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