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.

Finding a good departmental paper shredder for the office is tough. Chances are pretty good that you have a limited budget and you don’t want to keep asking for more money to replace the last shredder. If you’re in the market for a reliable office paper shredder that won’t break down every year, you should consider the Formax FD 8600CC cross cut paper shredder. This is my review.

Considered by many to be one of the best office shredder newcomers, the Formax line of paper shredders is quickly becoming favorites with business departments and the government. There are several reasons for this. The price is right and the quality is about as good as it gets.

The FD 8600CC is especially popular right now due in part to the increase in identity theft security, the price is certainly right and the build quality is what people expect. I can vouch from personal observation that the build quality on the FD8600CC is exceptional. It features a metal case, AC-powered metal gears and is a solid machine.

The FD 8600CC is a cross cut shredder, which means the shredder blade cuts paper in two different directions. The cut particles are small enough that this shredder qualifies as a security level 3. This is the most common security level found in offices and is more than adequate for most material.

The cutting blades on this shredder can handle up to 26-28 sheets of standard copy paper at a time. This is common for a strip cut shredder, but uncommon for a cross cut shredder. This means you can get the job done faster and make fewer trips to the shredder. The heat-treated cutting blades are designed to handle staples and paper clips.

One feature I really like in the Formax FD 8600CC is the thermally protected motor. This means you can use the FD 8600CC continuously without fear that it will wear out and break down. This shredder is large enough to be used in an office by 8-15 people without a problem. The noise level is low enough that it isn’t an annoyance like many other shredders.

You may or may not know this, but paper shredders need to be oiled to ensure proper operation. The FD 8600CC includes an oil indicator light that will remind you when it is time to oil the shredder. You can also get an optional EvenFlow oiler semi-automatic oiler for this system.

I could easily write a few more pages about the rich features found in this machine. Just a few include an extra-wide feed opening, LED control panel, auto-cleaning capability and much more. I highly recommend this shredder for office or government use.

You can find the Formax FD 8600CC cross cut paper shredder here. You can find the strip cut version, the FD 8600SC paper shredder here. You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here. Happy shredding!

Are you looking for a durable office shredder that not only handles paper, but can also shred credit cards, CDs, DVDs and more? You may want to consider the Formax FD 8702CC multimedia paper shredder. This is my review.

Formax is one of the best-known manufacturers of office equipment. They make products such as paper folding machines, envelope inserters and more. They also make a wide variety of paper shredders, including cross cut and strip cut. These shredders are quickly becoming a favorite among businesses and offices for their reliability.

The Formax FD 8702CC is one of the most well-rounded paper shredders that we offer. This is because it not only shreds paper, but also shreds CDs, DVDs, digital video tape (DV Tape), credit cards and much more. This means the FD 8702CC can be used for a wide variety of data destruction.

While many shredders sacrifice paper shredding capacity to handle multimedia, the FD 8702CC does not. It is still able to handle an amazing 35-40 sheets of 20# paper at a time. That is a huge amount for a cross cut paper shredder.

The build quality…ah yes, the build quality. I would have to sum up the build quality as being some of the best I have seen. The metal case, metal gears, metal shafts and components are some of the best I have seen in a shredder. This comparison pretty much sums everything up: The FD 8702CC is to a 787 Jetliner as a department store shredder is to a paper airplane.

The continuous duty motor allows you to shred all day long, to your little heart’s content. There is no cool down period required. This makes the FD 8702CC perfect for use in a department or office. It is also pretty quiet for a shredder, making it less of an annoyance in the office.

The hardened steel blades are designed to stay sharp and hold up over time. They are able to handle paper clips and staples without suffering damaged blades, chips and other maladies.

I could probably write for pages with regard to the features in this shredder. Suffice it to say that this shredder is safe, extremely easy to use and is designed to prevent paper jams.

For the price, I have to say that the Formax FD 8702CC multimedia paper shredder may be one of the best values for the dollar out there. We have sold a lot of these shredders and I have yet to hear of a customer complaint.

You can find the Formax FD 8702CC multimedia paper shredder here. You can find our entire selection of Formax paper shredders here.

Finding an adequate paper shredder for the office is a challenge. There are so many shredders out there that are completely useless. This involves overheating, constant jams and the inability to get the job done. So which brand should you go with?

One brand that has consistently done well in the office is Destroyit by Ideal. So which Destroyit shredders should you buy? Here are the top Destroyit shredders as rated by our customers.

Destroyit office shredders are German engineered and German made. They originate from the parent company IDEAL Krug & Priester. You can find Destroyit paper shredders in strip cut and cross cut designs.

Destroyit shredders feature thermally protected motors, which allow them to run continuously without overheating. Gears and inner components are made from metal, which means they will provide years of trouble-free use.

Here is the list of the top 10 Destroyit paper shredders as determined by our customers.

Top 10 Best Destroyit Office Shredders

1. Destroyit 2604 Office Paper Shredder
2. Destroyit 4002 Heavy-Duty Paper Shredder
3. Destroyit 2404 Large Capacity Shredder
4. Destroyit 3103 Heavy-Duty Office Shredder
5. Destroyit 3803 Office Paper Shredder
6. Destroyit 4005 Commercial Paper Shredder
7. Destroyit 3105 Cross Cut Paper Shredder
8. Destroyit 2401 Office / Desk Side Shredder
9. Destroyit 2602 Super Micro Cut (SMC)
10. Destroyit 4005 SMC Paper Shredder w/ Automatic  Oiler

Having used several Destoryit paper shredders myself, it is safe to say that you will not be disappointed. You can find our entire selection of Destroyit Office Shredders here.

