I have been working with paper shredders for years. As a result I can tell you that the general concept of the paper shredder, and the way they work, has remained pretty much the same for the past decade. Some work better than others.

Not only have I tried to stress the importance of using a paper shredder, for destroying sensitive information, but I have also been a big advocate for paper shredder safety. There are few things that make me cringe more than hearing about a dog getting its tongue stuck in a shredder or a toddler losing a few fingers as a result.

We have a pretty big showroom here at ABC Office, full of several different shredders from a wide variety of manufacturers. The types of models vary from strip cut to micro-cut particles. A while back we brought in a Fellowes Intellishred SB-99Ci for testing and display.

Fellowes paper shredders, for me, have never drawn my attention. I have always considered them to be best used at home or next to a desk. Fellowes must have recently hired some talented designers to work for them, because their current line of paper shredders looks modern and are aesthetically pleasing.

The Fellowes Intellishred SB-99Ci is a shining example of a “beautiful” paper shredder.  You can see several pictures of it by clicking here. It really does look nice. Upon turning the shredder on, a striking blue LED lights up. Again, this is much different than comparable models. A lighted gauge on the paper shredder (sheet capacity indicator) indicates the effect the load of paper is having on the motor, letting you know if you are pushing it too hard. It also features jam-proof technology, which makes it impossible to jam or seize the shredder head.

The thing that struck me the most was the SafeSense technology. If for any reason a finger or hand gets close to the shredder opening, the shredder will turn off. This is great for preventing possible injury. The sensor never failed.

If you are looking for a nice looking and safe paper shredder, I would recommend the Fellowes Intellishred SB-99Ci. Fellowes has several “Intellishred” models to choose from. You can find the SB-99Ci that I tried by clicking here. Enjoy!

I get a lot of questions from people asking me what the difference is between cross cut, diamond cut, particle cut and confetti cut paper shredders. The short and quick answer is that there is not really any difference between the various synonyms. The original and probably more correct terminology for paper cut in a criss-cross pattern is cross cut.

Cross cut is a generalized word that can be used to cover all the various shredding terms. Diamond cut paper shredders typically cut paper into very tiny diamond-shaped particles, but this is still referred to as a cross cut paper shredder. The same goes with confetti cut. Confetti cut shredders, which produce very skinny 1 to 2-inch long strips is also a type of cross cut shredder.

Cross cut is even spelled differently, depending on who you talk to. I have seen it spelled both cross cut and crosscut. Ultimately there really is no wrong answer, but you’ll probably confuse fewer people if you stick to using “cross cut” when referring to this type of shredder.

Cross cut shredders cut paper into various sizes and lengths. The different cut patterns are referred to as “security levels,” sometimes referred to as DIN 32757 (the official definitions). The higher the security level, the more secure your shredded information will be.

The highest security level currently available is security level 6, which is almost dust. This security level is used by the military and government for top secret shredding. While most people will not need shredder security level that high, I wouldn’t recommend going with anything under a security level 3 if you can help it.

You can see detailed specifications on all paper shredder security levels by going here: http://www.abcoffice.com/shredder_guide.htm#security

You have more than likely experienced a jammed shredder in your lifetime. It could be from accidentally shredding too much paper, or if you’re like me, you simply like to push your shredder to the limit. Who hasn’t grabbed 30 sheets of paper and tried to run it through a shredder? Although that’s probably not such a good idea, regardless of the shredder you’re using, there is now a new line of shredders that tout the title of being “Jam Free.”

GBC, the makers of Shredmaster, recently released a new line of “jam-free” paper shredders. These new shredders have sensors that detect when too much paper is being fed through. The shredders will let you know, by means of a red LED, that too much paper is being fed through the machine. Simply cut down the sheets being fed and your off to shredding paper again. There are no jams, no grinding noises and no visits to the repair shop.

One thing I really like about these shredders, other than the “jam-free” capabilities, is that they look nice. They are easy on the eyes and aesthetically pleasing. They will easily fit right in into any office or home.

A few of the models include the:

RSX128

RDX1413 RDS1819 & RDX1619

These shredders are available in strip cut and cross cut designs. We have a wide selection of paper shredders available, so stop by and look at the entire selection. Happy shredding!

