Hand Cranked Document Shredder

This hand cranked paper shredder is really satisfying. It's on a cool double-drawerslide disappearing bracket. It sounds like loading a machinegun when you pull it out. Once someone starts shredding you can't stop them til the scrap paper is all gone.

Much skillful photography, craftsmanship, video editing, etc by Fungusamungus

Step 1 Plot summary up to this point...

Someone took apart their electric shredder and left the parts in a pile.
"Bicycle powered shredder" thought I. First I would try it by hand just to get a feel for it.
I had a crank handle from an astronaut-torturing machine that happened to fit over the shredder's drive shaft.
There was a hole for a retaining pin in the driveshaft. I drilled the crank to match, pounded in the pin, and Voila! Hand-cranked shredder.
Then I clamped it to a table and everyone started shredding documents until we couldn't find any more paper.
It all happened so fast I didn't take pictures of the steps, but your junk shredder and your crank will most likely
be totally different. Try a handle from an old meat grinder or a crank from a bicycle.
Hand shredding is so satisfying and convenient I don't know if I'll make the pedal grinder.
If you do it let me know how it turns out.

Next came the process of fitting it under a table in just the perfect way. Continue...

Comments

[Aerospaced]

Just what my Amish friends need to keep those documents safe!

[pcooper2]

... or what the domestic terrorist needs when he has to destroy evidence after the SWAT team have cut off electricity to the building and are getting ready to break down the door.

[AJMansfield]

Two things I know of that shredded paper is good for: packing boxes (alternative to packing peanuts) and fire (burns EXTREMELY FAST and at EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES)

[leehael]

Yeah? Approved by who?

[Toastalicious]

as far as i know, we used the same technique in geometry class, but using compasses to find the center of a line.

[pietzeekoe]

you could also use a pasta maker as a shredder

[ewilhelm]

This project was mentioned here in the New York Times!

[Derin]

It's your company.Be proud.

[pete martinez jr]

Best gadget I ever saw and it saves power too! Thanks fellas!

[pete martinez jr]

Thats pretty clever friend! Now I now what to do on my old shreddar machine. thanks!

[pete martinez jr]

that thar is goood tip for my drillin machine! thanks!

[abend]

That guy is BAREFOOT in a metal shop? Man that's hardcore.

[Derin]

what is hardcore?i mean what does hardcore mean

[abend]

It generally means "To the highest degree" or "very serious". In this case, I meant that this guy is so serious about getting things built that the danger of possibly stepping on something sharp doesn't bother him.

[Derin]

oh ok

[tcabeen]

:: checks freecycle and craigslist for broken shredders ::

[Derin]

checks gittigidiyor for broken shredders

[ewilhelm]

The feel of the blades cutting paper when you hand crank this thing is really incredible and gratifying. It's hard to stop, like when you can't stop touching a fine silk tie.

[trebuchet03]

and now I ask.... how does it feel hand cranking the said fine silk tie? :P

[Derin]

haha

[ewilhelm]

This thing wasn't installed before the last Formal Friday (like casual or Hawaiian shirt Friday, just the opposite) at Squid. When I get my tie stuck in it on Friday, I'll report back!

[intoon]

I love Formal Friday!

[incorrigible packrat]

Hey wait a second. Nobody's posted, "You talkin' to me?", yet.

[Derin]

You talkin' to me?

[incorrigible packrat]

Hope you haven't any bedwetters at the shop. The shred bed would make a nasty papier mache piece.

[votecoffee]

This is an awesome idea, motors burn out of paper shredders amazingly quick and I plan on modifying mine very soon having been inspired by your article. However, I do have to say that I'm disappointed that you only did a viola add the magic handle to the shredder and spent the rest of the how to making a mount for the thing. I think it would have been better had you spent more time on the handle mounting versus the slider deal. That said, awesome idea. It's one of the few instructables that I've read and said I'm doing that this weekend because it's so practical and I have a broken shredder : )

[piper1234]

xD hahah great you learned from the orangutans to use tools and feet :P

[alxram]

Very useful tool, thanks for the awesome demo photos!

[unidyne]

Quieter and faster than electric! I'm impressed! My only suggestion is to come up with something that can cross-cut to prevent anyone from simply taping the strips back together (which is how the folks at Enron got caught).

[ListO]

I'm blown away! Wow! You could sell these for real money. One question: In step 15, does it require an automotive hydraulic jack, or could you use a smaller one to hold your head up?

[cjuon]

Sure could! In fact, I'd be happy to buy one if someone wants to make one for hire! Email me at cjuon @ purevisibility.com. Thanks!

[fungus amungus]

Some people do! In Japan anyway, which makes this hand shredder extremely weird.

Note: I've never heard of this guy before and the fact that he's living in Japan (where I've lived for a year and a half) and blogging about a hand shredder kinda blows my mind.

[A.C.E.]

iv got n elictric paper shredder and when i get a new one (the one i heve sucks) i will make an instructable on how to turn it into an electric knive sharpener

[captain Jack]

that's pretty slick

[jdog1]

NO SHOES!!! I`m telling "Health & Saftey"

[icanryme2002]

Using a sprocket and a chain hook that up to a hand crank printer then you can get rid of S.M.O.G. "Scientific Manipulation of Garbage" or prints that you don't like.

[graphak]

now this is just what ive been needing.. with privacy concerns these days, i think shredders should be as common as a toaster in people's homes. I just cant justify spending 30 at Walmart for something that will break soon, and can only handle one sheet of paper at a time. This reminds me of my mother's hand cranked tortilla/noodle maker ..the noodle attachment might shred paper. Great idea, and when i get more room in my apartment, I definitely plan on making a bicycle powered version...I will keep you posted when I do. Thanks for the nice idea.

[graphak]

by the way, ive tried viewing your youtube movie hoping to see it in action, but the movie was about 0.00001 seconds long. I saw the first image, and thats it. Not sure if its because Im on a mac or not.

[zachninme]

It appeared to be fast. I would say 1 turn = 2 inches. And 10 turns = 1 sec.
Therefore, 1 second = 20 in.

Not bad, faster than electric.

[Culito]

I like the floor-jack roll-around creeper. Perfect for jacking your head into the proper position with a few quick pumps. Make sure to let 'er down easy!