Do you work for the government, a university or an organization that deals with key tape (punched tape) on a daily basis? Believe it or not, that data can create a security issue if it is not properly disposed of. One machine you can use to destroy key tape is the Applied Magnetics KD-100 Key Tape Disintegrator. This is my review.

I can still remember when we added this machine to our site. I thought to myself, “people still use key tape?” It ends up the U.S. government, embassies, military and other still use key tape. In case you’re not familiar with key tape (aka punch tape), it is a thin roll of paper filled with tiny punched holes. These holes contain data that can be read and written by certain machines.

Applied Magnetics makes a wide variety of high-end equipment designed for specialized data destruction. This includes CD grinders, key tape disintegrators, hard drive degaussers and much more. The company has been in business since 1973.

The KD-100 key tape disintegrator has an opening just wide enough for key tape. Once fed in, the machine shreds and disintegrates the key tape into dust. It automatically feeds the tape in, requiring little manual effort. It literally looks like flour when it comes out of the machine. This renders the key tape useless. The KD-100 is NSA/CSS 04-01 approved.

The KD-100 weighs in at 40 pounds shipped. This makes the KD-100 easy to move around. The top of the machine rests on a hinge, making internal components easy to service and clean.

A vacuum system helps keep dust down to a minimum and makes it easy to gather and dispose of disintegrated paper. A six-gallon bin holds the shredded dust. Six-gallons, when considering the compact nature of the disintegrated dust, holds a lot of key tape.

If you’re familiar with Applied Magnetics products, you’ll know that they make some of the highest quality data destruction equipment available today. The KD-100 is no exception. This machine is designed for continues, reliable use.

If you need a specialized key tape shredder, this machine is definitely what you need. You can find the Applied Magnetics KD-100 Key Tape Disintegrator here. You can find our entire line of Applied Magnetics products here.

Are you with the government, Department of Defense or military and need an NSA/CSS EPL-02-01-AA approved paper shredder with the ability to shred top secret documents? One model you should seriously consider is the Destroyit 4005 SMC high security paper shredder. This is my review.

Destroyit has been a favorite shredder of the U.S. government for years. This is due in part to their compliance to regulations and their dependability. Destroyit makes a wide variety of high security paper shredders as well that are NSA/CSS EPL-02-01-AA approved. These shredders are frequently used by the DOD, military and other U.S. government organizations.

The Destroyit 4005 SMC , also known as the 4014-2 SMC, is a level 6 paper shredder. This means it is designed for shredding confidential and top secret information. The acronym SMC stands for super micro cut. Paper cut by the 4005 SMC gets turned into particles that measure in at 0.8 x 5mm (1/32″ x 3/16″). That is extremely small.

It is capable of shredding up 12-16 sheets of paper at a time. Considering the small particle cut, this is considered a high shredding capacity. The 59 gallon bin holds a lot of paper and means fewer bag changes. The cabinet is made from durable wood and sits on casters, making it easy to move the 4005 SMC from one room to another.

Maintenance on the 4005 SMC is simple. Because it has a built-in automatic oiler, the 4005 SMC is able to run at peak performance throughout the day. The oiler is a great feature and means this shredder can run continuously throughout the day without any special attention. A powerful single-phase motor assists continuous operation.

The 16-inch wide feed opening is able to shred most paper sizes and is wide enough to prevent annoying paper jams. The electronic capacity control (ECC) helps to cut down on paper jams as well by indicating the sheet capacity level during the shredding process.

Overall I give the Destroyit 4005 SMC high marks. The build quality is excellent, it is extremely easy to use and it is reliable. You can’t ask for much more in a high security paper shredder.

You can find the Destroyit 4005 SMC high security paper shredder here. You can find our entire selection of high security paper shredders here. Do you still have questions about high security shredders? Call one of our shredding experts at 1-800-658-8788.

Whether you work at home or run a business, finding the right paper shredder can be a bit of a task. You certainly don’t want to buy something that will break down in a few months, but don’t want to break the bank either. Here are a few useful tips you may want to follow when buying a good office paper shredder.

To begin with, not all paper shredders are created equal. The first thing I would recommend doing is staying away from most sub $100 department store shredders. Most of these shredders feature a poor build quality and often struggle shredding more than a few sheets of paper.

