If you work for the federal government, state government, local government or a branch of the military, you probably need a high-quality paper shredder that can be used to destroy sensitive documents and paper. At ABC Office we offer a wide range of government paper shredders that are NSA and DOD approved.

Having sold paper shredders to the government for over 30 years, we have a great idea as to which shredders you want or don’t want. We have come up with a list of our top 10 government paper shredders for 2011. These paper shredders have established themselves as industry leaders, customer favorites and reputable machines that should last for years.

While this top 10 list isn’t put out by the government, these are NSA / DOD approved shredders.

Top 10 Best NSA / DOD Approved Government Paper Shredders 2011 (Listed Alphabetically)

1. Dahle 20434 Level 6 Paper Shredder
2. Dahle 20634EC High Security Shredder
3. Dahle 20834 EC NSA Approved Shredder
4. Destroyit 2360 SMC Document Shredder
5. Destroyit 2604 SMC DOD Approved Shredder
6. Formax FD 8400HS Business Shredder
7. Formax FD 8500HS NSA Paper Shredder
8. HSM 125.2HS Particle Cut Shredder
9. HSM 411.2HS High Security Paper Shredder
10. HSM 225.2HS Level 6 Paper Shredder

You’ll notice that these shredders all feature a high security level 6. This is the highest security level you can get in a paper shredder. A security level 6 (SL6) is any shredder that uses a cross cut pattern that measures in at a 1mm x 5mm size or smaller. If you look at that on a ruler, you’ll realize just how small this is.

A security level 6 paper shredder is small enough to be used to shred extremely sensitive, top secret and confidential documents. You can find our entire selection of high-security paper shredders here.

We are able to provide GSA pricing on our entire line of government / high-security paper shredders. If you need GSA pricing, please call one of our paper shredder specialists at 1-800-658-8788.

If you are familiar with paper shredders, you have probably heard of Intimus. These German-made paper shredders not only have a great reputation, but are also known as being some of the quietest paper shredders on the market. We have added a total of 14 new Intimus paper shredders to our site. These shredders are best used in offices and departments, however, some smaller models may also be used for home use.

I have personally used Intimus paper shredders for the past 10 years. They are great machines. When I first started using Intimus paper shredders, they were owned and managed by Shleicher. Martin Yale, who has been manufacturing office equipment for decades, now owns the Intimus line.

Over the past year, Intimus has discontinued many of their older models and have replaced them with the 14 new machines we just added to our site. I mentioned earlier that Intimus shredders are known for being very quiet. I would say about 90% of the new shredders we just added use Silentec technology. This essentially consists of special spring shock absorbers that the shredder motor sits on. These springs absorb vibrations and sound, keeping the shredder to a dull hum.

These are the 14 new shredders we added. The CC3 line offers a security level 3 and the CC4 line offer a security level 4.

1. Intimus Pro 20CC3 Cross Cut Shredder (8 Sheet Capacity)
2. Intimus Pro 26CC3 Cross Cut Shredder (8 Sheet Capacity)
3. Intimus Pro 32CC3 Cross Cut Shredder (12 Sheet Capacity)
4. Intimus Pro 45CC3 Level 3 Paper Shredder (18 Sheet Capacity)
5. Intimus Pro 45CC4 Level 4 Paper Shredder (8 Sheet Capacity)
6. Intimus Pro 60CC3 Office Paper Shredder (18 Sheet Capacity)
7. Intimus Pro 60CC4 Level 4 Office Shredder (9 Sheet Capacity)
8. Intimus Pro 90CC3 Departmental Shredder (18 Sheet Capacity)
9. Intimus Pro 90CC4 Level 4 Office Shredder (9 Sheet Capacity)
10. Intimus Pro 120CC3 Heavy-Duty Paper Shredder (23 Sheet Capacity)
11. Intimus Pro 120CC4 Level 4 Cross Cut Shredder (15 Sheet Capacity)
12. Intimus 315 Cross Cut Shredder (25 Sheet Capacity)
13. Intimus Pro 175CC3 Heavy Duty Cross Cut Shredder (50 Sheet Capacity)
14. Intimus Pro 175CC4 Departmental Level 4 Shredder (25 Sheet Capacity)

I am confident, as long as you select the appropriate security level and sheet capacity, that you will enjoy these shredders. The cutting cylinders are made from hardened steel and most feature a lifetime warranty. Most of these shredders can also handle shredding CDs, DVDs, credit cards and some can even handle floppy disks.