So you’ve invested some money in a good, reliable paper shredder that you plan on using every day? Chances are pretty good that you want that shredder to last a long time. So what are some of the most common mistakes that shredder owners do that will kill a paper shredder?

Top 5 Mistakes That Will Kill Your Paper Shredder

1. Shredder Oil – How many of you knew that a shredder needs to be oiled? It’s amazing how many people end up with a seized shredder head and wonder why. There are a lot of moving parts in a shredder head, especially a cross cut shredder. Always oil your shredder! Shredder oil found here.
2. Staples and Paper Clips – Many shredders now claim to be able to accept staples and paper clips. Some don’t make this claim. Either way, excessive amounts of staples and paper clips will eventually damage a shredder head. I like to remove any visible staples and paper clips prior to shredding.
3. Too Much Paper – Don’t shred more paper than your shredder’s manual recommends. In fact, scale the maximum amount back by 15-20 percent. It will really help the motor. And remember, 20 sheets of paper does not mean 20 sheets of card stock. Shredding excessive amounts of paper will wear out the motor.
4. Continuous Use – Be sure your shredder is rated for continuous use before using it continuously. Many cheap and entry-level shredders do not have thermally-protected motors and will burn out with excessive use.
5. CDs and Credit Cards – Many people will automatically assume that their shredder can handle CDs and Credit Cards only to find out, after a serious jam, that it can’t. While many modern-day shredders can handle this material, be certain before trying.

Hopefully these tips will help you get more use out of your shredder. By following these simple rules, you may be able to extend your shredder’s life by years.

If this advice comes too late, we do have an excellent shredder service department that you can reach by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129 or by filling out this form.

You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.

What is a high security paper shredder and what qualifies as one? A lot of people sell “high security paper shredders,” but are they legitimate? Here are a few things to keep your eyes open for when shopping around.

You may have heard them referred to as government shredders, confidential and top-secret shredders. You may have even heard the terms DOD or NSA shredder as well. These are all terms used to describe a high security shredder.

High security paper shredders fall under two categories. These are level 5 and level 6 shredders. The higher the security level, the smaller the cut. Level 5 used to be the highest level available, but a few years ago (not soon after September 11), the level 6 shredder was introduced.

Here are the specifications for both level 5 and level 6.

Security Level 5
This security level was designed and approved by the U.S. DoD and Canadian RCMP for the shredding of top secret documents.

• STANDARD MEASUREMENT Approximately 1/32″ x 3/8-1/2″ Cross Cut
• METRIC (0.78mm x 11mm Cross Cut)

Security Level 6
This is currently the highest level of shredding security offered. It is backed by the NSA for top secret shredding. This is used for the most sensitive documents.

• STANDARD MEASUREMENT Approximately 1/32″ x 5/32″ Cross Cut or 1/26″ x 1/5″ Cross Cut
• METRIC (1mm x 4-5mm)

High security paper shredders aren’t for everyone. Most businesses will find more than enough security with a security level 3 or 4 shredder. The higher the security level, the tinier the cut. The tinier the cut, the fewer the number of sheets that can be shredded at once.

There is a list available of NSA/CSS approved shredder that you can find here. You can find our entire selection of high security paper shredders here.

Is your shredder on its last leg? Does it sound a sawmill? Paper shredders can suffer from a wide variety of issues and ailments. This ranges from broken gears, chipped shredder blades, blown fuses and much more. So is it possible to get your paper shredder back up and running?

While not all paper shredders can be brought back from the dead, many can experience a second life. We have a Service Department that can get replacement shredder heads, gears, control panels, switches and much more. It certainly can’t hurt to ask and won’t cost you to present a question.

You can contact our Service Department by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129 or by filling out this form.

If for any reason your shredder can’t be revived, or costs to much to repair, we have a great selection of new paper shredders found here. This includes home, office, deskside, departmental and industrial paper shredders.

At ABC Office we are always looking for new ways to increase our product selection in an effort to give you more choices and better prices. We are happy to announce that today we are now able to offer you binding machines, paper shredders, laminators and paper folders from Intelli-Zone™.

Intelli-Zone™ offers these products under the Intelli-Bind™, Intelli-Lam™, Intelli-Shred™ and Intelli-Fold™ names. While these machines won’t be available to ship until September 2010, we are currently offering extremely low pre-order pricing. If you are able to lock in your order now, you will not only get a great price, but you will also be at the front of the line.

These are the new products offered by Intelli-Zone™:

• Intelli-Zone Comb Binding Machines
• Intelli-Zone Wire Binding Machines
• Intelli-Zone Coil Binding Machines
• Intelli-Zone Paper Shredders
• Intelli-Zone Pouch Laminators
• Intelli-Zone Folding Machines
  

We are excited about this new addition and expect the Intelli-Zone™ addition to be a big hit with our customers. Do you have questions about Intelli-Zone™ office equipment? Call us at 1-800-658-8788 or post your question in a comment.