These are some features you will want in your office paper shredder:

Continuous Duty - It is a good idea to purchase a shredder with a continuous-duty motor. This means the shredder can run continuously without the need of a cool down period. Simply put, it won’t overheat. This is a good sign of a great shredder.

Throat Width – Be sure to get a shredder with a wide opening. Shredders limited to 9-inches wide makes it difficult to properly feed jumbled sheets of paper.

Cross Cut (Security Level) – I recommend getting a cross cut paper shredder. This is the best way to ensure your documents cannot be read or be re-assembled. A security level 3 is more than sufficient for a home office. You can read more on shredder security levels here.

Shred Capacity – This one seems like a no brainer, but I recommend getting a shredder with at least a 10 sheet shredding capacity. The more sheets the better, however, the higher the sheet capacity the higher the price.

Removable Bin – I hate having to remove the shredder head to empty a shredder. Get a shredder with a removable bin. This will keep things cleaner and will cut down on frustration.

Noise Level – While not all shredders specify their decibel rating, I recommend getting something that is at least 60 decibels or quieter for a home office.

Brand - While a brand isn’t always the end all answer, there are a few brands that continue to be hits with our customers. This includes Destroyit, HSM, Dahle, Intimus and Formax.

These are some of the most important features to take into consideration when buying a paper shredder. For more advice, feel free to speak with one of our paper shredder specialists at 1-800-658-8788. You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.

If you own a small business, chances are pretty good that you need a paper shredder. More than likely you don’t need something huge, but you probably still require a machine that can be used throughout the day by a few people. We have compiled a list of reliable paper shredders based on our customers’ feedback.

If you’re going to spend money on a paper shredder, you want to make sure it is going to hold up and last you for years. There are a lot of cheap paper shredders out there claiming to be durable and dependable. When you open them up, however, you will often find plastic gears and cheap aluminum components.

Here is a list of the top 10 affordable, reliable and easy-to-use small business paper shredders that we offer. As mentioned earlier, this is based on customer feedback, location of use and popularity. This list is in alphabetical order.

Top 10 Best Small Business Paper Shredders

1. Dahle 2414 Small Office Paper Shredder
2. Dahle 30414 Paper Shredder
3. Destroyit 2403 Small Department Shredder
4. Destroyit 2501 Strip-cut / Cross-cut Paper Shredder
5. Destroyit 2604 Departmental Shredder
6. Destroyit 3105 Cross Cut Paper Shredder
7. Formax FD 8300 SC/CC Paper Shredder
8. HSM 104.3 Small Office Paper Shredder
9. HSM Model 125.2 Paper Shredder
10. Intimus Model 402 Small Department Shredders

While we can’t fit all our shredders in this list, rest assured that everything we carry is of the highest quality. You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.

I recently had a customer ask me what OMDD meant in reference to the HSM 411.2 OMDD shredder. Initially I didn’t know for sure what the acronym meant. After a few minutes of research I figured it out. It stands for Optical Media Destruction Device.

The HSM 411.2 OMDD paper shredder is designed to destroy CDs, DVDs and other optical media. It does this by cutting the data down into 2.2 x 4mm particles. This is extremely small for optical media discs.

As far as I’m aware, the term OMDD is strictly used by HSM. In fact, I haven’t seen it referenced with any other shredder other than the 411.2.

As far as security is concerned, the HSM 411.2 OMDD is one of the most secure disc shredders around. It is designed to be used all day long, every day, without suffering any wear or tear.

I am personally a big fan of HSM and consider their line of optical and paper shredders to be some of the best around for businesses, government, DOD and military.

You can find the HSM 411.2 OMDD (Optical Media Destruction Device) shredder here. You can find our entire selection of CD and DVD shredders here.

Do you need a specialized shredder that is designed to specifically shred compact discs (CDs), DVDs, floppy disks and credit cards? One model you may want to look at is the Intimus 502CD floppy disk, CD and credit card shredder. This is my review.

There aren’t many specialized multimedia shredders out there. Many manufacturers try to combine multiple shredding options into one machine. Some manufacturers do it well, where others fail miserably.

Intimus, made by Martin Yale, decided to make a machine designed and built from the ground up to handle floppy disks and optical media. The Intimus 502CD is so specialized that it doesn’t shred paper. It has a 4 15/16″ opening for CDs and DVDs and a 3 3/4″ opening for floppy disks. It can also be used to shred video game discs (Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo) and Blu-ray discs.

