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