All paper shredders are not alike. They do require the person shop around and compare prices and features, security levels, size, and power. If you are just an individual wishing to shred your incoming junk mail and old records, you wouldn’t need an industrial size shredder. If you are a business with more than one or two employees, you might want to consider an industrial size shredder depending on the volume of your discarded papers.

There are paper shredders that cut up the paper in different manners. This may seem like an unnecessary feature to the average person, but it would matter to the office that has strictly confidential and private information that absolutely must not be deciphered once destroyed. Prisons, hospitals, government offices, and security firms—even Hollywood stars and starlets must have a higher security level when it comes to disposing of their unwanted paperwork.

Paper shredders can cut the material into confetti, thin strips, or criss-cross fashion. Many crosscut shredders can also take on harder material besides paper. Cardboard, thick stacks of paper bound together with metal spirals, cds, dvds, credit cards, old driver licenses, ID cards, old calendars, signs, and posterboard are some of the important materials that must be shredded as well for maximum security purposes.

There are food processors, garbage disposals, ice choppers, vegetable choppers, meat grinders, wood chippers, and then there are paper shredders. The crosscut shredder is a formidable opponent in the world of shredders. It’s a tough shredder to compete with and there are many varieties of it available all over the world. Of course, the modern day movement cries for equipment and machinery to be multi-function to be acceptable in many households and businesses. One of the benefits of the crosscut paper shredder is that many of them are capable of shredding more than one type of material of different thicknesses and strengths.

The cutting action of the crosscut paper shredder is what gives it popularity. They do work a little slower than strip-cut shredders, but only because they have more cutting work to accomplish. You can, of course, buy new or used, and even refurbished if you choose. If you buy a used shredder, just remember that the warranty that comes with a new one may well be worth the extra dollars.

There are crosscut shredders that work with manual feed or those that allow automatic feeding. A busy office would fare better with an automatic feeder. A small home would fare just as well with a manual feed, light duty shredder. Crosscut shredders come in all shapes and sizes and can range in price from $18 up to $3900! The higher priced shredder is able to handle 40 sheets at a time, produces unreadable results, has a 15.8′ throat, and can cut through solid materials including paper clips and staples; plus it offers an electronic keypad for control and a large 33 gallon waste bag! If you buy the automatic oiler you get more of a warranty. That’s another need you must remember to keep your shredder in top form and to get your true dollar’s worth out of one—-keep it lubricated for top performance no matter how large or small.

First of all why is there such a big interest in office shredders all of a sudden? The ‘Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act’ (FACTA) of 2005 requires that companies make arrangements for proper document disposal eliminating chances for identity theft. Obviously this makes the office paper shredder an even more important business tool that could prevent hefty fines and legal consequences.

One of the first considerations with office paper shredders is the level of security required. The security level is designated in the form of DIN numbers ranging from 1 to 6 with 6 being the higher level of security. It is a good practice to know what level of security is required by your business and shop with that rating in mind. The prices actually increase as the security level increases.

Closely related to security is the type of cuts made by the shredder blades. The main two types of cuts are straight cut, and cross cut shredding. The straight cut which is most common and usually 1/4′ wide would work for most applications. The cross cut would work when higher levels of security is needed.

Other factors would determine the proper shredder would be how it will be used. Prepare and estimate the number and size of pages to be shred. Will the unit have continuous use? Because the demands on office shredders can be rigorous they are designed to shred high volumes for long periods of time without overheating.

Ease of operation would be another consideration. Office paper shredders are equipped with features that add to safety and ease of operation and convenience. One popular feature is the start stop senser that checks for the presence of paper and activates the shredder motor. Many shredders also provide a signal and an alert light when a paper jam occurs. When paper jams occur, a reverse feed switch comes in handy that reverses the motor and releases the jammed items.

The area where the paper enters the shredder is called the feed opening. Since the size of this opening varies between models you may want to analyze the documents you will be shredding to insure they will fit. On most shredders this opening ranges in sizes between 8 to 18 inches. A 12 inch opening is adequate for most documents but with continuous feed shredders the larger 18 inch opening may reduce frequent paper jams.