Because it is designed specifically to shred CDs, DVDs, credit card and floppy disks, it is fast. It operates at a speed of up to 800-1200 pieces per hour. This is far faster than what a multi-purpose shredder can do.

The shred particle size is 5/16″ x 13/16″ (7.9mm x 20.6mm). For optical media, this is small. As you might imagine, a floppy disk or CD that has been cut into tiny particles is pretty much impossible to read. The shred bin on the 502CD can hold up to one cubic feet of shredded material.

Who uses the Intimus 502CD? This machine is primarily used by government and military organizations, but is also used by businesses for mass data and software destruction. The shredder is compact enough that it can be used in most offices without being an obstacle.

We sell quite a few of the Intimus 502CD shredders and I can safety say that our customers are satisfied with the quality and the functionality. Intimus has developed a great reputation and the Intimus 502CD doesn’t let you down.

You can find the Intimus 502CD floppy disk, CD and credit card shredder here. You can find our entire selection of CD and DVD shredders here. You can find our entire selection of Intimus paper shredders here.

Whether you’re part of the U.S. Military, belong to an Embassy or are deployed overseas, you may have the need of a deployable paper shredder. One model that is both functional and portable is the Dahle 20434DS deployment high security shredder. This my review.

To begin with, Dahle is very popular with the U.S. government, Department of Defense and military for their line of high security NSA/CSS approved shredders. Dahle currently offers about seven different models. One of their most recent additions is the Dahle 20434DS. This is shredder meets NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 standards.

The standard version of the Dahle 20434 is already a hit, so the 20434DS (Deployment Shredder) became a hit right out of the box. Simply put, the 20434DS is a deployable version of the 20434. By deployable, I mean it can be easily packed up and moved around.

The Dahle 20434DS includes a foam padded case that is both airtight and watertight. This case is designed to hold up and handle wear and tear. It can be flown on a plane, loaded on an aircraft carrier or sent along in a submarine. Not only does it have a padded case, it also features rolling casters and a pull strap for easy transportation.

This deployment shredder is rated at a Level 6 shredder, which is the highest security shred cut available. The size of the cross cut particle is 1 x 4.7mm. If you are near a ruler, take a look at how small that is. To the naked eye it looks like tiny white particles. One single 8 ½ x 11-inch sheet of paper gets turned into 15,500 tiny particles. That is amazing and extremely secure.

The shredder has been compacted for deployment purposes. It features a 9 ½-inch feed opening, capable of accepting an 8 ½ x 11-inch sheet of paper. It can shred up to 8 sheets.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that because this is a deployable shredder that it is a toy. It still weighs 88 pounds and is still just as durable and solid as standard Dahle high security shredders.

I always like to mention that high security paper shredders need to be oiled more frequently than normal shredders due to the intricate nature of the cutting head. It is recommended that you oil the 20434DS after every 15 minutes of use.

Overall I really like this shredder. It is compact, portable and perfect for military, federal, state or local governments as well as Department of Defense contractors engaged in projects where National Security is an issue.

You can find the Dahle 20434DS deployment high security shredder here. You can find our entire selection of high security paper shredders here.

Do you need to shred and destroy extremely sensitive, confidential and perhaps even top-secret data? The best way to do that is by using a high security paper shredder. There are literally hundreds of models available. So which one should you go with? I have compiled a list of the most popular and highest-rated high security paper shredders according to our customers.

This list includes a variety of paper shredders from HSM, Destroyit, Formax, Dahle and others. These are all Level 6 and Level 5 paper shredders. Level 6 is the highest security level available today, however, level 5 can also be used for most high-security shredding needs. Most of these shredders are NSA/CSS approved. Here is my list.

Top 10 Best High Security Paper Shredders

1. Dahle 30434 Level 6 High Security Office Shredder
2. Dahle 20394 Level 6 High-Security Paper Shredder
3. Formax FD 8400HS High Security Paper Shredder
4. HSM OMDD CD / DVD and Paper Shredder
5. Dahle 20434DS Level 6 Cross Cut Paper Shredder
6. Destroyit Paper Shredder Model 4005 SMC
7. HSM 225.2hs High Security Paper Shredder
8. HSM 125.2hs High Security Paper Shredder
9. Kobra 240 HS and 260 HS Paper Shredders
10. Destroyit 2604 SMC High Security Paper Shredder

Be aware that the shredder you ultimately get will depend entirely on how many people will be using it, how many sheets you need to shred and where it will be used. If you have questions regarding high security paper shredders, please speak with one of our specialists at 1-800-658-8788. You can find our entire selection of high security paper shredders here.

