To sharpen the blades, wet down a sheet of cardboard with wd -40 and feed it thru the shredder. Do this about every month and it will help keep the blades sharp. Just be sure to throw away the soaked cardboard and wipe out the bin to keep from contaminating your compost.
I've been doing the same for the last 3 years now with my pen and gear 10 page micro shredder because it's basically the only source of browns we can get here in the desert. Every time you empty that Hopper bro, you should run some lube through those blades for at least a half a minute forwards and then in reverse.
I've been using a 15 sheet Shredstar (UK brand) for cardboard boxes over the past few years. Doesn't cut as fine as your machine but it'll handle pretty heavy, double wall boxes. I use a box cutter knife & make strips as wide as possible. Mixed with grass clippings, everything's fully broken down inside 6 months & I estimate I've processed 800-1,000lb of cardboard so far.
Two years on & having acquired more land for growing, I need even more 'brown' material, so the shredder's been getting a really heavy workout - more than 25kg/60lbs in the past couple of weeks & I finally found the limit, as thankfully, the shredder has a thermal cutout (kicks in at around 8kg/18lbs of continuous shredding). Heck, it wasn't an expensive machine but it's already gone through 70kg/150lbs of cardboard this year.
It's by the grace of god that I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to come across your priceless sharing. Indeed,to tell the truth before I came across your video I was rather very sceptical about the possibilities of chipping carton papers with such a shredder. Now that I don't have an iota of doubt about the results that I would be getting, I am straight way going to make a purchase of such a shredder. Thank you once again for clearing my lingering doubts. Keep sharing your good thoughts in the days to come.
I’ve gone through. 2 12 sheet CC shredders over 3-4 yrs? Not even sure it’s worth buying. Cheepies that is. I was thinking about the expensive ones as well as I find more heavy duty boxes.
It's silly, but cutting flattened boxes into shreddable strips with a hobbyist band saw is extremely quick and equally satisfying. I wouldn't buy a band saw just for that purpose, but if you happen to already have one and need to shred a lot of cardboard, it's great! Much easier on the hands, too.
I was looking for a cardboard shredder and found this vid. So I went upstairs and took a piece of double wall cardboard, put it in our shredder, and it ate it to little bits with no issue. Tried one about this size of what you used and it ate it as well. Thanks. I assumed no way.
Appreciate this, man! I moved from NYC to Vermont last summer, and now that my compost tumbler isn't going to be active over the winter, I bought a worm farm and have been checking out cardboard shredding for their bedding. Definitely think I'm going to get one, but probably larger capacity than 10 sheets, so I can do thicker boxes too. Good on ya for gardening and composting, and sharing your experience here.
I found a shredder that will cut 18 paper sheets at least will cut the typical cardboard boxes well for worm farm use. Get one that is a cross cut shredder. The shreds are tiny and perfect for that use.
Just bought a similar model for the same purpose but it has this annoying anti jam function so when it thinks it'll jam, it stops shredding so I have to press it back to zero then forward. Its fine thought for composting card.
I've been shredding cardboard and paper for a couple of years now. I'm now on my third (and bigger) shredder. It's so relaxing to do. I use it in my compost bin and garden beds.
Yeah, not a bad rule to follow. I would avoid any paper that is coated or has heavy ink coverage. Most newspapers (not the glossy sections) use soy inks, same with plain corrugated cardboard boxes.
how come this product isn't described as suitable for cardboard shredding on product listings? Does it definitely comfortably shred all cardboard thicknesses?
@@JeffStarr Yes it looks great for cardboard shredding! Just wondering why the manufacturer doesn't describe it as a cardboard and paper shredder? Will it maybe shorten its life feeding it cardboard often?
@@pvest2158 Once upon a time, all paper shredders had steel gears and cutters, and could eat through cardboard for years without much wear. Today, the gears and even many cutters aren't steel but plastic, which wear these machines out significantly faster. Most people I know who have used these newer Fellowes for example, had them die within 5-6 months after purchase because the assemblies simply could not take the abuse. My advice is to look for a 5+ year old paper shredder with steel gears and cutters, because they will eat cardboard without issues. As the old saying goes, "They do not make them like they used to." Best, Robert
To my subscribers... Don't worry, I'll have more of my regular videos about guitars and music posted soon. Rock on!
Weirdly enough I am searching for paper shredders to make compost indoors this winter and stumbled on this. Well done! Make more of these videos!
Thanks, will do!
@@JeffStarr honestly it was a well produced (loved the flash forward) and well done video!
To sharpen the blades, wet down a sheet of cardboard with wd -40 and feed it thru the shredder. Do this about every month and it will help keep the blades sharp. Just be sure to throw away the soaked cardboard and wipe out the bin to keep from contaminating your compost.
Thank you for the video, very informative 👍
Glad it was helpful!
I've been doing the same for the last 3 years now with my pen and gear 10 page micro shredder because it's basically the only source of browns we can get here in the desert. Every time you empty that Hopper bro, you should run some lube through those blades for at least a half a minute forwards and then in reverse.
