What is a Paper Shredder
A paper shredder is an electronic device to shred paper documents/credit cards, bills, CDs into small pieces. The shredder uses set of rotating cutting blades driven by an electric motor. A shredder can turn the document into long srtips or tiny confetti like pieces.
Shredding documents/credit card is critical for keeping safe personal and sensitive information. We create and keep files with sensitive content; bills, financial statements, employee records, expired cards and unwanted obsolete documents. Offices and individuals use paper shredders to cut aforementioned documents into fine pieces, which later on are recycled.
Selection Guide for a Best Paper Shredder
Paper Shredders are available with variety of features, options and specialties. If you want best paper shredder for yourself, you must know your requirements. you should ask yourself. what am I exactly looking for? what are my requirements?
In this article we will try our best to list parameters/classification of shredders, enabling the user to choose best suited paper shredder fullfilling individual needs.
Classification of Paper Shredder
Paper shredders are mainly classified into three types depending on type of cut (shredded particle) they produce.
Strip Cut Shredder
This type of paper shredders are very basic.. They are relatively cheap. They shred the sheet into long strips, and information on documents can be read. If you are looking to shred less confidential documents, then you may choose strip cut shredders.
Cross Cut Paper Shredder
These type of shredders cuts the sheet in cross cut manner, making information unreadable. it provides reasonable level of security. Standard A4 paper is shredded into 400 pieces approximately. You may choose these type of shredders, if you need to shred documents having personal information on them.
Micro Cut Shredder
These type of paper shredders provides optimum level of security. It shreds the paper diagonally from both corners in square shaped particles. It splits the sheets into tiny confetti like pieces, a standard A4 is cut into 3700 pieces approximately. if you want shred very confidential documents, then you should look for micro cut paper shredder.
Important Parameters of Paper shredder
Paper shredders are available in market with variety of features and options. Buyer must know about all the shredder parameters. Following important parameters should be studied before making a purchase.
What you want to shred
Paper shredder is for shredding documents. These shredders are also capable of shredding paper clips, staples, Credit cards, DVDs, CDs. Not every shredder can shred all these things.
For this purpose you will look at specifications and features data, they mention what a particular shredder is able to shred.
Security Level offered by shredder
International standard for shredder security levels is DIN 66399. When you look at specification sheet of shredder you will observe the DIN classification as DIN P-1, DIN P-2 and so on. For paper shredder there are seven security levels ranging from DIN P-1 to DIN P-7. Higher level indicates maximum security with minimum particle size of shredded document.
The seven security levels are divided in thee protection classes.
Protection Class 1:
Normal security for internal data r risk of identity theft of an individual
Security level: DIN P-1, DIN P-2, DIN P-3
Protection Class 2:
High security for confidential data where disclosure results in considerable negative effect
Security level: DIN P-3, DIN P-4, DIN P-5
Protection Class 3:
Very high protection for confidential and secret data
Security level: DIN P-4, DIN P-5, DIN P-6, DIN P-7
Sheet Capacity
The sheet capacity of a shredder tells us maximum number of sheets a shredder can handle in single pass. Basic version of a shredder shreds 4 to 8 sheets in single pass. If you are looking for a strong shredder it will shred 20/24 sheets in single pass. High capacity shredder does more work in less time.
When buying a shredder, first of all determine your requirement. Do you use it at home or small office set up with minimum load? Or you are looking for office usage where multiple users will be using the shredder?
Manufacturer mentions the sheet capacity clearly in specifications. You may select as per requirement.
Runtime
Run time tells us for how long in minutes a shredder can operate before it needs to cool down. Basic and medium duty shredders operate between 2 to 10 minutes. Heavy duty shredders operate up-to 30 minutes.
It is pertinent to mention here that cooling down-time is much longer than the run-time for most shredders. A basic paper shredder with a 3 minute operating time needs to cool down for 30 minutes, before the shredder is up for the next shredding cycle.
Security class of shredder has effect on running time. A higher DIN security level has inverse relation with running-time. For example, a DIN P-4 shredder needs to cool down more often than a DIN P-2 shredder, because a DIN P-4 shredder produces smaller particles. This requires more power from the motor, which causes it to overheat rapidly.
Productivity of a Paper Shredder
By productivity it implies speed of shredder. Following formula is used to calculate productivity of a shredder. This formula has been given by very popular brand of Paper Shredders i.e. Fellowes
Productivity = Sheet Capacity x Speed (feet per minute) x Run Time
Greater the value of productivity, quick the shredder will be
Sheet Capacity : Maximum number of sheets a shredder can handle in single pass
Speed : The rate at which shredder shreds paper
Run Time : Shredder operational time before it needs to cool down
Waste Bin Capacity
Paper shredders have waste basket, wherein shredded particles are collected. The capacity of waste basket is quoted in gallons. It depends upon your usage; either you need a wastebasket with large capacity or you need a shredder with small wastebasket?
Large capacity basket means you don’t need to empty the basket more often.
Large office set ups with multiple users of shredder will require large wastebasket. But if you are looking for home use, a small wastebasket (2 to 5 gallon) will suffice.
