| Paper shredders are used in a number of | | | | above the manufacturer's recommendations; if |
| situations. Doctors, dentists, and psychologists use | | | | they are overused or used improperly, they can |
| them to protect their clients' private medical | | | | burn out quickly. |
| information. Private citizens use them to destroy | | | | Paper shredders can only be used for a certain |
| papers that contain important financial information. | | | | amount of time before they need to be rested. |
| Businesses use them to protect themselves from | | | | The length of time depends on the particular |
| corporate espionage and information theft. Paper | | | | shredder. Most instruction manuals that come with |
| shredders cost between $15 and $130, depending | | | | the shredders have this type of information. For |
| on their features. | | | | example, some top of the line models can work |
| There are a large number of paper shredders on | | | | for 10 to 12 minutes before needing to be turned |
| the market. The two main types are strip cut and | | | | off for 20 minutes. Other models can work for as |
| cross cut. Strip cut paper shredders slice the | | | | little as two minutes at a time before needing to |
| paper into thin vertical ribbons. They are good in | | | | be turned off for four minutes. |
| many situations, but they are not recommended | | | | Another feature that differs between types of |
| for people requiring maximum security. Cross cut | | | | paper shredders is the number of sheets that it |
| paper shredders cut documents into tiny bits of | | | | can take at once. The "throat size," or size of the |
| paper that are nearly impossible to reassemble. | | | | opening where the paper is fed, varies between |
| Cross cut paper shredders are generally better | | | | models. Some can handle up to 9 sheets at once, |
| than strip shredders for high security situations, | | | | but most can take about 5. It is recommended |
| but they are also more expensive. | | | | that people feed a little less than the maximum in |
| Another thing to consider when buying a paper | | | | order to keep the machine working properly. Also, |
| shredder is how much it will be used. Different | | | | the dimensions of the opening need to be |
| paper shredders are built to handle different | | | | considered. It is better not to have to fold a |
| amounts of paper at a time and to operate for | | | | sheet of paper in order to get it to fit into the |
| different lengths of time before needing a break. | | | | shredder. Most shredders can accommodate |
| It is important not to use the paper shredder | | | | sheets of paper around 9 inches long. |