Over the past week or two, you have probably received at least one or two credit card applications. If you’re like most people, you probably throw them in the garbage. If you’re concerned about the application being stolen, you may tear the envelope in half or quarters.

This may put your mind at rest, but some ambitious criminals don’t mind using a little Scotch tape to patch things up. Taped credit card applications are often accepted regardless. Although tearing a credit card application up isn’t a bad idea, weeding out most ID thieves, it is not fraud proof. This is certainly better than doing nothing.

Although dumpster diving is legal in most states, what they do with that information can make it illegal. The best failsafe to prevent dumpster divers is by using a good cross cut shredder. I keep a shredder in my own home office and shred anything that has personal information or applications.

Shredders are great at home or in the office. I recommend having one in both places. The price of a shredder is nothing in comparison to damaged credit or identity theft. You can see our entire line of paper shredders by going here.

Have you ever considered recycling your shredded paper? Although recycling shredded paper, as compared to non-shredded paper, is more complicated, it can be done. Many people also use their shredded paper as compost.

If you have properly destroyed sensitive information, you can take those shredded particles and recycle them. If you shred a lot of paper, or work for a large business, you may want to consider a shredder baler. Shredder balers shred dozens of sheets of paper at once, compact the particles and bale them. The bale looks much like a bale of hay you would see at a farm.

Baled paper is very dense. It is easy to transport with a cart or a hand truck. The baled paper can be stored in a warehouse or loaded on a truck where it can later be recycled. One bale of paper, usually about the size of a box, contains the equivalent of several bags worth of shredded paper.

Shredder baler combinations vary in size. Some can fit in an office environment, where others will fill a small warehouse. Shred services often use shredder balers in their trucks due to the limited space. Shredder balers vary in the amount of papers they can shred at any given time. Some high-volume shredder baler combinations can shred up to 400 sheets of paper at once.

We are very excited about the addition of eight new Formax paper shredders to our lineup. We have sold Formax products for years. You may have heard of their popular folder inserters and paper folders. Due to our success in the paper shredder industry, we have been given almost exclusive distribution privileges.

We have had several Formax products set up on our display floor and I have had the chance to play around with the Formax FD8600CC. The first thing I noticed is how quiet the shredder is. The sound of the actual paper being shred is louder than the motor on this shredder. I have never heard a shredder so quiet. Because the Formax shredders are so quiet, they are perfect for use in areas where people are working. Compared to these shredders, comparable shredders sound like lawn mowers.

The shredders are made from durable solid metal. The menu on these shredders are very well laid out and easy to read. The mid to high-level shredders include a load indicator that let you know how much stress is being put on the motor. This helps you know whether or not you are putting too much paper into it. Putting the appropriate amounts of paper into a shredder will help prolong the shredder’s life.

I would highly recommend taking a look at the new shredders. If you are in need of a new shredder, you should try one of these out. I’m confident you’ll love it!

You have probably wondered at one time or another how effective shredding documents really is against identity theft. Although ¼-inch strip-cut shredding is the least effective method of shredding documents, most thieves won’t bother to try and tape the documents back together. They will simply skip that and go to another garbage or neighbor who doesn’t shred.

Why take the time to piece together strip-cut particles when you could easily go to the next location? Most thieves want to put forth as little effort as possible. For added security, it is generally recommended to use a cross-cut shredder. Cross-cut shredders create particles that are almost impossible to tape back together.

The reason I say almost is because some people are willing to take the time to try and tape documents back together. It is not the casual thief or the regular shredded material that I’m talking about. It is the thief interested in discovering corporate secrets or finding out top-secret information from the government that I’m referring to. It used to be generally accepted that a level 5 shredder (1 x 11 mm) was the best in shredding. Particles were believed to be impossible to decipher. It was later discovered that some data could still be read using a high-powered microscope.

After 9/11 it has become even more important for the government, Pentagon and military to shred top-secret documents. This led to the creation of the level 6 shredder (1 x 4 mm). This is now the standard for use by the government, Pentagon and military.

Some level six shredders shred paper down to particles as small as 0.07 x 2.6 mm. Although the U.S. military and government are the biggest consumer of top-secret shredders, large corporations also find the need to shred sensitive documents using sophisticated shredding methods. You can find all our level six shredders by going here. You can read about all six shredder levels by going here.

