Selecting Your Shredder: Some considerations
So your old shredder just isn’t shredding it any more. Quite possibly, it has been nothing but problems for you, with frequent paper jams. If that is the case, you need to know more of what you are looking for than just another shredder.
Shredders are business equipment. Anytime you are dealing with a motor, you need to acquaint yourself with what it can and cannot handle. This is meant to be a general guide to help you find that perfect shredder that won’t jam every time you put paper in it. When it comes to time to shop at a store or on the phone or Internet, be sure to talk with the seller to be sure you are picking the best one for your needs.
To start with, how are you going to use it? From light personal use, medium office load, or heavy duty use at the office? Traffic is a major consideration on choosing a shredder, so too, is the amount of paper or material you want to shred at a time. Can you get by with shredding 6-8 sheets at a time or do you need to shred more than 10 sheets at a time? Some shredders can handle quite a workload but still need a resting/down time. If you plan on non-stop shredding, be sure you are looking for an industrial or commercial paper shredder
After the workload and traffic the next thing you need to think about is security. Of course, the whole purpose of shredding is for document security, but as with most things there is sometimes a higher price to higher security. If you are dealing with documents that doesn’t demand the highest security or is little risk of being stolen, you might be able to get by using a strip cut shredder, which will probably cost less in comparison than with a crosscut or confetti paper shredder. However if you want more security, I would recommend a crosscut paper shredder.
There are additional extra features that might help you pinpoint the perfect model in the shredder lineup. Do you want to also shred paperclips and cds/dvds? If so be sure to ask if the crosscut you are looking at can. Do you want a jam proof guarantee? Are you tired of frequently getting a paper jam, then ask if the shredder has a jam proof guarantee. Do you want the shredder to auto oil itself? Ask for that feature; remember shredders are equipment and they need to be oiled regularly for best service.
There is one last feature that I would be sure was on my shopping list for shredders is a safety sense feature. Every year there are numerous shredder mishaps, accidents and tragedies that although could have been easily prevented but weren’t. If you are going to be using your shredder at home, be sure to get a feature such as Fellowes’ SafetySense. SafetySense works by sensing when it perceives a hand or paw getting close it will auto shut off the shredder, thus avoiding accidents. If you do get one with such a feature, I will still recommend commonsense when using your shredder.
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