Five Things To Consider When Buying a Paper Shredder
Whether you are looking to buy a small shredder for your home or an industrial version for your offices, finding the best paper shredder requires you to consider a number of different factors. When buying these products always make sure that you have a clear idea of what you are after and remember to consider the following things:
1. The size of the shredder
This will be dependent on both the space you have available and the amount of paper you will need to shred. Shredders will vary in sizes and will therefore offer a range of different capacities. When purchasing a paper shredder there are two main capacity measurements which you should consider:
•Feed capacity: this refers to how many sheets of paper you can feed into the shredder at one time. Home or small office uses will typically use a shredder which can handle 5-10 sheets at a time whilst larger offices or industries will need a paper shredder with a much higher feed capacity.
•Storage capacity: this refers to how much shredded paper can be stored within the device and will be determined by the size of the receptacle. Shredders that have a higher feed capacity will typically have a larger drum but you should always check dimensions before buying.
2. The type of cut
There are two main cuts of shred available with these devices: ribbon cut and cross-cut. The former of these is the traditional form of shredding and sees thin strips or ribbons of paper produced. The latter, which is sometimes referred to as a confetti shredder, produces small square pieces of paper by cutting the paper in both a vertical and horizontal direction. This increases safety and can mean more shredded material can be held in the receptacle at one time.
3. The materials it can shred
A paper shredder may not just shred paper and other materials such as card, discs and credit cards may also be able to be shredded. Always make sure you check this function and remember to check what range of features is offered from different UK shredders.
4. The additional functions it has
Alongside these fundamental requirements, shredders will also have a number of additional functions and features. These will include technologies such as auto-feed and anti-jam. These can make the operation of the shredder easier to manage and therefore more convenient.
5. What you are going to do with the end result
Of course, once you have shredded all of your important documentation you will need to think of what you are going to do with the end result. When purchasing your shredder enquire about the best ways to dispose of the waste product.
Recycling the paper is a common option and one that is used by both homes and offices. For those interested in recycling the waste in a less conventional manner, using it as pet bedding or donating it to an animal shelter for that purpose will ensure it gets put to good use whilst maintaining a high level of data security.
1. The size of the shredder
This will be dependent on both the space you have available and the amount of paper you will need to shred. Shredders will vary in sizes and will therefore offer a range of different capacities. When purchasing a paper shredder there are two main capacity measurements which you should consider:
•Feed capacity: this refers to how many sheets of paper you can feed into the shredder at one time. Home or small office uses will typically use a shredder which can handle 5-10 sheets at a time whilst larger offices or industries will need a paper shredder with a much higher feed capacity.
•Storage capacity: this refers to how much shredded paper can be stored within the device and will be determined by the size of the receptacle. Shredders that have a higher feed capacity will typically have a larger drum but you should always check dimensions before buying.
2. The type of cut
There are two main cuts of shred available with these devices: ribbon cut and cross-cut. The former of these is the traditional form of shredding and sees thin strips or ribbons of paper produced. The latter, which is sometimes referred to as a confetti shredder, produces small square pieces of paper by cutting the paper in both a vertical and horizontal direction. This increases safety and can mean more shredded material can be held in the receptacle at one time.
3. The materials it can shred
A paper shredder may not just shred paper and other materials such as card, discs and credit cards may also be able to be shredded. Always make sure you check this function and remember to check what range of features is offered from different UK shredders.
4. The additional functions it has
Alongside these fundamental requirements, shredders will also have a number of additional functions and features. These will include technologies such as auto-feed and anti-jam. These can make the operation of the shredder easier to manage and therefore more convenient.
5. What you are going to do with the end result
Of course, once you have shredded all of your important documentation you will need to think of what you are going to do with the end result. When purchasing your shredder enquire about the best ways to dispose of the waste product.
Recycling the paper is a common option and one that is used by both homes and offices. For those interested in recycling the waste in a less conventional manner, using it as pet bedding or donating it to an animal shelter for that purpose will ensure it gets put to good use whilst maintaining a high level of data security.