There are two variants of wastebaskets. A basic version of shredder comes with base wastebasket with lift-off head. When you need to empty the wastebasket, you remove the shredder part from top. The other variant comes with pull out wastebasket. It collects the paper particles, once it is full; you just need to open the door, pull-out the basket and empty it.
Auto-feed vs Manual Feed
Shredders are classified into two types depending on feed method.
Manual feed shredder takes the paper manually into shredder opening. Manual shredders are relatively relatively cheap.
Autofeed shredders take the sheets automatically and disposes them off. You just need to put papers in tray and just sit back, shredder will automatically do its job.
Mechoffice Choice of Best Paper Shredders
- It is a cross cut paper shredder having capacity of shredding 15 sheets at a time. It splits the paper into confetti type pieces 3/16 by 1-7/32 inches (4.7 mm x 31 mm).
- It provides the high security level as level of P-4.this implies you may this paper shredder if you want shred very confidential documents.
- It can also shred paper clips and pins. So, you don’t need bothering presence of paper clips. Moreover, it is also capable of shredding CDs, DVD and credit cards, only one at a time via dedicated slot.
- Run-time is continuous 20 minutes. After continuous operation of 20 minutes 45 minutes are required for cool down.
- It is equipped with overheat protection system. It prevents the motor from burning out in case of shredder operation beyond operational time, by automatically shutting off the shredder.
- This particular shredder has 4 modes of operation. Auto, off, reverse and forward. Auto-reverse mode is to clear paper jams.
- There are many led indicators on top of paper shredder. Led lights indicate about door open, bin full, power, overload and overheat).
- It has large pull-out waste bin of 6 gallon.
- It has caster wheels at bottom, making it easily movable to different locations.
- It is a best shredder for office set up for medium load of shredding tasks.
- It is a high security paper shredder, capable of handling 12 sheets in single pass. It splits the paper into tiny pieces of size measuring 5/32 by 15/32 inches (4 mm x 12 mm).
- It shreds the paper 6 times smaller as compared with cross cut paper shredder. The security level provided by this high security shredder is as per level P-4.
- When putting a paper for shredding you don’t have to remove paper clips because it can also handle paper clips and pins. Father, it can also dispose CDs, DVD and credit cards.
- Runtime is 10 minutes. After operating the shredder for continuous 10 minutes, 40 minutes are required for cool down and getting ready for next cycle of activity.
- If the operator runs the shredder beyond 10 minutes, thermal protection system turns off the device, preventing motor from overheating.
- It has 4 mode control switch. i.e. off, auto/on, reverse and forward). Reverse mode clears the paper jams.
- It has 4 led indicators, indicating bin full, door open, overload, overheat, and power on status.
- Bin capacity is 5.7 gallon. Caster wheel makes movement of paper shredder quite convenient.
- It is best shredder, if you need high security standards.
- It is medium duty paper shredder capable of shredding 18 sheets in single pass.
- It cuts the sheet in cross cut manner into particles of size 5/32 by 1-1/2 inches (4 mm by 38 mm). it provides high security of level P-4.
- You may also use this shredder for disposing off credit cards, CDs, DVDs, paper clips and pins.
- Fellowes 99Ci has 100% jam proof system which eliminates paper jams. It is a powerful shredder, and handle tough jobs easily.
- Runtime is 30 minutes continuous, before it needs 40 minutes of cool down period.
- Fellowes shredder provides better security as compared with strip but shredders and is faster than micro cut paper shredder.
- It comes with feature child safe, which stops shredding when hand is touched on opening of paper shredder.
- Energy Savings technology provides optimized energy saving.
- It comes with 9 gallon pull out waste bin.
- Best powerful paper shredder to buy for medium level of load.
- Best fellowes paper shredder to buy
- This is a auto-feed paper shredder having 150 sheet automatic shredding capacity. It can shred 8 sheets at once via manual feed
- It shreds the paper in cross cut manner into particles of size 5/32 by 1-½ inches (4 mm x 38 mm), meeting security level of P-4.
- This shredder is also capable of shredding paper clips, pins and credit cards.
- Runtime is 12 minutes continuous. 25 minutes cool down period for next cycle of duty.
- Accu-Feed System provides reliable automatic shredding for peace of mind that confidential documents will be destroyed.
- Auto reverse feature clear the paper jams easily.
- It uses silent-shred technology and is also equipped with energy saving mode, making this shredder to be used in any environment.
- Capacity of waste bin is 8.5 gallon, with pull out basket. Caster wheels make movement of shredder easy.
- Fellowes Powershred is capable of shredding 16 sheets at once. It splits the sheet into cross cut particles of size 5/32 by 1-1/2 inches (4 mm by 38 mm).
- The security level provided by this particular shredder is as of level P-4.
- You may also shred CDs, DVDs, credit cards and paper clips using this shredder.
- Runtime of this paper shredder is 20 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of cool down.
- SafeSense technology automatically turns off the shredder, once it senses the hand on shredder opening.
- This shredder provides better security as compared with strip cut shredders but, is faster than micro cut paper shredder.
- Jam proof system easily eliminates paper jams. It powers through tough jobs.
- Silentshred technology makes it suitable choice for any environment.
