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Your Handy Paper Shredder Buying Guide
A paper shredder is invaluable for those of us who have sensitive information to protect.It is also invaluble
for those of us who produce tons of paper waste daily and need to save space. But before heading off to the store and
randomly selecting a shredding machine, there are many factors to consider. The aim of this article is to review some of these factors, and give you
a better idea of what you should focus on.
Types
The are many ways to classify paper shredders.Roughly speaking, we can divide them into 3 groups: home, office and industrial.
Home paper shredders are usually of small to medium size and are suited for moderate shredding needs.
Typically, you can get yourself a high quality home shredder at prices lower then $50.
The second type is the office paper shredder. This is a type intended for commercial use and is
designed to meet frequent shredding needs. Prices of high quality office shredder may range from
approximately $30 (for the desktop style shredder) to about $6000 (for a large high security machine). Many office
owners, however, typically prefer medium-duty shredders at the price range of $50-$250.
And finally, we have the industrial paper shredder. Larger versions of industrial
shredders can shred other things aside from paper, like plastic, cardboard and more.
They usually have additional features like a baler and conveyor belt, and they require special electrical infrastructure.
This type is usually reserved for factories or big corporations, and may cost up to $50,000.
Allowed shred material
If you want to shred old credit cards and CDs, you don't need a monster-sized
machine.There are plenty of small shredders that can easily handle the assignment. However, be sure to check that these features are explicitly
specified before making the purchase.
Output and Pages
You also need to know what kind of shredding style you need your paper shredder to produce.
The most common types are cross-cut, confetti-cut and strip cut. The first two provide higher
security level as well as better condensation of waste material. However, if price is a major factor,
you can also find a decent strip-cut shredder for under $60. In addition, you also need to consider
the particle size, meaning how thick a shredded piece will come out. Some shredders only
have one particle size, while others have adjustable particle size (if you sometimes need something
thinly shredded, or the other way around).
shredding capacity and Operating speed
If you are planning some heavy duty shredding, pay attention to the "sheets-per-pass" parameter specified for each machine.
The average shredder can consume about 8 sheets of paper in a single go, while some can easily handle 16, 90 or even 650!
Some manufacturers also specify the operating speed of their machine in ft/sec.
Size and Storage of the Unit
The size as well as the storage of the paper shredder might also be something to think about in your
search for the right machine. With this in mind, do you already have the space for the machine you
are considering? Some shredders do not have a storage bin for the shredded paper, so you will need to
source a plastic bin yourself. Others come with their own trash bin.
Safety Features and Enhancement
And finally, it is important to consider the little extras that might come with it.
For instance, you wouldn’t want a shredder that gets stuck all the time because of misfed paper.
Some of the modern shredding machines include a jam proof system that prevents this from happening.
Safety is another factor to keep in mind.Fellowes shredders have a patented SafeSense technology with an active sensor that stops
shredding when your fingers are too close.In addition, do you want a machine that works in automatic or manual mode? How about a sensor that tells you that the bin is
already full and you must empty it?While these extras might cost a bit more, it is up to you to
know if you really need it.
what people have to say about the product
We have covered the basics, but remember: when buying a new product, there’s nothing better then learning from other people’s experience. That is why it’s very important that you read our customer reviews,and understand the pros and cons of each item. By doing so you will save a lot of time and money, and find the product that best suits your needs.