You can find our entire selection of Intimus paper shredders here and our entire selection of paper shredders here.

Do you have questions about Intimus paper shredders? Call one of our specialists at 1-800-658-8788. They are more than happy to help answer your questions. Do you need Intimus paper shredder repairs, parts or servicing? Call our Service Department at 1-800-658-8788 x129.

When businesses ask me which shredder security level they should go with, I usually recommend a security level 3. The level 3 particle size offers a nice blend of security and capacity. If you’re a business and are looking for a level 3 shredder that can be used by 6-8 people throughout the day, you may want to consider the Intimus Pro 175CC3 cross cut shredder. This is my review.

The Intimus brand has been around for some time. Several years ago the line was run and managed by Schleicher, but is now run by Martin Yale. Intimus shredders are considered to be some of the best shredders around. They first gained worldwide recognition in the 1970s, due in part to Oliver North using an Intimus 007-S to shred sensitive information during the Iran-Contra scandal.

Intimus shredders are known today as being easy-to-use, reliable and extremely durable. Most Intimus shredders are still made in Germany, designed using precision engineering and made from high-quality materials.

The Intimus Pro 175CC3 carries on the Intimus name and reputation. This departmental shredder offers an excellent blend of security and capacity. This shredder cuts paper down into 5/32″ x 1 13/16″ particles, which qualifies as a level 3 shredder according to DIN 32757 standards. It also offers an excellent capacity, capable of shredding up to 50 sheets of 20lb paper at a time. This is enough speed and security to keep up with most business operations.

Not only does the Intimus Pro 175CC3 shred paper, but it can also handle CDs, DVDs, floppy disks and plastic cards. A wide 16″ cutting width handles most sizes of paper. This includes envelopes, receipts, letter size paper, legal size paper and even larger computer forms paper.  The hardened steel cutting shafts can also handle staples and paper clips without suffering nicks and damage. The cutting shafts are also covered by a lifetime warranty.

While the specifications on this shredder are impressive, it’s the “Extra” features that really sell this shredder. Let me go over a few of the most impressive features.

i-Control – The i-Control management system is very robust. It informs and notifies the operator regarding the shredder’s status. This includes a child safety lockout, an oil indicator, a paper jam notification, bin full status and a bin open alert.

EcoLogic – Being green not only makes sense for the planet, but also for energy savings. The 175CC3 uses an EcoLogic system that puts the shredder into sleep mode when it has been sitting idle. While in seep mode, this shredder uses zero power.

DLS – A special sensor, built into the shredder head, can sense the amount of paper being run through. This data is then converted into changing colors via a light strip (like traffic lights) that show up in the shredder’s feed area. This lets the operator know whether the shredder is being overburdened or not. This really helps the operator gauge how much paper is being fed without having to manually count the sheets prior to shredding.

The Intimus 175CC3 also includes several features that are now the “norm” with shredders. This includes an auto on/off and reverse switch. It also includes a light that notifies you when the shredder needs to be oiled, which is a hug plus for shredder longevity. Casters make this shredder extremely easy to move around the office.

This is a very robust shredder, weighing in at 198 pounds, and should easily be able to keep up with most business shredding needs. This shredder definitely makes an impression on me and I believe you will appreciate it too.

You can find the Intimus Pro 175CC3 cross cut shredder here, our entire line of Intimus shredders here and our broad selection of office paper shredders here.

