What oils best for home shredder maintenance?

Answer 1

Shredder manufacturers recommend using "their" oils, of course. Manufactures claim that they specially formulate oils for use in the high temperature environment that exists within the shredder head unit. No doubt, this is true. However, if you've ever used electronic hair clippers, and accidently touched the interior metals parts shortly after use (while taking the unit apart to clean out hair debris), you know they're hot enough to burn skin on contact. While shredders and hair clippers differ in that shredders use rotating metal blades and hair clippers use blades that slide rapidly in opposite directions, both devices need lubrication because they both have interactive metal parts. If you buy a hair clipper set, the lubricant oil it comes with is mineral oil. Shredder oil sells for about $35 a pint, whereas mineral oil can be bought at any supermarket for about $1 per pint. I've used mineral oil to lubricate my paper shredder for 5 years in my office and it still runs like a champ. Fellowes DM65C