Disposing of documents properly is a measure of protection against identity theft, and business espionage. Certainly by using a quality office shredder that measures up to your office’s security needs you will be one step ahead of identity thieves.

When considering the top quality shredders Dahle is a world class quality shredder. Dahle makes shredders for the desktop, home offices, and larger offices as well. Dahle also makes, industrial, work group, and high security shredders which have the approval of the Dept of Defense. Since Dahle makes a full range of shredders they probably make a shredder that would fit your needs. Let’s take a closer look at Dahle shredders and see why they are so popular.

Dahle has a worldwide reputation for it’s innovations in developing shredders with cutting cylinders with hardened steel.

They use the highest quality materials in their products, and a rigorous testing program insures the only the best products leave their factory in Germany.

The series of small office shredders are tough and efficient. The design shred capacity is up to 400 sheets a day. This series of shredders are designed with a wooden cabinet and a swing open door. Behind the door is a box removeable box that is lined with a disposable bag. A visual alert indicator tells you when to change the bag.

The series of office shredders are designed to service a busy office with multiple users. The design shred capacity is up to 2,000 sheets a day. As an example this series of shredders are perfect for medical offices responsible for destroying confidential health records. Features such as automatic shutoff, auto reverse, bag full, and automatic on and off make these machines convenient and easy to use.

Moving up to the next class of shredders Dahl offers high capacity shredders that are designed to service a large volume of sensitve confidential documents. The design shred capacity is up to 28,000 sheets a day. These shredders have a 16′ throat and can shred up to 60 sheets at a time. Since the power and capcity increases from the smallest to larger models you have your option to choose the perfect model to fit your needs. As an example these units would work well in a large office mail room where quantity and speed shredding would be a requirment.

Since protection from identity theft and business espionage is a high priority for businesses and governments more rigid requirements are in place for security shredding. Dahle has the high securtiy class of shredders that meet that need. These shredders meet the requirements set by the Department of Defense for top secret documents.

The departmental shredders that Dahle makes are designed for high capacity, where multiple offices are sharing the shredding tasks. These machines are designed for shredding up to 60,000 sheets a day.

Dahle paper shredders are world class in quality and security. Their series of shredders from home to industial use are engineered to get the job done thoroughly.

In the past strip cutting shredders were sufficient but with the increase of security levels this method is not adequate. This method is vulnerable as thieves can re-assemble shred strips into useable documents and still retrieve confidential information.

Confetti shredders are designed with two rotating shafts with attached cutter disks that mesh in parallel. With motors of sufficient power these cutters are very efficient in producing waste particles that are small and easy to discard as well as more provide more adequate security protection than the strip cutting.

As technology moves forward confetti cutting shredders are becoming the standard. With competitive pricing, reviewers agree that buying a confetti shredder is a good choice. The security issue is the reason why you are shredding in the first place so it is not a good idea to settle for anything less that quality there.

Many businesses are required to shred CD’s and floppy disks that contain important data. Confetti shredders buzz right through these items as a result they are popular with government agencies, military, and companies that have to destroy backups periodically.

The resulting waste from a confetti shredder is smaller and makes collection to the waste bin and removal by bags very efficient. The amount of waste particles that are small in size makes disposal very easy and secure.

Fellowes Powershred series shredders are quality and have very convenient features. If you are a home office or have a small business one of these models may be perfect for you. They are available at Wal Mart and Office depot. The 10 shredders in this series vary from light duty to higher capacity office models. They are reasonably priced and very popular.

Confetti shredders not only save costs in disposable bags but you will spend less time changing bags because of the waste takes up a small space. As the waste accumulates in the blades and jams periodically you may need to run the blades in reverse to free up the jam, this is normal. Lubrication will be required periodically, possibly once a month according to how frequently you use your shredder. You should refer to the user manual regarding oiling procedures.

Identity theft is becoming more common and it seems like everybody is talking about it. Having a good shredding program in place, whether you are a home user or a small or large business only makes good sense. More concentrated efforts to seek protection from this crime are being considered, and shredding seems to always come to the top of the list.