- It is a best paper shredder to consider for desk side use.
- It comes with 6 gallon pull out waste bin.
- The company offers 2 years product and service warranty. Moreover lifetime cutter warranty is also offered.
- GBC paper shredder can shred 12 sheets in single pass. A standard letter size sheet is shredded into 400 pieces.
- It provides high security of level P-4.
- You may also shred paper clips, CDs, DVDs and credit cards.
- Runtime of this shredder is 4 minutes continuous. 40 minutes are needed for cool down.
- Red and green LED lights indicate when shredder reaches feed capacity. This feature prevents users from inserting too much paper into shredder, preventing paper jams.
- It comes with lift off 5 gallon waste bin and see through window, indicating the nin full status.
- It is a cross cut shredder having capacity of handling 20 sheets in single pass. The shredder particles produced are of size 5/32 by 1-37/64 inches (4 mm x 40 mm).
- The security level provide by shredder is P-4.
- It can also shred paper clips, CDs, DVDs, credit cards and other sensitive documents.
- Runtime is 20 minutes continuous. Approximate 1700 sheets will be shredded if operated for continuous 20 minutes.
- Auto start and manual reverse mode helps in clearing paper jams.
- Noise level is 60 db, making it convenient usage in office or home without disturbing others.
- Overheating and overloading thermal protection with LED light indicators makes the usage easy.
- Caster wheels helps in movement of shredder to different locations.
- Capacity of waste basket is 6.6 gallon with pull out option. It has also transparent window making it easy to see, when to empty the bin.
- This stylish paper shredder is a cross cut type, having capacity of shredding 15 sheets at once. The shred size produced is 5/32 by 1 7/16 inches (4 mm x23mm), meeting security level of P-4.
- It can also shred credit cards, CDs, DVDs, paper clips and pins. Shredded material is sorted into dedicated CD waste container and is disposed off separately.
- Runtime is 15 minutes before a 30 minutes cool down period is required.
- Shredder operates at 57 db, making noiseless operation.
- LED indicator shows shredder’s operating status; power, overload, overheat, bin full and door open.
- It automatically shuts down if the waste container is full.
- Overload protection reduces paper jams and maintains the high throughput of paper.
- It comes with pull out basket having capacity of 6.9 gallon. Inspection window makes it easier to judge when to empty the bin.
- It is best shredder for office with 1 to 5 users.
- It is cost effective document shredder. It can shred 8 sheets at once in cross cut manner into 1/5 inch scrap.
- One can shred bills, financial documents, Credit cards, papers with staples and pins easily with this paper shredder.
- Runtime is 2 minutes with 30 minutes off. It comes off with overheat protection, saving the motor from burnout.
- The shredder’s black color and moderate size (12 x 7 x 16 inches) make it a elegant and practical addition to a small home or office space.
- It also features auto start and manual reverse to clear paper jams.
- It is best light duty paper shredder with compact design.
- Bin capacity is 125 sheets approx with see through window.
- Bonsaii C209-D shreds up-to 10 papers in cross cut pattern, providing medium level of security. It shreds the sheets into 13/64 x 1- 37/64 inches (5 mm x 40 mm), smaller particles than standard cross cut.
- Runtime is 4-minute continuous, with 40 minutes cool-down time fulfills your small office and home use requirement.
- Auto-start mode turns on the shredder, once it detects paper in shredder slot and manual reverse mode helps in clearing paper jams.
- Overheat protection feature turns off the shredder if operated beyond runtime, protecting motor from burnout.
- Capacity of waste bin is 5.5 gallon. 520 sheets approx. visible basket window helps decide in emptying the basket.
- Best paper shredder for home office set-up.
- It is high security micro-cut paper shredder, capacity of shredding 12 sheets in single pass. It shreds the paper into particles of size 5/32 by 15/32 inches (4 x 12 mm).
- Security level offered by this model is level P-4. It shreds 6 times smaller than standard cross cut.
- It can also shred paper clips, CDs, DVDs and credit cards.
- Runtime is continuous 60 minutes.
- Auto-reverse feature clears the paper jams.
- LED status lights indicate overheat, overload, bin full, door open status.
- Casters wheel makes mobility of paper shredder easy.
- It comes with 5 gallon pull out basket.
- It is a Microcut high security paper and credit card shredder. It splits the paper into size (4 x 10 mm), meeting security level P-4. It splits the standard letter size paper into 1500 particles.
- It is an auto feed paper shredder. Auto-feed tray can take up to 120 sheets at a time and will start shredding your confidential documents at a speed of 11 feet per minute. Runtime in autofeed mode is 20 minutes.
- You may also opt for manual shredding. Manually you may shred up-to 10 sheets at once at a rate of 7 feet per minute. Continuous run time is 10 minutes.
- Automatic forward and reverse mode prevents paper jams.
- LED light indicator shows status of overload, overheat and door open.
- Noise level of 70 db implies its operation is silent.
- Caster wheel makes the movement of shredder easy.
- Capacity of wastebasket is 6 gallon with pull out facility. Transparent window lets the user stay informed of bin full status.
- It is best autofeed high security paper shredder for home office or office set up.