To return the shredder that caught fire last night

[Phoebefromfriends]

Basically last night I was using my shredder for only the second time and it suddenly exploded and a spark lit the shredded paper beneath. This then started a small but rapidly burning fire and I ran to the bathroom and used the shower to extinguish the flames. At the time I was only shredding single sheets as it had been making a funny noise and I had used WD40 on the teeth section as per the instructions. I bought it in July last year but only used it recently, would you take it back? It was bloody terrifying and I did have a debate whether I should throw it out of the window or run to the bathroom.

Definitely take it back because if there is a fault it could happen to other people. Tell trading standards at your local council as well. You can contact the council online, it's not too much hassle.

Definitely take it back! If it catching fire doesn't make it "unsuitable for use" then I don't know what does.

Definately take it back. Should come with a 1 year warranty. Did it cause any damage to anything other than the shredder and paper? If so they have to pay to fix that too.

Take it back. They need to know this happens so they can look in to it.

In what universe would you not take it back?? Awful!

Great idea about trading standards. Luckily it didn't cause any other damage, I'm in rented and have insurance but it was my first thought. For a second I thought it was going to spread and I'd have to ring 999 and evacuate the flats. Worryingly it didn't trigger the smoke alarm that is hardwired into the building that triggers a building wide alarm, I need to investigate that today as well.

Take it back! Strangely I was watching youtube videos on lubricating shredders yesterday! Does it really say wd40 in the instructions? All the ones I've seen have said to use specialist shredder oil, and to apply it either by putting it on paper first or sparingly applying directly to the teeth. Could it be you've over applied the wd40 and it's got into the electrics?

Obviously take it back.

Just noticed the nearest shop is 40 miles away. Think I'll just ring then and take it to the tip, it stinks.

I sell office products including shredders for a living and would be very surprised if it advised you to use wd40 as we recommend shredding oil to use and is what we use in our industrial shredder. You will he covered under manufacturers warranty even if the store say they will not help. Most have a minimum of a 2 year manufacturers warranty and some with a 5 year. However if it doesn't advise use of wd40 they will probably say it has been misused. It depends on the value as well often companies like fellowes will just send you a new one without returning if the value is low.
Hope that helps - I realise my job now sounds incredibly boring!

Did it really say WD40? A quick google suggests that is very dangerous and not advised...

I think the rather long journey will preclude me from returning it, I will ring them to let them know but won't be driving 80 miles for a £30 shredder. Will definitely find the instructions maybe I got it wrong. Thanks for the advice, next shredder will be purchased with shredder oil.

As an aside, I bought a new one yesterday from staples (it's been taken over now but still sell the same stuff). The one I bought was £50 and had a back loader where you can put 70 sheets and it auto feeds them so you don't have to stand there feeding them (then you have to wait for it to cool).

Wow that sounds brilliant, I will see if there is one nearby.

Don't take it to the tip until you've spoken to the manufacturer - they may need to look at it to establish where the fault was. But it should be their responsibility to collect it.

WD40 (which is highly flammable) would be the last thing I would put anywhere near a shredder!

Glad you managed to sort your fire out though, and nothing more serious happened.

Oooh, which shredder @amysmummy12345 ? Desperately need a new one!

I've had my cheapo shredder for years. I've never heard of oiling a shredder.... Why did you need to oil it if it was only its second use?

I suspect the manufacturer will put it down as user error and recommend the user doesn't buy another device.....

So I'm guessing it didn't say to use WD40 then...

Dh did this the other week. It was actually funny once he had recovered from the exploding noise and smoke.
You are really not supposed to use WD40, almost all will advise shredder oil.

I'd be amazed if they recommended that and if they did then it needs a recall.

I haven't found the instructions yet but considering the posts above I'd suggest it may have been at least partly my fault. It was making some dodgy noises ahead of the now infamous WD40 scenario. I put that onto lubricant the mechanism.

I think you've probably caused the fire by spraying wd40 into electrics 😳

Our Tesco sells shredder oil, £4.99.

You're not the first OP, google is full of similar tales.

I didn't spray the WD40 on whilst it was plugged in and left it about an hour before using it again. I didn't hose it down whilst plugged in and trying to stuff paper through it.