Destroying sensitive, top secret and confidential information requires a special type of shredder, usually one with a security level 6. So which shredder should you use? One model you may want to consider is the Dahle 20394 high security paper shredder. This is my review.

Many government entities, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and military branches require the use of not only a Level 6 shredder, but also need one that is NSA/CSS approved. This includes the destruction of Classified up to Top Secret COMSEC documents.  Dahle has been fitting this bill for years now. One of their most popular (and largest) lines is the Dahle 20394.

The Dahle 20394 is not only designed for Level 6 high security shredding, but is also NSA/CSS approved (NSA/CSS Specification 02-01). The particle cut shred size of this shredder is 1 x 4.7mm. That is small. This cut size is so small, in fact, that it will turn a single sheet of paper into over 15,500 tiny particles. Try piecing that back together. You can safely call the Dahle 20394 a top-secret paper shredder.

One thing you may notice with a Level 6 shredder, that you don’t see with other paper shredders, is that they don’t shred as many sheets of paper at a time. This is the case with the Dahle 20394. While the shredder itself is about as heavy-duty as they come, it can only shred up to 18 sheets of standard 20# paper at a time.

Because the shredder has to make so many cuts to get the small particle size, it really taxes the motor, thus scaling back the amount of sheets it can shred. This is a common issue with high security shredders. Eighteen sheets is actually pretty decent for a Level 6 shredder. The Dahle 20394 is able to do this with its 2.5 HP motor.

I personally hate using shredders that only have an 8 to 9-inch opening. It makes it hard to feed paper. The mouth on the Dahle 20394 is 16-inches wide, allowing it to shred most paper sizes.

The bin on this thing can hold up to 50 gallons of paper. Because the particles of paper are so small, you rarely have to empty this thing. Fifty gallons of paper is a lot of paper. This makes the Dahle 20394 perfect for a department or office.

Remember that high security paper shredders require more frequent oiling due to the amount of moving parts. It is recommended to oil the Dahle 20394 after every 15 minutes of use. An automatic 1.5-liter oiling kit is available for this shredder (called a performance kit).

Overall I am HIGHLY impressed with the Dahle 20394 high security shredder. The build quality is excellent, reliability is considered to be some of the best out there and it is very easy to use.

You can find the Dahle 20394 high security paper shredder here. You can find our entire selection of high security paper shredders here. Ask us about our low price guarantee. Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our high-security paper shredder specialists.

You may have seen the term”Auto Feed” or “Automatic Feed” branded across a paper shredder box and wondered what that meant. The auto feed feature is becoming more and more common. Here is a brief explanation on exactly what an auto feed paper shredder is.

Auto feed is the ability of a paper shredder to automatically feed itself paper. There are cut-sheet and continuous form auto feed shredders available today.

Cut sheet auto feed (automatic feed) shredders have a tray, much like a printer, where you can place a stack of paper. The shredder will then pull one sheet in at a time and shred it. This isn’t the fastest way to shred paper, but it also requires little manual involvement.

Simply place your stack of paper on the shredder and let it do the rest. This way you aren’t standing by the shredder feeding 10-20 sheets in at a time. The Formax FD 8500AF is a great example of a cut sheet auto feed shredder.

Continuous form auto feed shredders are designed to shred continuous form paper. This is the computer form paper that has the perforated sides with the tiny holes. The paper usually comes in a stack, formed in an accordion-like fashion.

These shredders are similar to the cut sheet auto feed shredders. Simply place your stack of paper next to the shredder, feed the first sheet and let the shredder do the rest. The Intimus 452 shredder series is an example of a continuous-form automatic feed shredder.

This type of shredder is designed for convenience. It is easy on the shredder and saves you time. Many of the higher-end auto feed shredders, like models from Intimus and Formax, offer the option to manually feed several sheets or set it up for auto feed operation.

You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.