I've been using a 15 sheet Shredstar (UK brand) for cardboard boxes over the past few years. Doesn't cut as fine as your machine but it'll handle pretty heavy, double wall boxes.
I use a box cutter knife & make strips as wide as possible.
Mixed with grass clippings, everything's fully broken down inside 6 months & I estimate I've processed 800-1,000lb of cardboard so far.
Two years on & having acquired more land for growing, I need even more 'brown' material, so the shredder's been getting a really heavy workout - more than 25kg/60lbs in the past couple of weeks & I finally found the limit, as thankfully, the shredder has a thermal cutout (kicks in at around 8kg/18lbs of continuous shredding).
Heck, it wasn't an expensive machine but it's already gone through 70kg/150lbs of cardboard this year.
That’s what I did earlier today. It’s oddly satisfying to play with it after.
It's by the grace of god that I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to come across your priceless sharing. Indeed,to tell the truth before I came across your video I was rather very sceptical about the possibilities of chipping carton papers with such a shredder. Now that I don't have an iota of doubt about the results that I would be getting, I am straight way going to make a purchase of such a shredder. Thank you once again for clearing my lingering doubts. Keep sharing your good thoughts in the days to come.
You want to avoid the cardboard with ink on it if your doing it for composting, just rip/cut around it
Perfect. I was about to spend 300$ on a heavy duty shredder. Thanks for letting me know it can be done with a smaller unit. Love the ASMR too lol
What was the heavy duty shredder(What brand and so on)?
I’ve gone through. 2 12 sheet CC shredders over 3-4 yrs? Not even sure it’s worth buying. Cheepies that is. I was thinking about the expensive ones as well as I find more heavy duty boxes.
It's silly, but cutting flattened boxes into shreddable strips with a hobbyist band saw is extremely quick and equally satisfying. I wouldn't buy a band saw just for that purpose, but if you happen to already have one and need to shred a lot of cardboard, it's great! Much easier on the hands, too.
I love the absurdity of this. I approve!
I was looking for a cardboard shredder and found this vid. So I went upstairs and took a piece of double wall cardboard, put it in our shredder, and it ate it to little bits with no issue. Tried one about this size of what you used and it ate it as well. Thanks. I assumed no way.
Nice work!
Hey! Thanks for the video. Remembering the motto "work smarter/not harder"
Glad it was helpful!
Appreciate this, man! I moved from NYC to Vermont last summer, and now that my compost tumbler isn't going to be active over the winter, I bought a worm farm and have been checking out cardboard shredding for their bedding. Definitely think I'm going to get one, but probably larger capacity than 10 sheets, so I can do thicker boxes too. Good on ya for gardening and composting, and sharing your experience here.
I found a shredder that will cut 18 paper sheets at least will cut the typical cardboard boxes well for worm farm use. Get one that is a cross cut shredder. The shreds are tiny and perfect for that use.
@@michaeldvorak8140 What shredder was it? I'm looking for one too!
Just bought a similar model for the same purpose but it has this annoying anti jam function so when it thinks it'll jam, it stops shredding so I have to press it back to zero then forward. Its fine thought for composting card.
New worm farmer here and youtube led me here for ideas on worm farm bedding lol. Great video and exactly what i was looking for.
Glad it was helpful!
I like your hair.
@@SomePeopleDidSomething I like your comment.
10 sheets is not enough it’ll take ages with this I have the 12 sheet one and not enough getting a 60 sheet one
I've been shredding cardboard and paper for a couple of years now. I'm now on my third (and bigger) shredder. It's so relaxing to do. I use it in my compost bin and garden beds.
That is awesome!
I avoid shredding pieces with ink on it
Yeah, not a bad rule to follow. I would avoid any paper that is coated or has heavy ink coverage. Most newspapers (not the glossy sections) use soy inks, same with plain corrugated cardboard boxes.
notbadfilms I avoid news papers too. Unless I know for sure that it’s soy ink and not some other toxic ink.
Almost all ink used now is soy based.. totally safe. Avoid glossy pages like magazines
Good thing Amazon says they use soy ink. It still worries me though.
how come this product isn't described as suitable for cardboard shredding on product listings? Does it definitely comfortably shred all cardboard thicknesses?
I’ve been almost exclusively shredding cardboard as shown in this video; I have had zero problems so far.
@@JeffStarr Yes it looks great for cardboard shredding! Just wondering why the manufacturer doesn't describe it as a cardboard and paper shredder? Will it maybe shorten its life feeding it cardboard often?
@@pvest2158 Once upon a time, all paper shredders had steel gears and cutters, and could eat through cardboard for years without much wear. Today, the gears and even many cutters aren't steel but plastic, which wear these machines out significantly faster. Most people I know who have used these newer Fellowes for example, had them die within 5-6 months after purchase because the assemblies simply could not take the abuse. My advice is to look for a 5+ year old paper shredder with steel gears and cutters, because they will eat cardboard without issues. As the old saying goes, "They do not make them like they used to." Best, Robert