How to Buy a Paper Shredder

Tired of getting unwanted junk mail like credit card applications? What about old bank statements or sensitive business documents that need to be disposed of to make room for newer ones? Purchasing a file shredder will solve your problems. Paper shredders come in many different styles, models and even colors. To make an intelligent, informed buy, you will need to look at different factors to find what fits your needs.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide what your budget will be for your paper shredder purchase. Shredders are offered at both the low end and high end of the price spectrum, so it is important to determine how much you want to spend. The lower-cost machines are the strip cut shredder models. The confetti shredder is a little more expensive because it uses two rotating drums to shred the paper. The micro shredder is the most expensive model because of the intricate details of the cutting mechanism and its higher-security offering.

2. Evaluate the cutting capacity you desire. Most machines are able to accommodate from 10 to 50 pages at a time, as well as shred staples, credit cards and even paper clips.

3. Consider the waste output that will be created. Do you want documents shredded into strips or cut into ultra small pieces? The strip cut shredder shreds the paper into long, thin 1/8- to 1/4-inch strips, resulting in a high volume of waste. The confetti shredder cuts paper into rectangular or diamond shaped shreds. The micro shredder cuts an average piece of paper into 3,700 pieces!

4. Determine your security needs and what your desired results are from your paper shredder. Do you want shreds that are easily reassembled or do you want to shred the papers completely to avoid any reassembling? The strip cut shredder offers the least security because of the design of the cut, while the micro cut shredder offers the highest degree of security due to its ability to shred documents into minuscule shreds that void any chance of document recovery.

5. Weigh the pros and cons of each of these shredders. This will assist you in making an informed decision in purchasing a file shredder that will meet your needs.