The following steps helped me resolve my problem. Here's the brand and model of my paper shredder. Brand: GBC, model: Alpha Confetti Cut. If you are unsure it will work for your model and make, please consult the service and support for your respective product.
The following steps also involve using a pair of scissors to cut and pry the plastics free from the shredding mechanism. Please do not cut yourself on the scissor blades. Also, do not apply force with the blades on the mechanism. This may dislodge them from their current alignment. It may also bend or dent them. All this may affect the proper functioning of your shredder after you've remove the offending plastics wrapper.
1) First, engage the reverse gear to make the motor go in the opposite direction, to let the machine attempt to spew out the plastics wrapper in the reverse direction. (if your machine does not have the reverse button, find some way to make the motors advance even if in the forward direction a bit, so it exposes more of the mess that is stuck inside the unreachable areas of the gears)
2) Take a pair of scissors, open up and insert a single blade in from the loading end (on the top for me). Aim for the mess of tangled plastics and try and cut them loose with the sharp end of the blade.
![]() |
Using the blade to cut lose bits that are stuck and tightly stretched. I also usde the blade to fish out loose ends so I can pull on them to see if they could be removed. |
3) Turn the motor to expose the mechanism from the bottom. Use your fingers to try to pull on the tangled mess. (Caution: Beware of sharp protruding edges). Pull at different areas where the plastics go into the gears. In doing so, we are testing which parts of the gears are gripping harder on the plastics wrapper. Depending on how your mechanism was designed to shred, you will realise bits of your wrapper come off easily. For me, the middle part grips the plastic the tightest. There is no way to pull the plastics out for even an extra inch. The sides (for my machine) did not exert any pull on the plastics so it gave me a lot of freedom to remove bits of the plastics that stick out from there.
4) For the bits that are stuck in the centre of the gears, they are stuck and cannot be moved. However there will be areas where you see the plastics material being stretched and pulled and strained. Again, use the single blade from our scissors to disentangle as them and cut them loose as much as possible, leaving no lose ends to feed back into the gears. As we are cutting them loose we can again pull on those loose ends to test the grip on the gears on those strips to see if any of the bits we cut have become loose in the process.
![]() |
Using the blade of the scissors to cut lose exposed bits that are tightly stuck and stretched |
5) Now put the motor portion back upright, fixed properly in its proper position, and try to advance the motors again (try and engage the reverse gear if its avaiable to you). If you want to advance forward and the motor does not run, it may be that it is not detecting any paper to shred. so you may want to feed smaller pieces of paper for it to detect and thus trigger the motors to attempt to advance.
Keep repeating these steps and you will gradually find that even after you've removed lots of bits of plastics from the mechanism after 1 round, more bits of plastics will appear and come around to the exposed parts of the gears next time you advance (or reverse) the mechanism and take a look again.
![]() |
More plastics being exposed after advancing the motor |
Keep repeating these steps and you will find that while the motor was stuck in the beginning, it will now advance better. Soon you will find that when you advance the motor, there will be no more plastics bits churned out. That would mean that you have successfully removed all the stuck bits.
For my case, there are still a few very short bits of plastics wrapper I could not remove. They are still sticking out from one or two corners, but it is not impeding the shredder from functioning normally, so I am leaving them there. :)
Ohh! I’m glad that you were able to remove those plastics from your paper shredder. It is also a good thing that your shredder wasn’t so hot when you placed those plastics. Melted plastics are harder to remove. Maintaining a paper shredder isn’t that hard. You just need to brush of the dust and put some shredder oil once in a while to keep the blades lubricated. Aside from soft plastics, you should also avoid having cloth and other similar materials on your paper shredder!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! This might be a good information for those who have paper shredder inside their house and even in offices, if they encounter same problem like this it could be easy for them what should do. Nice blogsite.
ReplyDeleteFinally someone can tell me how to do this! Just an FYI dont shred the plastic sleeve covers either.
ReplyDeleteThank you for any other informative site. The place else
ReplyDeletemay I get that type of information written in such a
perfect means? I have a mission that I'm just now working on, and I've been on the look out for such info.
my web-site Breast Actives review, Http://Bit.do/,
Thank you, I have recently been searching for info about this subject for a while and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now.
