Tips for Buying a Paper Shredder

Tips for Buying a Paper Shredder by Barry Hooper
So you've seen all those commercials about identity theft, and you've decided that you need a paper shredder to destroy your old personal papers and prevent anyone from stealing your identity. Sounds simple enough. But when you get to the store, you find a wide variety of shredders, from a small desk-top model at $70 to a high-end model that weighs almost 300 pounds and costs $2,000 or more. How do you determine which one is right for you?
Of course, your budget will be a factor, but there are other considerations that are equally important.
The first consideration is the volume of materials that you need to shred daily. If you're only shredding a few bills or checks, there's no need to buy a huge model with all the bells and whistles. But if you might be generating quite a bit of material from, say, your home office, you'll need a more powerful model. You'll also want to consider whether or not you need a built-in wastebasket. The opening or "throat" of the shredder is also important. Make sure it's big enough so you don't have to fold your materials before feeding them into the shredder.
The next consideration is the confidentiality of your data. If you'll be destroying confidential material like bank statements, credit cards, financial documents, etc., you'll want a Cross Cut Paper Shredder. These machines, also known as confetti shredders, have blades that cut in two directions, producing small particles for enhanced security. If you're only shredding non-confidential papers and other materials, you can probably get by with a "strip cut" shredder, which cuts narrow strips down the length of the document. A strip cut shredder is generally less expensive than a cross cut shredder and requires little maintenance.
Another consideration is the type of materials that you need to destroy. Will you be shredding only paper, or do you also want to destroy things like credit cards, cardboard, floppy disks and CDs? Not all models can handle all types of materials. If you need to shred a lot of crumpled paper, you might consider a hopper shredder. Do your documents have a lot of staples and clips? These can seriously damage the blades on your paper shredder. You should always try to remove all clips and staples from any paper being shredded. Crosscut shredders are more susceptible to damage from staples and pins than the strip-cut type.
You'll also want to take into consideration how many people will be using the shredder. If the shredder for an office where several people will be using it, you'll probably want something more durable and powerful than a small home model.
A final consideration is the shredder's warranty, as well as the availability of parts and service for it. You want to be sure that you purchase your shredder from a place that knows something about them and that carries parts and accessories which you might need in the future.

Papper Shredder and your safe Identity

Paper Shredders And Your Safe Identity by John Francis Amberden
We've all seen those ads. You know, the ones where some hapless person is sitting there looking forlorn and then suddenly becomes animated while channeling the voice of their identity thief. I'll bet the first time you saw an ad like that you cracked a smile and thought to yourself, 'that could never happen to me'. I'll also wager that's the exact thing all those victims of identity theft thought too ... before it happened to them. That's why you need to invest in something like a paper shredder to protect your identity.
No? You don't need something to help with document destruction? Well, let's take a look in that trash bag, shall we? There's a phone bill with your number and address; a bank statement with your account number; a card from Aunt Rose with your birthday; and an official letter with your social security number. What do you think could happen if someone got their grubby little hands on all that personal information? Still think you don't need a paper shredder?
Before you go running out to buy one though, you need to take a few things into consideration. All paper shredders are not created equally and they have varying levels of effectiveness when it comes to document destruction. You need to find a good balance between performance and price. Here's a brief overview of the two main types of paper shredders:
As the name suggests, strip-cut paper shredders cut paper into neat, long strips. The thickness of the strips can vary from as little as 1/8 of an inch to as much as 1/2 an inch. Logically, it is better to strip the paper as thinly as possible for maximum security. These paper shredders are typically low maintenance and can handle a large amount of paper. Although difficult, it is possible for someone to piece those strips together enough to get some of your critical information.
Cross-cut paper shredders are quite good at document destruction since they slice paper both horizontally and vertically. It is very difficult to put the confetti-sized pieces back together and they compress better than long strips so there is less emptying involved. However, these paper shredders generally require more care, more maintenance and can be more expensive.
Whichever one you choose, remember that a very patient person can put together practically any shredded document. However, document destruction by means of paper shredders will greatly decrease the likelihood of anyone trying to steal your identity. I mean, would you prefer to rifle through someone's trash and get intact documents or bags of seemingly worthless paper that would take forever to put together? Exactly. And that's just what thieves are going to think too, especially when there are easier targets available. Invest in a paper shredder today. You won't regret it.
About the Author
John Francis Amberden is a regular article contributor on many topics. If you have found this article helpful, visit his resource sites, http://www.discountpapershredders.info and http://www.office-paper-shredder.info. For information on other topics of interest, visit http://www.moreinformationblog.com.