The confetti paper shredder really works and is recognized to render disposed documents useless. Their popularity and satisfied customer reviews shows that they work well. Maybe your next shredder will be a confetti paper shredder.

Fellowes offers a wide selection of paper shredders for home and business use. From light to medium to heavy duty you can find a model from their array of models to get the job done. They offer a variety of strip cut and crosscut shredders at competitive prices. Fellowes has a wide selection of shredders, for your home or office.

Fellowes shredders are of quality design and easy to empty and operate. These shredders are able to enhance the office security of any home or business. Their shredders for large offices are industrial strength, heavy-duty use shredders. They have a reputation of building some of the toughest paper shredders obviously is well earned..

Fellowes shredders are easy to use. That means protecting your company’s clients and employees from identity theft will be easier too. A Fellowes Shredder will help guard your identity against criminals by destroying documents containing private information, such as names, addresses, birth dates, social security numbers, bank and financial information, and credit card numbers.

With the variety of work settings in which shredders are used Fellowes has a variety of shredders that will fit almost any situation.

Some models are of sufficient power to complete your job but are small enough to fit in offices and next to desks. Some of the upright models work well along side filing cabinets, copiers, printers, computer tables and office desks.

Working from a small home or business office the Powershred series is has many unique features for safety and shred waste removal. This series is designed to give the perfect fit for the small office.

The Powershred series consists of 10 tough shredders designed for safety, quiet operation, and the power to muscle through almost any job. The Powershred C-420C can shred almost 25 sheets per pass. The commercial shredders feature a turbo jam key that power releases tough paper jams

When higher security measure shredding is called for Fellowes has some inexpensive solutions, with the strip cut and crosscut shredders. Shred selection actually ranges from crosscut to confetti shredders. Strip cut models provide traditional, practical security by shredding paper into unreadable strips. Going a step further cross cut models shred paper into smaller confetti like pieces, providing higher security and greatly reducing the bulk waste many times. Confetti cuts over ten thousand sheets a day..

Since Fellowes shredders are designed tough and dependable they come highly recommended for both home and office use. They do well in settings that demand heavy use. The shredders main purpose is to destroy documents that contain vital private identity data that is sought after by thieves and criminals. The assortment of Fellowes shredders have proved to be more than efficient in handling the tough jobs.

There is one type of industrial paper shredder that costs $33,000, has a 10 horse power motor, and can shred up to 450 sheets per pass at 50 feet per minute! Not your average everyday household volume of paper! Pharmaceutical shredders can cost as much as $30,000 and have a 5.5kw motor. The bigger shredders, of course, have bigger uses for their massive power. They’re capable of shredding hard drives, floppy disks, zip disks, pharmacy bottles, and phone books. We’re not talking about one phone book; we’re talking about stacks of phone books. While some of these huge shredders are capable of shredding 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, the average household shredder is capable of shredding only a few sheets of paper and might have a run time of only a few minutes.

Who makes paper shredders? Fellowes is a well-known brand of paper shredder. Some other names in the business are Dahle, Aurora, Staples, and Kobra. You can find a paper shredder at any home office supply store, but make sure you know what questions to ask before you purchase one.

What type of results will you want from your paper shredder? Will you be using it for crafts purposes or just to get rid of the occasional overload of old paperwork from your files or your junk mail? Will you want to carry it with you when you travel? What size shredder do you need? Where will you place your shredder after purchase? Can you store your shredder safely away from small children? Buying a shredder doesn’t have to be a complicated process, just one that is well thought out.

Remember that your shredder does have its limitations. It may be tempting to buy the cheapest, smallest shredder on the market; but if it doesn’t suit your needs, it’s just a waste of time and money. Small shredders must have time to cool their motors between uses. They have shorter run times and some won’t handle the staples in your papers.

If you’ll be allowing your older children to use the shredder, please make sure they know the safety rules and the limitations of the equipment before use. They may need to know how to oil it and how long it can operate before it must be shut off, and how long it must be shut off to cool. They’ll need to know how much paper can be fed at once, too.