ReplyDeleteHowever, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you sure in regards to the source?
my web page affiliate.realpassiveprofits.com ()
longchamp handbags, polo ralph lauren, tiffany jewelry, coach outlet store online, longchamp outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet store, kate spade handbags, louis vuitton outlet, jordan shoes, michael kors outlet online, oakley sunglasses, nike air max, kate spade outlet online, red bottom shoes, coach outlet, christian louboutin outlet, michael kors outlet online, louis vuitton outlet online, chanel handbags, longchamp outlet online, christian louboutin shoes, tiffany and co jewelry, louis vuitton, oakley vault, prada outlet, nike free, burberry outlet online, burberry outlet online, tory burch outlet, coach outlet, coach purses, michael kors outlet, prada handbags, michael kors outlet online, ray ban outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, louis vuitton handbags, gucci handbags, louis vuitton outlet, michael kors outlet online, nike air max, louboutin shoes, nike shoes, ray ban sunglasses
ReplyDeletenorth face, hermes pas cher, north face pas cher, air jordan, vans pas cher, scarpe hogan, ray ban uk, ray ban pas cher, true religion outlet, louis vuitton pas cher, nike blazer pas cher, mulberry, oakley pas cher, nike roshe run, new balance pas cher, nike air force, ralph lauren, louis vuitton, sac michael kors, ralph lauren pas cher, true religion outlet, tn pas cher, lacoste pas cher, true religion, converse pas cher, nike free, nike air max, air max, michael kors canada, air max pas cher, lululemon, nike air max, guess pas cher, timberland, sac louis vuitton, michael kors uk, louis vuitton uk, nike free pas cher, hollister, burberry pas cher, sac vanessa bruno, longchamp pas cher, hollister, chaussure louboutin, longchamp
ReplyDeletebeats headphones, ghd, abercrombie and fitch, birkin bag, reebok shoes, barbour, giuseppe zanotti, ugg, nike trainers, celine handbags, babyliss pro, soccer jerseys, new balance outlet, mcm handbags, ugg outlet, ugg soldes, north face jackets, wedding dresses, insanity workout, roshe run, hollister, lululemon outlet, nfl jerseys, abercrombie and fitch, jimmy choo shoes, bottega veneta, soccer shoes, nike huarache, ferragamo shoes, marc jacobs outlet, chi flat iron, mont blanc pens, valentino shoes, uggs outlet, mac cosmetics, asics shoes, nike roshe, instyler ionic styler, uggs on sale, north face outlet, herve leger, rolex watches, longchamp, vans outlet, p90x workout
ReplyDeletemontre femme, timberland shoes, canada goose, hollister, coach outlet, lancel, iphone 6 case, vans, uggs canada, juicy couture outlet, toms outlet, moncler, replica watches, wedding dress, canada goose uk, air max, canada goose pas cher, karen millen, converse shoes, louis vuitton canada, moncler, moncler, moncler, converse, ugg, hollister canada, canada goose outlet, moncler outlet, juicy couture outlet, canada goose outlet, canada goose, oakley, canada goose, gucci, ugg boots, parajumpers outlet, supra shoes, hollister clothing, baseball bats, canada goose outlet, ralph lauren, moncler, ray ban, moncler, louboutin, nike air max
ReplyDeletemontre femme, timberland shoes, canada goose, hollister, coach outlet, lancel, iphone 6 case, vans, uggs canada, juicy couture outlet, toms outlet, moncler, replica watches, wedding dress, canada goose uk, air max, canada goose pas cher, karen millen, converse shoes, louis vuitton canada, moncler, moncler, moncler, converse, ugg, hollister canada, canada goose outlet, moncler outlet, juicy couture outlet, canada goose outlet, canada goose, oakley, canada goose, gucci, ugg boots, parajumpers outlet, supra shoes, hollister clothing, baseball bats, canada goose outlet, ralph lauren, moncler, ray ban, moncler, louboutin, nike air max
ReplyDeleteThis blog is really useful for me This is one of the most wonderful blog i love it ... !
