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When
you buy a shredder, consider...
Cross Cut vs.
Strip Cut
- Cross
Cut- Maximum security and operator
convenience.
- Two-way
cutting action forms very small
particles.
- Waste
bags hold 4-5 times more shredded
material than strip cut.
Strip
Cut- Most economical protection
- Shreds
into illegible 1/8" to 1/4"
strips for adequate security
- Less
expensive then cross cut shredders.
Entry
Width
The size of the entry width determines how
quickly and easily various sizes of paper
can be shred. If you will be shredding 11" wide computer paper, you will need at least 11 1/2" entry width.
Performance
Throughput- Compare the amount of
sensitive material you want to shred with
the throughput (sheet capacity x
speed/feet per minute) to identify which
machine will best meet your needs.
Durability
Especially in office environments, a
shredder should be tough enough to accept
staples and paper clips without causing
damage to the machine. Also a small shredder designed to accept 2 or 3 sheets at a time will not last long, if you put more sheets in it.
Operation
Ease-in-operation is key in selecting a
shredder. Some features to consider:
- Automatic
start/stop provides easy, one-hand
operation.
- Bin
Full function shuts down the shredder
when the waste container is full and
alerts the operator.
SHREDDER
FAQ's
Q.
What does shredder speed mean?
A.
Speed is actually measured in two
different ways; how fast paper goes
through the machine; and how much paper
can go in at once.
Q. What is
Feet-per-Minute speed?
A.
Throughput is generally measured in
"feet-per-minute" (f.p.m.)
Q. What is
paper capacity?
A.
This refers to how many sheets can go
through at once. Capacities for shredders
are measured in "sheets per
pass". Always choose a shredder with
a somewhat higher capacity than your
average document so you don't find
yourself frequently overloading your
machine.
Q. What are
the different types of shred?
A.
There are two basic categories of shred:
Strip-cut and Cross-cut. Cross-cuts are
then further divided into two
sub-categories: Regular cross-cut and High
security cross-cut.
Q. What is
Strip-cut?
A.
Like the name implies, strip-cut shredders
tear paper lengthwise into strips that
look like raw fettuccine. strip-cut
shredders require little or no
maintenance.
Q. What is
Cross-cut?
A. A
cross-cut shredder cuts paper both
lengthwise and crosswise. As well as
providing better security, cross-cut
shredders significantly reduce the volume
of your shreds, which means emptying the
shred bag less often. Cross-cut shredders
generally require more maintenance (such
as frequent oiling) than strip-cut
machines.
Q. What is
D.O.D. approved, high Security Shred?
A. If
you are mandated to conform to Department
of Defense (DOD) standards, than you need
a high security shredder. These are
shredders that produce a shred of
1/32" X 1/2" plus or minus
1/64" on either axis.
Q. What does
"Throat Width" mean?
A.
Throat width refers to the size of the
opening in which you put your paper. This
ranges from a low of 8 3/4" to a high
of 20". For maximum efficiency and
speed, its best to choose a width that
will comfortably accommodate the paper you
use most.
Q. What does
"Auto Start/Stop" denote?
A.
Auto Start/Stop is a handy feature. The
machine can be left on standby mode, so
that it automatically "turns on"
when you insert some paper. This feature
works by means of an electronic
"eye". When the beam is broken
by the inserted paper, the machine starts
shredding, soon after the paper is gone,
it shuts down again.
Q. What is
Auto Reverse?
A.
When using a shredder, jams are a fact of
life. There are features in some shredders
to help alleviate the problems associated
with the jam. Auto Reverse causes the
shredder to go into reverse automatically
to prevent jams from clogging up the
cutting head. Keep in mind that all
shredders have a manual reverse function.
Q. How do I
maintain my shredder?
A.
The most common things to cause shredder
problems is user misuse and abuse,
including overloading it, putting too big
paper clips in, or feeding materials such
as plastic items that can melt onto
cutting heads. Proper training on the use
of shredders can help minimize these
problems. The other major component to
keeping your shredder working properly is
keeping the cutting head properly oiled.
Depending on the type of shredder you
purchase, this will vary. Generally
cross-cut and high security shredders are
more sensitive to oiling than strip-cut
shredders. If you are purchasing a
cross-cut shredder you may want to
consider an automatic oilier for
prolonged, trouble-free shredding. Oil
lubricates the cutting blades, extending
their life and helping them run smoother
and quieter. Oil should be applied
directly to the material you are
shredding once a month for regular usage
and every 4 hours for heavy usage and
every time the bag is changed.
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