How to Test Paper Shredders
A paper shredder is a good security device to have at home. Shredding personal papers before discarding them guards against identity theft. In addition, a paper shredder is a necessity for businesses to protect not only their own paperwork but also their clients' papers. There are a large number of paper shredder models available, so it is a good idea to research them in advance of testing them physically, to eliminate models that are not appropriate for your needs. After that, your time will be spent more constructively in personally testing your top choices.
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Instructions
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Research and compare options among the available paper shredder models. A lot of the research can be done on the Internet. There are several sites available that offer comparison of options. Also, read consumer reviews of paper shredder models written by people who own them. Options to consider are type of shredder, such as strip cut or cross cut, cutting volume capacity, security, size and price.
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Visit a local office supply center to physically test the machines in person. Since no amount of reading can take the place of actually using a paper shredder for yourself, drive to the nearest outlet for the machines you want to test and try them out. Although the retail store will probably have some paper for you to shred in the machines, take some scrap paper with you if you think you will be testing a lot of shredders.
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Turn on each machine, insert some paper to be shredded and observe the result. Note specifics about each machine such as whether the action of the shredder is smooth and how noisy the mechanism is. Ascertain if the size of each shredder is appropriate for the work area where it would be installed. Notice if the recycle bag used with the shredder is large or small and if that size is right for you. Find out if you can use regular trash bags instead of buying brand-specific bags.
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Ask questions of the service associate in the retail center if there is anything you would like to know about the shredders that is not readily apparent.
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Make notes in your notebook about all these details so that you can remember which models performed the best in your opinion.
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Compare the results of your in-person tests. Review your notes and all the information collected in your research and during your hands-on tests. Make your decision based on the results of this comparison and review.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy paper shredders only from an authorized dealer or website. That way, if problems arise there is legitimate recourse to resolve them.
Use extreme caution when testing paper shredders. They use very sharp blades for cutting paper that can cause severe injury.
References
- Photo Credit shredder image by jovica antoski from Fotolia.com