A good deskside paper shredder should be capable of keeping up with daily paper shredding operations. It should be reliable, functional and easy to use. With several options available for deskside shredding, it can be tough to find a shredder that fits the bill (figuratively and literally). One paper shredder you may want to consider for your daily operations is the Formax FD 8202CC cross cut paper shredder. This is my review.

Formax is one of the big three manufacturers of office paper shredders. The currently make shredders designed for home office use all the way up to industrial use. Their shredders are known for being tough. The Formax FD 8202CC is their entry-level machine.

What is a deskside paper shredder? A deskside paper shredder is generally smaller than your average office shredder, typically designed to fit next to a desk (sometimes under a desk). They are typically designed for use by one person, although some higher-end machines (like this one) can be used by 2-3 people. The FD 8202CC is about as compact as a wastebasket, which is nice for portability and space.

The FD 8202CC isn’t designed for high-volume use, but it isn’t a cheap piece of plastic either. It is perfect for shredding bills, receipts, old documents and more. It is capable of taking your sensitive material and shredding it into tiny pieces of paper.

The Formax FD 8202CC shredder utilizes a Level 3 security level cut. The higher the security level, the tinier the particles. Shredders are rated on a scale of 1 to 6, with a Level 6 being capable of shredding top-secret documents. This shredder is compact enough to shred paper into 5/32″ x 1 1/8″. You should be aware that a Level 3 security level is more than enough to handle sensitive material and is the most common security level used by businesses.

While the FD 8202CC can be used to shred paper, it is versatile enough to shred other material as well. This includes CDs, DVDs and credit cards. A special flap folds down over the opening of this shredder, allowing for easy insertion of optical disks.

Many cross cut shredders require that staples and paper clips be removed prior to shredding, the Formax FD 8202CC can easily handle staples and paper clips without suffering any damage.

The Formax FD 8202 is packed with sensors, making shredding jobs easier. This includes an auto start sensor that detects paper as it is inserted, automatically starting the shredder. It also has an auto sensor that detects when the bin is full, automatically stopping the shredder (preventing potential damage).

In conclusion, this is a great compact paper shredder for deskside or home use. It is portable (only 7 pounds) and can shred up to 20 sheets of paper at a time!

You can find the Formax FD 8202CC cross cut paper shredder here and our entire selection of Formax paper shredders here. You can find our huge selection of office paper shredders here.

Efficiency, durability and ease-of-use are all features that we should expect in our paper shredders. A good office paper shredder should get the job done quickly without giving you any headaches. One reliable paper shredder that has been on our list of “favorite” shredders for some time is the Dahle 20612EC office paper shredder. This is my review.

Dahle paper shredders have been around for years, and while not widely known among the general public, they have been a huge hit with the government and military. Dahle shredders have developed a solid reputation for being solid machines. These German engineered shredders have all the features most businesses require along with a few additional perks.

The Dahle 20162EC paper shredder is designed for office and departmental use, able to be used by multiple people throughout the day. There are many reasons why you may want to consider this particular model for your company. Here are a few reasons:

Feed Width - The Feed width on the Dahle 20162EC is 10 ¼”. This is a very convenient width for many reasons. This side of shred width can be used to shred envelopes, letter size paper, folded documents and much more. Simply put, it removes a lot of the hassle you find in shredders that only have an 8 ½” wide opening.

Electronic Controls – The controls on the Dahle 20162EC are very intuitive and easy to use. There are only three buttons, with most of the shredder’s operations being automated. These include an on/off, forward and backwards buttons. LED indicator lights let you know when the door is open and when the bag is full. A built-in optical sensor automatically detects paper, turning the shredder on and off as needed.

Chain-Driven Motor – A durable chain-driven motor easily chews through paper. Because this shredder isn’t belt driven, and doesn’t use nylon gears, it easy handles stacks of paper without suffering damage or premature wear. It is very reliable.