ReplyDeletebest paper shredder
ninest123 16.03
ReplyDeletemichael kors outlet, tiffany jewelry, louis vuitton, michael kors, gucci outlet, louboutin outlet, oakley sunglasses, burberry outlet online, nike air max, ray ban sunglasses, ugg boots, nike outlet, longchamp outlet, louboutin, prada handbags, michael kors outlet, jordan shoes, prada outlet, louis vuitton, nike air max, chanel handbags, ugg boots, tiffany and co, oakley sunglasses, replica watches, michael kors outlet, longchamp outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, christian louboutin outlet, uggs on sale, nike free, louis vuitton outlet, ugg boots, michael kors outlet, ugg boots, michael kors outlet, ray ban sunglasses, cheap oakley sunglasses, polo ralph lauren outlet, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp, louis vuitton outlet, oakley sunglasses, burberry, replica watches, oakley sunglasses, louboutin shoes, tory burch outlet
burberry, coach purses, michael kors, kate spade handbags, air max, hogan, ray ban pas cher, kate spade outlet, new balance pas cher, converse pas cher, oakley pas cher, vanessa bruno, lacoste pas cher, true religion jeans, nike air max, mulberry, air jordan pas cher, nike blazer, coach outlet, ralph lauren uk, coach outlet, michael kors, nike free, nike free run uk, louboutin pas cher, true religion jeans, nike air max, true religion outlet, hollister, replica handbags, sac guess, michael kors, abercrombie and fitch, lululemon, vans pas cher, longchamp pas cher, hermes, north face, tn pas cher, hollister pas cher, air force, nike air max, michael kors, timberland, north face, ray ban uk, ralph lauren pas cher, sac longchamp, nike roshe run, true religion jeans, nike roshe
ReplyDeletemcm handbags, iphone 6 cases, north face outlet, iphone 6s plus cases, p90x workout, birkin bag, beats by dre, insanity workout, iphone 6 plus cases, wedding dresses, iphone 5s cases, chi flat iron, herve leger, soccer shoes, s5 cases, abercrombie and fitch, hollister, oakley, new balance, bottega veneta, nike trainers, instyler, reebok shoes, soccer jerseys, vans shoes, iphone 6s cases, longchamp, celine handbags, hollister, ferragamo shoes, asics running shoes, hollister, ralph lauren, giuseppe zanotti, babyliss, jimmy choo shoes, ghd, timberland boots, valentino shoes, lululemon, nfl jerseys, nike air max, nike air max, north face outlet, mont blanc, nike roshe, ipad cases, nike huarache, mac cosmetics, louboutin, iphone cases, baseball bats
ReplyDeletecanada goose uk, marc jacobs, sac louis vuitton pas cher, converse outlet, pandora charms, wedding dresses, barbour, louis vuitton, moncler, canada goose, lancel, vans, louis vuitton, canada goose outlet, montre pas cher, thomas sabo, karen millen, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, moncler, juicy couture outlet, moncler, canada goose, barbour jackets, pandora charms, ugg pas cher, ugg boots uk, moncler, moncler, swarovski, pandora jewelry, swarovski crystal, pandora jewelry, louis vuitton, moncler, moncler outlet, hollister, converse, canada goose, links of london, ray ban, bottes ugg, canada goose, gucci, coach outlet, doudoune canada goose, moncler, supra shoes, louis vuitton, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, replica watches, toms shoes, juicy couture outlet, canada goose outlet
ReplyDeleteninest123 16.03
This is very educational content and written well for a change. It's nice to see that some people still understand how to write a quality post!
ReplyDeletebest paper shredder for home use reviews
same thing happened to me! haha i used our office shredder, i thought it was ok to shred plastic (mail, package plastic envelope with address) i was doing the exact same thing as oyou did! awesome! it made me laugh. although theres still a few bits and pieces of plastic on it.
ReplyDeleteI’m really amazed with your posting skills as well as with the layout on your blog site. Is this a paid style or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the pleasant quality writing, it is rare to see a great site such as this one these days.I recently came to know about http://machinesuae.com/, their Shredders And Machines are very effective.
ReplyDeleteShredders And Machines
coach outlet store online clearances
ReplyDeletecheap oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
fit flops
louis vuitton bags
true religion outlet
michael kors outlet clearance
fitflop sale
basketball shoes
oakley sunglasses
fitflop shoes
ray ban sunglasses
longchamp le pliage
hermes outlet
coach outlet canada
louis vuitton
tory burch boots
michael kors outlet clearance
montblanc pens
air max 90
timberland outlet
louis vuitton handbags
jordan retro 8
louboutin femme
kevin durant shoes 7
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton outlet
asics outlet
jordan retro 11
chenyingying2016726
Decorate the plastic. Find an object about the diameter of your finger to mold the ring around, such as the handle of a wooden spoon, corrugated plastic sheets
ReplyDeleteNice blog. Thanks for sharing. The offered laminating machines are precisely engineered and are particularly designed to cut papers into different sizes with precision as per the needs.For more details please visit our website. paper shredding machine
ReplyDeleteDeskside paper shredder is used by small home offices. It comes in both strip-cut and cross-cut model. Prime attractive feature of deskside paper shredder is its portability, easy accessibility and also contains wastebasket for waste paper. Paper Shredder Reviews
ReplyDeletemizuno
ReplyDeletebarbour jackets
mac cosmetics
soccer jerseys
bcbg max azria
lunette oakley
michael kors handbags
oakley vault
christian louboutin
ray ban
2017.12.8chenlixiang
michael kors outlet
ReplyDeleteoakley sunglasses cheap
north face jackets
oakley sunglasses
juicy couture outlet
fitflops
swarovski
oakley sunglasses
north face
coach factory outlet
201712.8chenjinyan