Desk shredders don’t shred desks!
A quick guide to shredders
The difference between a Strip Cut Shredder and a Cross Cut Shredder
Paper shredders are initially split into two distinct shredder types which either shred paper into long strips these are known as ‘Strip Cut Shredders’ or they shred paper into smaller less readable pieces these types are known as 'Cross Cut Shredders'.
Strip Cut Shredders A strip cut shredder will shred paper into long strips along the length of the document. The only thing you need to know here is that depending on the model you choose there are a number of different strip sizes that your paper documents will be shredded into. The most common strip cut shredder sizes are 10.5mm, 5.8mm, 3.9mm and 1.9mm strips. The 10.5mm cut being the least secure and the 1.9mm cut being the most secure of the strip cut shredders. Generally strip cut shredders are less secure than cross cut shredders but will shred more quickly and handle more documents at a time than a similarly priced cross cut shredder. Show me all the Strip Cut models in Price Order
Cross Cut Shredders A cross cut shredders will cut your documents into small pieces, initially cutting the document into strips along the length of the document and then across the width as well, so that you end up with much smaller pieces than a strip cut shredder is capable of. The most common cross cut shred sizes are 10.5 x 40-50mm, 3.9 x 30mm, 1.9 x 15mm, 0.78 x 11mm and 1 x 5mm. The 10.5 x 40-50mm cut being the least secure of the strip cut shredders and the 1 x 5mm being the most secure. Generally cross cut shredders are much more secure than strip cut shredders but will generally shred less quickly and handle less documents at a time than a similarly priced strip cut shredder, However the final result will be much more secure. Some manufacturers refer to 'Diamond Cut Shredders' and 'Confetti Cut Shredders' these are just a variation on what is still essentially a cross cut shredder but the final cut shape resembles a diamond or confetti Show me all the CrossCut Models in Price Order
Media Shredders Some of the Crosscut shredders & StripCut shredders allow you to shred CD-Roms & Credit Cards Show me all the models in price order that shred CD-Rom's
Shredder Security Levels
Shredders are classified into six official shredder security levels from Security Level 1 a low security shredder such as a 10.5mm strip cut shredder to the highest Security Level 6 such as a 1 x 5mm cross cut shredderas specified by the US Government and the most paranoid amongst us!Choose from the security levels listed below to cover the level of confidentiality that you require in your home or workplace. Show me the result of paper shredded using these Security Levels
Bin Size
Also take into consideration the shredders Bin size you don’t want to be continually emptying the shredder bin!
Sheet Capacity
Is the number of sheets that can be shredded in one go. Typically a 7 sheet capacity shredder would shred 7 sheets of 80gm paper without the shredder jamming! Most home users tend to know how many letters or bills that need shredding and buy the cheapest machine that would fulfil that requirement. The trouble is that it's easy to overload and jam cheap machines, you cannot continually shred on the cheap machines, you need to let them cool down before shredding again. Some cheap machines are very cheap and the components inside are of a sub standard quality but that is exactly why they are cheap. If buying cheap then go for a respected name such as Fellowes, Rexel, HSM but even then try and go for a slightly higher shred capacity, it will pay off in the long run.
As one customer said "from past experience there is little point in buying a cheap machine that won't last, but equally you must choose a machine whose capacity isn't so high that it would cost you £1000's, find a good quality mid-range machine that will be there for the long term and for your peace of mind". This is certainly true for home shredders and even more so for an office environment where the users demands are more stringent and varied.
Shredder Oil Ensure that you oil your shredder on a regular basis. Light oiling will increase the life of your shredder and it will run smoother, faster, and less strain will be put on its motor, cutters, gears, and bearings. Learn More about Shredder Oil...