Rubber Shock Mounts – Rubber shock mounts have been strategically placed throughout this shredder. These mounts are used to absorb vibrations and noise. Dahle shredders are considered to be some of the quietest paper shredder around.

Security Level 4 – The Dahle 20162EC cuts paper into tiny particles that qualify as a security level 4. These particles measure in at 1/12″ x 9/16″ in size. This is more than enough security for most businesses.

Waste Bin – This shredder has a large 16-gallon bin that holds quite a bit of paper before needing to be changed. This results in fewer back changes on your part.

Overall this shredder is extremely easy to use and easy on the eyes. The sleek design of this shredder allows it to sit next to a wall, near a desk and blend in with existing office equipment.

Even if you aren’t a government or military entity, I highly recommend the Dahle 20162EC for office use. It can easily be used by several people throughout the day, and thanks to a thermally-protected motor, it can be used continuously without the worry of overheating.

You can find the Dahle 20612EC office paper shredder here and our entire selection of Dahle paper shredders here. If Dahle isn’t what you’re looking for, you can find our entire selection of hundreds of paper shredders here.

If you’re sitting on the fence regarding purchasing a paper shredder, let me give you 10 good reasons why you need one. While some of these reasons may seem obvious, you may not be familiar with these others.

To begin with, I can attest to the fact that I personally use a shredder at my office and feel it is an important part of any company’s business operations. While shredders are often in abundance at the office, they can also be used to dispose of sensitive material (often in abundance) at home.

Here are 10 good reasons why you should use a paper shredder:

1. It’s the Law - Federal laws such as FACTA (read more) and HIPAA (read more) require that certain types of material be shredded. Failure to do so can warrant some hefty fines and penalties.
2. Protect Your Customers – When disposing of customer, client or patient information, it should be shredded. Information such as a name, date of birth, social security number, address and other personal information can quickly turn into a headache for your customer if it falls into the wrong hands.
3. Protect Your Employees – While we often think of protecting customer information, we often forget about employees. Human Resources and other business departments often handle sensitive employee information that should be properly shredded when no longer needed.
4. Dumpster Diving - It is legal in most US states to go dumpster diving. This is the process of sifting through garbage. While many people are simply looking for junk they consider valuable, other people have more nefarious plans that involve identity theft.
5. Convenience – A shredder, placed next to a desk or in a centralized location, makes disposal of paper documents easy. Because shredded paper is more compact than crumpled paper, fewer bag changes are required.
6. Environmentally Friendly – I have sold paper shredders to customers who had environmentally friendly ideas in mind. Some of these include creating mulch for a garden, bedding for a rodent and packaging for shipped products. These types of shredder uses usually involve a strip cut shredder and non-sensitive documents. Most paper shredders now use energy efficient technology.
7. Saves Money – Shredding sensitive data now will save you a lot of money later down the road. Someone applying for a credit card or a bank account under your name can cost you a lot more later down the road than the price of a shredder now.
8. Information Management - While not all discarded information contains sensitive individual data, many businesses don’t want plans, ideas and other information falling into the wrong hands, such as a competitor. It is also important for many world governments and militaries to shred sensitive data and information.
9. Destroys More than Paper - Many modern shredders destroy more than just paper. Many can be used to shred CDs, DVDs, credit cards, floppy disks and more.
10. It’s Fun! - Let’s all be honest. Shredding can be fun. There’s something the way a shredder works that is both intriguing and enjoyable.

I hope these 10 points have helped you understand just how important it is to use a paper shredder. At ABC Office we offer over a hundred different models of paper shredders. You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.

Please feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 for answers to your paper shredder questions. Please feel free to also chime in with any comments or thoughts on paper shredders.

A professional and customer-oriented business will use a paper shredder when handling sensitive documents. A good reliable office shredder should meet a few solid requirements. This includes reliability, high sheet capacity, a good security level and the ability to shred paper on a continuous basis. One shredder that hits every one of these marks is the MBM Destroyit 2404 paper shredder. This is my review.

