I wanted to grind up some sweetcorn stems the other day, and so the old garden shredder was hoiked out of the shed, onto the plot where all the chips could safely flutter.
Now, I use an old piece of skirting to knock the stuff through the slot, and as should be the case, this piece of wood isn't too long as of course, it would be attacked by the blades and chipped as well. Without thinking, I placed the machine in position, and turned it on...
All heck let loose, the piece of wood had slid down inside, and immediately jammed the blades.
Hmmm...
Normal people would have turned the thing off, but for some reason, this Growster didn't - thinking it had stalled itself and as they do, cut itself out, and I opened it up. I've used the machine for years, and this had never happened before, but suddenly the thing restarted, the top fell off, (I'd undone the nut which holds it in place), the motor housing also fell off, and there was a mystified Growster wondering what to do next. Obviously turning of the power at the mains was a good idea, and so it all went quiet.
But the old thing has now got so many dented, snapped, hurt bits, I really don't think I should even try to make it all work again, which is a shame, as Growsters normally never say die, let alone give up!
It's so old, I reckon that I should take Mrs Growster's advice and get a new one, but pride dictates just one more inspection and a poke around, (with the power off) just in case...
Doesn't it?