Well, I got that disposer out of the shed today, hooked it up to electricity, put the garden hose in it and turned it on. It took off and didn't leak. I was doing it outside on the patio, hooked up to a GFI to be on the safe side. I started looking around for something to shred. I gathered up some acorns and sticks from last fall, put them in, turned on the water, put a magnet on the switch, put a towel over the opening and plugged it in. It ground all that stuff up in an instant. Then I remembered you all talking about nails. I didn't want to do that, but gathered up a half to 3/4's of a cup of some pea sized river gravel and did the same thing. It turned it into sand. And cleaned up the chamber a little too.
Now since I know it works, I'm wondering if I should look for a new shredder ring? What if I tear the gasket between the two halves? Ideas?
Unfortunately, I won't be able to use it in this house, because the pipe that comes out of the wall is too high. But I can save it for the next place I live.