How wide must your shredder opening be to allow for the type of papers you’ll want to shred? Does color matter? Will you need to shred more than just paper? Not all shredders can handle cds and paper clips, etc. Make sure, even if you get a shredder just for paper that you check into its performance history. A shredder that is known to have frequent jams will only cause frustration.

Shredding is obviously an important job so you want to have a reliable machine to handle this task. With so many choices available it is only natural to want to compare brands and models to see which are the best paper shredders. Let’s take a look and see what is available in the market place.

Obviously shredders are not the prettiest machines as they resemble glorified waste paper baskets but that’s okay. It’s the design, and the quality built in, and the job that they do that counts. The best paper shredders would have quality cutters and would at this time be nothing less than the cross cutting style of cut. This would make for secure shredding waste that would be next to impossible to re-assemble.

The cross cutting shredders are gradually becoming the standard and the prices on these are already very competitive so price may not be an issue. You would avoid the strip cutting models as they are not the best for security reasons. Your smart and motivated identity thief may be an expert at re-assembly of the 3/16′ or 1/4′ strips of documents. With a bag full of your strip cut documents including credit cards, bank statements, and some spare time, he may have your personal data despite the insecure shred method you used.

The best paper shredders would have features that make easy operation a convenience. Features such as auto start and auto reverse switches, basket full alerts, a paper jam release button would be convenient.

The best shredders would also have a motor that could handle any job you could throw at it. The throat or paper intake should be of sufficient size to handle your job without being stuffed resulting in a paper jam. The wastebasket should be of sufficient size to handle your shredded waste easily. Waste product should be easy to bag and remove.

There are numerous brands and models that fulfill all of these features for reasonable prices. The best models would have to be some of the lines that are proven, tough and durable.

The Fellowes Powershred series, consisting of 10 models, would have to be near the top of the list. The choice of any of these 10 shredders would satisfy all of the needs of a home or small office shredder. Although you would have to choose a model that fits your needs they all are tough, powerful, and can get the job done thoroughly and safely.

Another line that is considered one of the best is Royal shredders. They also have a rather interesting mix of shredder models that go beyond satisfying the basics features. The quality of these machines have made them a long time favorite.

Other brands that feature the best in paper shredders are DestroyIt, Dahle, and Clary to mention a few. It’s best to know how your shredder is to be used and the quality, speed, capacity you are expecting and then shop accordingly. A good start would be to check out some the best brands we just discussed. We are sure you will find the best shredder to handle the job you have perfectly.

Ratings about paper shredders can be found on store sites, office supply sites, manufacturer sites, blogs and more. The lower ratings on paper shredders seemed to be primarily from the personal type shredders. For the most part, the complaints seem to be that the shredders are listed to have a higher capacity input than they are actually capable of. This is poor advertisement on the part of the company who makes or sells the shredders and makes the consumer shy about buying future products of the same brand.

Ratings from the public can be a valuable tool for the consumer. If you do decide to voice your opinion to rate a paper shredder, please make it as detailed as possible to help the person understand exactly why this product was not up to par. It can also help the company that made the product see where the major flaws are so that improvements can be made in the future to provide a better quality product.

Poor ratings include everything from paper jams, lower capacity input, to overheated motors and waste receptacles that crack easily. A few complained about the power switches, but only a few. The negative ratings did seem to focus more on the regular household personal paper shredders, which are meant only for light use and low volume shredding. While it is a good idea to check the ratings and feedback, keep in mind that these small machines were meant for small volumes and short run times. If you neglect to read the instructions and try to overload the capabilities of the shredder or run it too long for the small motor to handle, there is certain to be trouble. Is it really fair to blame the manufacturer and call in a warranty complaint because of your own neglect? Unfortunately, there are people who will try to blame the company instead of taking responsibility for their own actions. But for the most part, checking the ratings of any home appliance, including the paper shredders is a great idea. It is better to be forewarned than to be shocked and disappointed after your purchase.

One complaint about personal, inexpensive shredders is that they break easier. They tend to be made with plastic gears, which is why they are inexpensive. So it is more important to treat them gently. Above all, remember that gears need lubrication to continue to operate smoothly.

