Paper Shredders
Paper shredders 
are becoming a must-have for all home offices and have always been a business need. Paper shredders can help safeguard you from having someone discover your personal information, such as bank, credit, and social security card numbers and other important and private information that appears on documents we all tend to throw in the garbage.
Acclaimed Personal Paper Shredders
These shredders were ranked as the top three personal shredders according to ConsumerSearch.com. They've also received serious attention in many office publications.
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Tech Solutions TS-8200c
TheTS-8200c is a cross-cut paper shredder for maximum security. It can handle 12 sheets at a time and 450 sheets a day. CDs and credit cards are easily destroyed. If you need to a mid-range shredder, this is the right choice. |
EPS-611X Shredder
Staple's EP-611X shredder is a great personal shredder. It's inexpensive and efficient. The EP-611X can handle three sheets of paper at a time and can't handle CDs or credits. If shredding these things isn't a concern, it's great for the price. |
Ativa 811600
Ativa's cross-cutting 811600 can handle an impressive 18 pages at a time and about 700 pages per day. It shreds CDs, DVDs and credit cards, and it also has an incredibly lucrative 7-year warranty. The Ative 811600 is also a very quiet shredder. |
Things to Keep In Mind
Prices vary widely, but there are some things to consider. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
- How many people will be using the shredder? If it is simply meant for home or personal office use then a personal shredder (1-3 people) for up to 100 uses per day will do just fine, however for small offices (up to 10 people) a general office machine is suitable for handling up to 36,000 uses per day.
- How thoroughly destroyed should your documents be? Do you need it "diced" into confetti or will straight cuts do? Or do you need the maximum level of security that adheres to even the NSA's stringent requirements?
- What is the volume of paper that you shred? How many sheets must it do at once?
- Should the shredder be capable of shredding plastic as well, such as CDs, DVDs and credit cards?
- What safety features do you need, so your child can't hurt him or herself or shred your paycheck? Look for locking features.
To find the best, well-constructed machine, usually the type warranty is a good sign. If it features a long warranty on the cutter, it will probably last a while.
Paper Shredder Alternative
If you need to dispose of your documents, but would prefer to avoid the messy scraps of a shredder or destroy the document beyond any possible reconstruction, then dissolvable paper, also referred to as Spy Paper, may be your best option. Dissolvable paper will become completely illegible and turn into mush just seconds after contact with any liquid.
