What are the Main Differences Between Cross Cut and Strip Cut Paper Shredders?

Once you've decided to buy a paper shredder, thewaste takes up less room. This means that you
next step is determining which type of paper shredderchange bags less, which increases productivity. In fact,
you should buy. While there is no single perfect solutioncross-cut models will often produce two thirds less
for everyone, this article provides a comparison ofwaste volume than strip-cut models.
cross cut and strip cut shredding machines so that youMaintenance is also an important aspect of choosing a
can make a decision that is right for your life and yourpaper shredder. The good news is that paper
needs.shredder maintenance is simply a matter of oiling the
The first thing most people want to know about amachine. Paper shredder oil is inexpensive, and both
shredder is which kind provides the most security. Thetypes of shredders use the same oil. Cross-cut models
short answer to that question is that cross cutneed to oiled after 30 minutes of shredding. Strip-cut
models(also known as confetti cut, diamond cut ormachines can go twice as long before being oiled. If
micro cut) provide a much more secure cut than stripyou don't oil your paper shredder, you could end up
cut shredders. Because of recent developments inburning out the motor and replacing the machine. Oiling
technology, there are now software programs thatyour machine will enhance its performance and
can recreate information from paper shreds. Cross cutlongevity. As a general rule, the smaller the particles
shredders make it much more difficult to piecethat your machine produces the more that it will need
shredded information back together. If you handleto be oiled.
extremely sensitive papers, you should look into aOf course, price is an important factor in choosing any
document destruction solution that has been approvedpiece of office equipment. In general, confetti-cut
by the Department of Defense or the Nationalmachines cost about ten percent more than
Security Agency. These high-security paper shreddersstraight-cut models. However, remember that confetti
offer the highest level of protection for your sensitivecut machines are also a little slower than straight cut
data and cut your documents into such small particlessystems. This means that you may want to look at a
that they are virtually impossible to ever reassemble.machine with a slightly bigger motor, which could end
Another consideration in choosing a paper shredder isup costing you about 25% more.
its speed and capacity. Equipped with identical motors,One thing that both cross cut and strip cut shredders
a strip cut model will work faster and accept morehave in common is that they are each available in a
sheets than a cross cut machine. Because the cut isvariety of capacities. Shredders range in capacity from
simpler, shredding is faster.shredding a single sheet at a time to handling over 500
Many paper shredders are equipped with bags tosheets at once.
handle waste as soon as documents are shredded.Choose a paper shredder based on the volume and
An additional way in which cross cut shredders differsensitivity of paper you need to shred, your
from strip cut paper shredders is in the volume ofcommitment to maintenance and waste disposal, and
waste (paper shreds) each creates. Because crossyour budget.
cut shredders shred the paper into smaller pieces, their