Although in years past most shredders were equipped with strip cutting blades cross cutting is more secure. Cutting your documents into strips may work to a degree, but some identity thieves with a little time and motivation could reassemble those strips like a jig saw puzzle. The cross cut shredder creating smaller particles provides greater security.

The crosscut shredders are great for personal information such as credit card data, bank statements, and employee records. The crosscut shredder needs to be oiled periodically to protect the cutting shafts but fewer bags will be needed as the waste will be in smaller sized shred.

Many people are now shredding everything with names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, or any personal information on it More and more home users are purchasing higher security paper shredders as these are made available at reasonable prices. In time identity theft will become a greater threat to the financial security of more and more households. Because it shreds documents into smaller pieces the cross cutting shredder provides better security.

Paper shredders were originally designed for use in the office as a result safety features for use around children were lacking. Consumer safety experts concluded that many of these designs were hazardous as children’s small fingers could come in contact with the blades. Over time and with further monitoring by consumer safety groups safety standards have improved. By locating blades further away from openings, and changing slot sizes many of these machines have become safe enough for home use. Safety locks prevent the shredder from being turned on by mistake.

Home shredders are designed with size in mind so they can be placed next to a table or desk. Size and budget are a consideration when choosing a home office paper shredder. Shredder security levels are graded from 1 to 6 with the higher the number the more secure the shredder, and the smaller the shred size.

Most home shredders are designed to shred up to 10 sheets of paper at once. This will accommodate the modest shredding needs of two people. Forwards and reverse switches have been added to release paper jams also.

The primary purpose of the shredder is reduce documents into small bits of paper that are impossible to reassemble. Today, shredder manufacturers are making high quality, reasonably priced paper shredders to accommodate the home user. Buying a high quality shredder is easier now as ever. It seems like the days of just tossing out the trash are gone forever. Responsible people everywhere are taking the necessary steps to improve their personal security by using a good home office paper shredder to shred regularly.

HSM of America is a company that makes all it’s parts in America and has been a shredder manufacturer for over 30 years. This company makes paper shredders of various security levels that will work in a number of settings. Since HSM comes so highly recommended and has been so successful let’s take a closer look at their products.

Since 1981 HSM has developed into one of the top paper shredder manufacturers in the United States and Germany. One of the reasons for their success is their products are of great quality and range of products to meet the needs of home users, government and commercial users too.

Healthcare facilities and hospitals by law are required to dispose of documents in a reasonable and effective manner. The records that contain confidential patient information such as social security numbers, medical history, insurance, and financial records have to be handled securely and responsibly even when disposed. HSM shredders come in a wide range of security levels that meet the requirements for even the highest levels of security required for these facilities.

Currently one of HSM is presenting a line of shredders that contain unique features. The Offis Life series of shredders Let’s take a closer look at some of the specific models and their features.

The Offis Life Profipack 400 has a low space requirement and can fit on a table top. It even shreds heavier types of paper and even cardboard. This shredder would be a perfect fit in industrial warehouse or shipping offices

Offis Life 2677 Strip Cut Shredder is rugged and will destroy any documents but will also shred CD’s, floppy disks, and credit cards.

The Offis Life Model 2777 Shredder has automatic start stop functions and is mobile as it has small wheels and can be relocated very easily. Because of the wide 12 inch throat it can easily accept big capacity jobs and not jam as easily as the narrow throat shredders. This model works great with multiple users in large departments.

Offis Life Model 3877 Shredder works well in continuous shredding when capacity is a must. It’s continuous shredding ability makes it a good performer when large amounts of paper, such as forms are fed to it This shredder would be an asset to any office department.

The Offis life 4277 is a cross cutting shredder that is durable and can shred up to 35 sheets per pass. With the wide 16 ‘ throat it has a fantastic through put advantage. With the wide throat it can accept the larger shred jobs with minimal paper jams. This heavy duty machine will complete the shredding jobs for any office.

Your shredder security program will be enhanced by using these great products. HSM offers a wide variety of uniquely designed shredders. We briefly looked at a few of the models here. Check out the 60 different models and find the ones that suit your offices needs. You should have no problem making a selection. HSM has been making shredders for over thirty years and it’s list of satisfied customer continues to grow.