Paper Shredder Caveats

Whether you are purchasing a paper shredder for home or office, some consideration needs to be made beyond just the capacity and shredding quality.  These are questions are easily answered:  buy more capacity than you think you need, and buy a crosscut paper shredder that creates small confetti sized particles.

Beyond that, buy a unit that can shred staples.  Most shredders except the cheapest models are able to handle this with little problem  If you buy a cheap unit though, that can not handle staples, then you will have some problems. If you are buying a crosscut shredder for an office, assume that credit cards, as well as cd and dvd disks may be fed into it.  Once again, if you buy a little more than you need, you may get a lot more life out of your purchase.

Another important consideration is to get a shredder with the option to reverse the shredding blades to free the unit from jams.  Most models are equipped now with this feature.  Also you may want get a unit that is able to receive trash without sending the trash through the throat of the machine.  This will save you from wasting space with an unnecessary trash. 

If you happen to shred very little, then wait until your waste basket is full before dumping its contents.  Your shredded information is much harder to decipher if it is a part of a larger pile of confetti.  Also, it is more effective to dump the pieces into your regular trash, since if the paper pieces are sealed up neatly in one small shredder bag, then they are much easier to reassemble.  Also shred as you go, in an office setting, it is not a good idea to have a staging area for sensitive documents.  It is best to shred them as you get them.

And remember to oil your shredder regularly.  You can't expect it to last if you oil it on the same schedule as your car.  Most shredders need oiling at least every hour of use or sooner.  Good shredding!