Empty the waste bin of paper before shredding credit cards or CDs.This automatically switches off the shredder if fingers or paws get too close to the blades. If you have kids or pets, we recommend a model that has a safety shut-off feature.So, if a shredder can tackle 12 sheets per pass, try feeding no more than 10 or 11 in one go. Most paper shredders are much more effective when you shred one or two sheets less than the maximum sheets per pass.Unless you only want to shred the odd document here and there, pay attention to the length of each paper shredder's duty cycle - some are frustratingly short.Paper shredders with pull-out bins are much easier and more convenient to empty, compared to the kind where you have to lift the entire shredding mechanism off the waste bin.Models with a clear viewing window are invaluable. Overload it and you can damage the motor or cause jams. Keep an eye on the amount of paper in your shredder's wastebasket.Want to shred like a pro? Check out these tips. These models have all the bells and whistles, shred quickly, can take on a large amount of sheets per pass, have long duty cycles, and fast cool down periods. These cost about $90 to $200 (though you can pay much more for commercial-grade models). Those on the top end of the spectrum will have about all the extra features you can think of, plus a formidable duty cycle and sheets per pass, but even the less expensive models are more than enough shredder for all but the most heavy-duty environments. Most of these models are more than sufficient for home use, and some may even be fast and powerful enough for use in a small office. These have much longer duty cycles and can shred more sheets at once than basic models, but most still won't be quite heavy-duty enough for office use. Many can also deal with CDs and credit cards.īestReviews Electronics Expert Mid-range Micro-Cut ShreddersĮxpect to pay around $50 to $100 for one of these. Even basic models are likely to take on more sheets per pass and have longer duty cycles than micro-cut shredders of a similar quality. Some are so compact you have to fold a sheet of A4 paper to fit it in. These can cost as little as $30 to $50, but the most inexpensive models will have extremely short duty cycles and will only be able to tackle a small amount of sheets per pass. You can find paper shredders to suit all budgets, but expect to pay significantly more for heavy-duty machines, compared to those designed for light use. Lubricant Sheet: Amazon Basics Paper Shredder Sharpening & Lubricant Sheets - If you want to oil and sharpen your shredder blades in one step, these sheets will help you maintain your shredder in less time and with less mess. Shredder Oil: Fellowes Powershred Performance Shredder Oil - This oil comes with a long tip, which allows you to evenly apply it on your shredder gears. With a few basic tools, you can keep your shredder running well for years. If you stopped getting oil changes for your car, eventually it would stop running. Most shredder malfunctions and problems come from users who do no maintenance. No matter which model you choose, you'll want to use oil on the gears and shake loose all of the microscopic extra bits of paper. Paper shredder maintenanceĪll shredders require regular care. Micro-cut paper shredders tend to run at a smaller amount of feet per minute since it takes longer to cut each sheet into tiny pieces, but what they lack in speed they make up for with security. Shredding speed is generally measured in feet per minute (FPM).Ī home shredder can tackle between 5 and 10 FPM, on average, whereas heavy-duty models designed for office use may be able to shred 30 FPM or more. Most paper shredders have cool-down periods between 20 and 40 minutes. This probably isn't a big issue for home use (unless you like to save up items for shredding and tackle a large pile in one go), but for office use, a long cool-down time can be prohibitive. Will you want multiple shredding sessions in quick succession?Īs mentioned above, paper shredders need to cool down after each duty cycle. Smaller models designed for light home use may have duty cycles as short as two minutes, whereas units made for heavy-duty use may have duty cycles of 40 minutes or more. How long will your shredding session last?Īll shredders have a run time or "duty cycle." This is how long the machine can operate continuously before switching off to cool down. Not having to remove staples can save a lot of time when shredding a large volume of paperwork. Some paper shredders can tackle whole multi-page documents, even when they're still held together with staples or paperclips.
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