If you’ve read any of my paper shredder reviews, you probably know that I am a huge fan of Destroyit paper shredders. I have personally used dozens of different paper shredders and the German engineered Destroyit paper shredders continue to do exactly what I need. Destroyit, by MBM, makes shredders in sizes that range from deskside to industrial designs.

The MBM Destroyit 2404 is available in two different designs. This includes a strip cut and a cross cut model. While the cross cut version is by far the most popular, the strip cut is still a great shredder. The biggest differences between the two are the sheet capacity and the security level.

MBM Destroyit 2404 Sheet Capacities:

• 2404 Strip Cut: 19 to 22 sheets of paper at a security level 2 (3/16″ wide strips).
• 2404 Cross Cut: 9-11 sheets of paper at a security level 3 (3/32″ x 5/8″ particles).

The Destroyit 2404 features a 9 ½” wide opening for paper. This is wide enough to handle envelopes, letter-size and legal-size documents, receipts and much more. It can even be used to shred wider computer forms paper if they are first folded in half. The powerful ¾ horsepower motor doesn’t stutter, handling fed paper with gusto.

This shredder is extremely easy to operate. The “Easy Switch” rocks back and forth to turn the shredder on, put it in reverse and turn it off. A series of color codes and backlit symbols let you know exactly what’s going on.

The Destroyit 2404 is almost completely automated. A built-in photo cell detects paper, turning the shredder on and off by itself. Sensors also let you know when the bag is full and the door is open. For a deskside shredder, these features are all welcome.

This is a video of the MBM Destroyit 2404 in use:

One of my favorite features of the Destroyit 2404 is the large 13-gallon shred bin. This is a fairly large and significant capacity for a deskside shredder. This means fewer bag changes for you.

The shredder itself is made from high quality components. This includes hardened steel cutting shafts that are covered by a lifetime warranty. The shredder head sits in a noise absorbing wooden cabinet that sits on casters and the gars are all enclosed in a dust-proof housing, which significantly extends the life of the shredder. The motor is thermally protected for continuous use (no need to worry about overheating).

In conclusion, I have to say that the Destroyit 2404 (Cross Cut or Strip Cut) is a great choice for use in the office. While it is a deskside shredder, multiple people can easily use it throughout the day. I highly recommend this shredder.

You can find the MBM Destroyit 2404 paper shredder here and our entire selection of Destroyit paper shredders here. We also offer a great selection of other paper shredders here.

Paper shredders, by nature, can be messy machines. Two of the most common errors people make, that contributes to the mess, is either not using a shredder bag or an incorrectly sized shredder bag. Many people attempt, usually unsuccessfully, to use a garbage bag with their shredder. A correctly fitting shredder bag can make all the difference in the world.

The right shredder bag will help cut down on paper trapping gaps, will improve bag change cleanliness and speed and should help cut down on dusting and particles floating around in the air. If a shredder bag isn’t available for your model of shredder, any bag is better than nothing.

At ABC Office we carry shredder bags for all major office paper shredder manufactures. Here is a list of our shredder bags sorted by brand:

• Dahle Shredder Bags
• Destroyit Shredder Bags
• Fellowes Shredder Bags
• Formax Shredder Bags
• HSM Shredder Bags
• Intimus Shredder Bags
• Kobra Shredder Bags
• Rexel Shredder Bags

If you don’t see bags listed for your model of shredder, chances are pretty good that we can still get them for you. Simply call one of our paper shredder experts at 1-800-658-8788 and they should be able to help. You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.

