Here are some other points to consider when choosing a shredder.
Size
If you have the room, consider one of our recommended models. They are 20 to 25 inches tall, which means that they can store more waste between emptying. You can also find desktop models, which have a smaller footprint. Keep in mind that this type might shred more slowly, and you might need to empty it more frequently than larger, more-expensive machines. One desktop model that we tested but which is discontinued easily handled credit cards, discs, and staples.
Features
If you store your annual tax records or other important documents on data discs, make sure you choose a model that can handle them.
If you'll shred papers only occasionally, say when you sort through your monthly bills, consider a model with an "auto" button. This feature lets you keep the shredder at the ready, without the noisy motor running, until you insert papers and other items. You won't have to turn the shredder on and off as you work.
If you frequently shred large piles of paper, consider a model like the Swingline EX100-07 Stack and Shred ($225). It lets you stack up to 100 sheets on an interior shelf and then slowly shreds while you attend to other tasks.
Because you'll want to keep tabs on the shredded paper so that the bin doesn't get too full and possibly interfere with the shredding, look for a machine with a window for monitoring the shredded buildup. Some machines, including the GoEcoLife GXC120Ti ($200) and the Staples SPL-TXC10A ($100), lack a window but have an indicator light that lets you know when the drawer is full.
Safety
We didn't find serious safety hazards with any of the tested shredders during testing. All tested models are designed with a slat that should be too small for children's fingers to get caught. Note that wastepaper-basket shredders, which lack drawers, tended to be top-heavy, making them more prone to tipping over. Models with drawers were also easier to empty.
You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.
Shopping tips
The best time to buy a shredder is from fall through spring tax season. That's when retailers sell the most shredders and often put them on sale. Also ask about a trade-in. Staples, for example, will give you $50 for an old shredder when you buy a new one, as long as the new one you're buying retails for $149.99 or more, even if it's on sale for less.
Read the owner's manual
Follow the instructions to prevent paper jams and other problems. For example on some models, when we inserted papers on an angle rather than straight in, the pages folded over. On others, when we inserted items not recommended in the owner's manual, such as unopened envelopes with glassine windows, the machines occasionally jammed or didn't shred properly. And when we slipped a credit card into the wrong slot on one shredder, the card was sliced into just three pieces, leaving the number potentially easy to read.
Also check the manual for directions on how often to clean and oil the shredder to improve its performance and help it last longer.
Finally, to ensure the greatest security and to thwart a truly dedicated paper pilferer, dispose of shredded materials over several trash-collection cycles.
To shred or not to shred…. is no longer the question. You know you need a shredder, but which one is right for you? Purchasing a shredder can be a daunting task, especially when you consider how many different options are available. How can you tell which one is right for you?
This dilemma is easy to resolve with 3 simple questions:
This is the difference between building a highway and a dirt road – how high-traffic is your office? The number of people using your shredder on a daily basis determines the size of the shredder you’ll need to buy. The size of the shredder is important because it defines how often you’ll need to empty the shred bin. Run time is also important feature for a shredder as it defines how long the shredder can run before it needs to cool down. If only one person needs access to the shredder, then a small shredder with a shorter run time is perfect for your office. If 20 people need access to the shredder for the destruction of their 100-page reports before noon, then it’s safe to say that you need the marathon runner of shredders, with a large bin capacity and minimal downtime.
After you’ve answered the first question, this one will be relatively easy, since the waste bin’s capacity is directly related to the shredder’s size. High capacity shredders generally have larger waste bins so they don’t have to be emptied daily, even after heavy use.
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The sheet capacity tells you how many sheets can be fed into the shredder at once. Sheet capacity is an important feature – it’s the difference between getting pages shredded and getting back to your desk and needing to stake out a spot by the shredder for an overnight vigil. Unlike shredder size, sheet capacity doesn’t correlate to the size of the shredder. Many small and medium-sized shredders have high sheet capacities. Some large shredders have small sheet capacities. This is where you stop to consider the volume of the documents you need to shred. Do you need to shred large volumes of paper on a consistent basis? Or will a shredder with a smaller sheet capacity do the job just fine? Picking a shredder with the right sheet capacity will cut down on wait time, increase productivity, and reduce your workplace headaches.
Nowadays, security is a primary concern for most businesses. It’s also a primary consideration when you’re looking at shredders. The security level of a shredder determines how thoroughly the document is shredded. Higher security shredders cut documents into smaller pieces, making them harder to reassemble. The kinds of documents that you need to shred are a primary determinant of the kind of shredder you need to buy. Security is the last puzzle piece in your decision-making process, and it is easily the most important one. Take some time to look at different shredders with different security levels, before you decide which one is right for your business.
Shredder security is directly tied to cut style [link to cut style article] and ranges from a P-1 to a P-7. The minimum standard for shredding any type of document with confidential information on it, including bank statements and social security numbers, is a P-4 Super Cross-Cut shredder. Shredders that rate P-3 and below are a great choice for junk mail and anything else that doesn’t contain sensitive information. If you’re looking for a high security shredder, the P-5 Micro-Cut shredder is an excellent choice, especially for the most sensitive documents. Micro-Cut shredders are a common choice when security is the biggest concern. You’ll see them at financial firms, law practices, government entities and even in private homes.
These three critical questions are all that stands between you and your brand-new shredder. After giving these questions some careful consideration, you’re certain to pick the shredder that’s right for you and your business. Happy shredding!
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