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Shredder Purchasing Guide
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Shredder Purchasing Guide
WHICH SHREDDER SHOULD I PURCHASE?
HERE ARE SOME TIPS!
The major consideration to take into account when purchasing a paper shredder is to make sure that you get the right tool for the job.
Volume
The first thing to think about is volume. It is a good idea to estimate how many sheets you will need to shred per day or how long you wish the shredder to run continuously. Most people don't realise until after they have purchased a shredder that they shred twice the amount of paper they thought they would shred.
A small personal paper shredder may only be able to shred one to five sheets of paper at once and will not cope for long periods of shredding before it begins to overheat. A large volume (industrial shredder) can shred between 5,000-36,000 sheets of paper a day depending on its specifications. Most people's needs lie somewhere in between. The office or deskside shredder for example will shred 50 to 1000 sheets of paper each day again depending on its specifications.
Cross Cut or Strip Cut
The next consideration is security level and the type of shred you want. Most basic paper shredders use a strip cut system which shreds each wad of paper into long thin strips. Higher security shredders use a more complex cross cut mechanism which twists the paper cutting it on the diagonal reducing it to small particles. Cross cut shredders also compact the waste much for efficiently than strip cut so the bag or waste bin will not need as frequent emptying.
Type of Medium to be Shredded
Some paper shredder can handle more than paper. If you keep secure data on CD's, diskettes or even need to destroy credit cards or SIM cards you may benefit from a heavy materials shredder. Models vary and a few even come with separate compartments to separate other medium from the paper waste.
Paper Feed Width
You should also consider the maximum paper size that you will need to shred. Shredders generally handle paper from A4 size up to A3 size. Generally speaking the wider the opening the more expensive the shredder will cost.
Waste Bin Size
The waste bin is also an important consideration. The larger the bin the less often the shredder needs emptying. Generally speaking, the larger the bin, the more expensive the shredder will be.
Quality of Manufacture
Purchase a paper shredder which has a strong, efficient motor and has worthy internal components such as good quality metal gears. If the motor is not strong enough it will put undue pressure on the gears which soon strip rendering the shredder useless. Also an inadequate strength motor will soon burn out if used beyond its intended capacity.
A Quiet Word about Noise
Some shredders are down right noisy! Look for a shredder that is quiet. If a manufacturer cares about noise reduction it reflects well on their attention to detail of manufacture.
Adequate Lubrication
Be sure to purchase additional shredder oil as a well lubricated paper shredder will last longer and shred more effectively. All that is needed is to draw a figure 8 of shredder oil on an A4 page then simply feed through the shredder each time you empty your waste bin.
Secure
