Paper Shredder FAQ

Question 1
Is security an issue when dealing with paper shredding contractors?

Question 2
Is it cheaper to use a paper shredding contractor?

Question 3
Do contractors use less secure equipment?

Question 4
Does in-house paper shredding send a better message to one's employees?

Question 5
Can you help me with a survey of what paper shredder I require for my business?

Question 6
How to use shredder oil?

Question 7
How often do I need to oil my shredder?

Question 8
What is the decibel range for a personal shredder, office shredder, department shredder and industrial shredder?

Question 9
How much will you shred each day?

Question 10
What are the Paper Shredder Security Levels?

Is security an issue when dealing with paper shredding contractors?

No matter which contractor you hire, you will still be dealing with an outsider. Will you need to send someone to watch the contractor do the paper shredding? What type of people does the contractor hire? Does he service his equipment when it has a break down? What does the contractor's "Certificate of Destruction" actually say?

Most organizations have concluded that paper shredding in-house with your own staff gives you total accountability and protection.

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Is it cheaper to use a paper shredding contractor?

In the long run, using a paper shredding contractor is more expensive.

Every time the truck arrives, you can expect to pay several hundred dollars. Multiply that number by 100 and then count the zeros! That's what you can expect to spend over eight years with monthly scheduled visits. The payback on in house shredding is very quick in most cases.

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Do contractors use less secure equipment?

Paper shredders come in many different sizes and security levels, from 1/2" wide strips to high security crosscut models used by the Department of Defense. The contractors' paper shredders are usually set for wide strips for maximum speed. Are you satisfied with that??? Can you protect your business and your employees with a 1/2" wide strip?

If you had in-house paper shredders you would determine what security level you are comfortable with...Even different departments could be protected by different levels of shred size .

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Does in-house paper shredding send a better message to one's employees?

The worse thing your employee can see is a pile of confidential papers lying out in the open waiting for the contractor to arrive. Not only does this entice someone to read them, but it also is NOT protecting your employees or your business from the competition or someone determined to harm your company.

On the other hand; the company that purchases several paper shredders is sending a message to the employees that company information is confidential!!!

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Can you help me with a survey of what paper shredder I require for my business?

Sure, contact us via email or by telephone and one of our certified paper shredder specialists will walk you thru the evaluation process.

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How to use shredder oil?

Shredder oil is highly recommended on all crosscut shredders. Only shredder oil may be used to lubricate the shredder cylinders. Any other lubricant or oil used will void the manufacturer's warranty. In other words, you may not use WD-40^®. To use shredder oil: simply spread a small amount of shredder oil on one piece of paper in a zig zag motion. Make sure to lightly spread oil all over the sheet. NOTE: You do NOT need to soak the paper in oil. The next step is to turn on the shredder and feed the paper that has the oil into the shredder. That's it!

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How often do I need to oil my shredder?

You should oil your crosscut shredder on a regular basis. If you are shredding a small quantity such as only 50 sheets a week or if you are using a small shredder, then you should oil your shredder every other day. If you are shredding a large quantity such as hundreds of sheets, then oil after 30 minutes of usage or after you empty the bag.

NOTE: Do not use excessive amounts of oil! If you are still uncertain as to how much or how often you should oil it, please call us at (800) 203 -0233 and we will be more than happy to help!

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What is the decibel range for a personal shredder, office shredder, department shredder and industrial shredder?

Our paper shredders are whisper quiet and are much softer then equipment around the office.

For example, most personal, office, and department shredders are below 80 dB. Below are some examples of decibel ranges:

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How much will you shred each day?

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What are the Paper Shredder Security Levels?

P-1, P-2 Security Level 1 (for shredding general internal documents):
StripCut - 3/8" Crosscut - between 3/8" x 1-1/2" and 3/8" and 3-1/8"

P-3 Security Level 2 (for shredding sensitive internal documents):
StripCut - 1/8"

P-4 Security Level 3 (for shredding confidential documents):
Crosscut - 1/8" x 2" or 5/32" x 1 13/16"
FACTA Compliant type paper shredder

P-5 Security Level 4 (for shredding secret documents):
Crosscut - 1/8" x 1 1/8"
FACTA Compliant type paper shredder

P-6 Security Level 5 (for shredding of extremely confidential documents):
Crosscut - 1/16" x 5/8" or 1/32" x 7/16"
FACTA Compliant type paper shredder, maybe excessive, depending on confidentiality level

P-7 High Security Level 6 (Approved by the NSA/CSS for top secret shredding):
1mm x 4mm or .8mm x 4.5mm approved NSA/CSS 02-01 shred size
Crosscut - FACTA Compliant type paper shredder, maybe excessive, depending level of confidentiality of information

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