Internet Help for Small Business

Office Equipment - All About Shredders

• a strip or cross-cut style
• low or high volume models
• with or without a built-in container

Sifting through these options is almost as complex as re-assembling a shredded document.

At the lower end of the scale are strip cutters. They tend to be cheaper and have fewer features. With these, you simply feed a sheet of paper through an opening (called "the throat") and the shredder, after cutting up the sheet, ejects narrow strips of paper. But even here there are several options.

Look for models that have a throat that's wide enough to accommodate all the different paper widths you might have to shred. Don’t limit your research to a machine that only slices 8½ x 11 sheets. There will be times you need to shred big quantities of larger sizes.

If you only have access to a small model, you'll end up spending more time tearing or folding sheets to make them fit than is worth the time and effort.

Potential Volume

Next, think about your potential volume. Will you be shredding a few sheets per day or dozens?

Most personal shredders are rated for 100-150 sheets per day. But like personal printers, the ratings are usually stated for a brand new or perfectly maintained machine. An office shredder, especially one used by multiple people, will see more action.

Shredders, like printers, are mechanical. Parts wear and blades get dull. Before long, the shredder will slice only half its rated capacity. Buy a little higher capacity than you think you’ll need.

Shredding capacity can also refer to the number of simultaneous sheets the machine will accept. Don’t waste your time feeding one or two sheets into the shredder on those larger jobs. Buy a machine that can shred several sheets at the same time without jamming or dulling the blades.

In this area, too, capacity is often overstated. A rating of 6-8 sheets is realistically only 4-5 after a few months of use, depending on paper type. Twenty-four bond paper is thicker than 20 bond. Take that into account.

Identity Theft

To deal with possible identity theft, shredder models are available in a variety of cutting patterns.

Strip widths vary from 1/8 - 1/2 inch on most models. The narrower the strip the more secure the result. That’s assuming strips are cut perpendicular to the line of type. Strips cut parallel to sentences are very easy to re-assemble.

Most people don’t want to have to pay too much attention to the way they feed paper and even vertical strips can still be put back together.

Cross-cut Shredders

Cross-cut shredders, which cut paper horizontally and vertically in the same pass, can solve that problem.

You feed the paper normally and two sets of blades slice the paper into small rectangles. They tend to cost a little more and require a little more maintenance, though. The blades require simple-to-do oiling from time to time. Also, since there are two sets of blades with more mechanical controls, the price is higher.

Whichever type you buy, look for models that have extra, convenient features.

Some have auto-paper sensors. When you feed the paper into the throat a sensor detects paper and automatically begins the shredding cycle. No need to press a button. Just feed and forget.

Low-maintenance shredders are handy, too. Some use a type of carbon dust commonly used to lubricate locks, rather than oil. Some have an oil reservoir that you fill once and can forget for months on end. Some will have a light indicating when more oil is needed.

Clearing Paper Jams

Some models have a jam light and an automatic shut-off feature. A reverse feed option is helpful for clearing paper when jams do happen.

Some shredders provide only the shredding unit with no paper container. They’re designed to fit over a standard office wastebasket. Others have adapters that can fit over round or rectangular containers. You might want an in-built receptacle designed for the unit, though.

Which one is right for you depends on your volume and security needs and budget. Still, don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish. In this age of identity and credit card theft, spending a little more up-front could save you big time in money and grief.

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