The subject line of this article was taken directly from someone experiencing problems with their shredder. In fact, there are literally dozens of people every day complaining online that their shredders are overheating. Here are just a few comments taken directly from Twitter over the last few days:

• Darn paper shredder keeps overheating… >=(
• Shredder overheated forgot to bring my programming book to study
• shredder finally overheated
• Too much shredding happening. Overheated the shredder. Half a bag of items still to go. Already filled half a yard trash bag!
• i overheated the shredder whoopsie
• The shredder over heated so im just laying on my bed as it cools down.
• The shredder over heated.
• The paper shredder keeps over-heating.
• Shredding 13 years worth of stuff is a daunting job for a little shredder. Poor thing keeps overheating on me.

So what exactly causes a paper shredder to overheat? The culprit is the motor and a safety sensor. As a shredder is used, the motor begins to generate a lot of heat. As a fail-safe, many cheaper shredders will shut the motor off after it gets too hot. This is done to prevent permanent damage to the shredder (such as melting plastic, etc). Most shredders will let you know that the shredder is in “overheated” mode.

Overheating is typically an issue that only occurs with “cheap” department store shredders. Most of these shredders are designed for light use, and when used for more, begin to overheat. I have read many manuals for “cheap” shredder that mention the shredder should be left off for 30 minutes after 30 minutes of use.

If you work in an office, or do serious shredding on a regular basis, an overheating shredder simply does not cut it (pardon the pun). Business operations simply cannot wait 30 minutes to begin shredding again. Most businesses need a shredder that can be used continuously.

Most business shredders use what’s known a continuous-duty motor. The motors used in these shredders are thermally protected, designed to quickly dissipate heat and keep on shredding. A continuous duty shredder doesn’t need to be turned off for cooling down.

Over 90% of the paper shredders we offer feature continuous duty motors. Brands such as Destroyit, Formax, Intimus, Dahle and Kobra all utilize continuous duty motors. You can find our entire selection of continuous duty paper shredders here.

Are you having a bad experience with your shredder or simply have a question about continuous duty motors? Post your questions in a comment! I would love to hear from you.

You are also more than welcome to call one of our paper shredder specialists at 1-800-658-8788 with any paper shredder questions.

With hundreds of different models of paper shredders available, which size width should you use? The width of a paper shredder will ultimately determine what you will be able to shred. So which shredders widths are best for your home, business or organization? I will briefly go over the various widths and their best applications.

To begin with, paper shredders are typically organized into home, small office, departmental, industrial and high security categories. As a general rule, the higher the volume use, the wider the shredding width. Not everyone needs a 20″ wide shredder width.

Here are the most common widths used today:

5″ Wide Paper Shredders – These paper shredders are typically designed for home use and are just wide enough to shred an envelope or a few sheets of paper folded in half. These shredders are typically compact and can often be used on a desk or table. Many of these shredders can also be used to shred floppy disks, credit cards and CDs.
Example: HSM shredstar MultiShred Paper Shredder

9″ to 10″ Wide Paper Shredders - These shredder widths are probably the most common found in deskside shredders and small office paper shredders. A 9″ to 10″ width is just enough room to handle most letter-size and legal-size documents. They can also be used to shred smaller material such as receipts and envelopes.
Example: Intelli-Shred IS120 Micro Cut Paper Shredder

16″ to 18″ Wide Paper Shredders - This width is commonly found in departmental and large office paper shredders. The 16″ width can accommodate letter size paper as well as larger 11″ x 17″, 12″ x 18″ and larger computer forms. The larger 16″ width also allows the operator to shred multiple letter size documents at once without worrying about the paper going in “crooked” and causing a jam. The extra width also helps with speed.
Example: Destroyit 4002 Heavy Duty Paper Shredder

20″ and Wider Shredders – Widths this large are typically reserved for industrial and commercial shredders that are designed to shred just about anything. These wide widths are designed to handle books, paper, magazines, posters, crumpled paper and much more.
Example: Intimus S16.50 Paper Shredder

So there you have it! The most common and popular shredder widths available and their uses. Knowing the purposes of shredder widths should help you choose the right shredder. You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.