Since working for ABC Office, I have seen the demand for paper shredders grow significantly over the past several years. To help keep up with demand, we have increased our shredder line by adding the popular Fellowes brand paper shredders to our site. A total of 21 new shredders have been added. While all the shredders can handle paper, many of the new models can shred CDs, DVDs, credit cards and more. Come take a look at our new selection of Fellowes shredders by going here.

Document shredding is one of the most important ways you can protect your identity. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states, “To thwart a thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired credit or charge cards that you’re discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.

Take a look at our useful fraud prevention ideas and paper shredder recommendations by going here:

Shredder Guide

Fraud Prevention Guide

HIPAA

FACTA

For information about a paper shredder that may work for you, call toll-free (1-800-658-8788) Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. MST. A knowledgeable customer service representative can then assist with answering questions regarding shredders.

This coming June, a new law will go into effect that will require anyone who has one or more employees to properly destroy their personal information when being discarded. This new law is called the “Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act” (FACTA). Few people are aware of this new law and even fewer are aware of the penalties involved if it is not followed. This act is designed to protect private employee information. This is the biggest personal ID protection act issued since HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996).

A failure of employers to shred or destroy private employee information could result in a class-action lawsuit or government fines. Civil and state laws warrant up to $1,000 in fines per employee violation and federal law warrants up to $2,500 per violation. This important law can be followed and fines avoided by properly destroying this information with a paper shredder. Employers cannot afford to ignore this new act.

Identity theft is an ever-growing and increasing problem in the United States. Garbage, by law, is considered unprotected and is vulnerable to dumpster divers and thieves. This means employers cannot throw employee information in the garbage and consider it properly discarded.

This new law applies to all employees, even if you have just one. This means that yard workers, cleaners and nannies apply to this new rule as well.

One of the best means of destroying personal information is by using a paper shredder.

Strip-cut shredders are still the preferred method of shredding, but cross-cut shredders are quickly growing in popularity. This is due, in part, to the fact that strip-cut shredders have been around longer. Strip cut shredders, especially over-the-can shredders, typically shred paper into ¼-inch strips. These strips, although hard to decipher, can still be reassembled. Cross-cut, or confetti-cut, shredders make it next to impossible to reassemble shredded documents.

On February 14th, we sent a paper shredder survey to our customers to inquire about paper shredder use, identity theft and shredder trends. As a result of the survey, we received over 200 responses. The results of the survey are very interesting, showing what people think about identity theft and the importance of paper shredders.

Identity theft is an ever-increasing problem in the United States. The ability to create alternate identities, sign up for credit cards and abuse individuals’ identities is easier than ever for criminals. Receipts, mail and personal information are just some of the methods used to steal one’s identity. Out of 211 respondents,
22 people had been the victim of identity theft. That is over 10 percent of those interviewed.

This coming June, a new law will go into effect that will require anyone who has one or more employees to destroy their personal information. It surprised us to see that only 13 percent of those surveyed were aware of this new regulation.

Not surprising, over 70 percent of those surveyed feel that it is definitely important to destroy personal information. Because dumpster diving is perfectly legal, anything thrown in the garbage is fair game. Seventy-eight percent of those interviewed own a paper shredder. Fifty-one percent say they use their
shredder on a daily basis. Paper shredders help destroy sensitive information. When dumpster diving, criminals tend to go for the easy find. If paper is shredded, the difficulty of putting the pieces back together is enough of a deterrent to make shredding worthwhile.

Strip-cut shredders are still the preferred method of shredding, but cross-cut shredders are quickly growing in popularity. This is due, in part, to the fact that strip-cut shredders have been around longer. Forty-eight percent of those surveyed own a cross cut shredder. Strip cut shredders, especially over-the-can shredders, typically shred paper into ¼-inch strips. These strips, although hard to decipher, can still be reassembled. Cross-cut, or confetti-cut, shredders make it next to impossible to reassemble shredded documents.

The entire ABC Office paper shredder survey can be viewed by going here.

You can learn more about paper shredders, the different types and what they do by reading our paper shredder guide.