ASSESS YOUR POWER NEEDS Cross-cut and micro-cut shredders cut paper
Because people tend to shred twice as much into secure particles more than 89 percent
as they think they will, they often choose an smaller than strip-cut shreds and are virtually
underpowered shredder and end up frustrated impossible to reassemble and read.
by its inability to keep up with their work flow.
Choose a shredder based on sheet capacity,
machine speed per shred and power rating,
which is the amount of paper a machine can
shred before the motor needs to rest (one
cycle). Though a shredder may have a high
sheet capacity per pass, it may not run very
long or very fast—which means you get little
power or value for your dollar.
Select a shredder that’s powerful enough to
destroy credit-card offers, unopened junk mail
and even CDs.
ASSESS YOUR SECURITY RISK
Security level is determined by cut type. A
strip-cut shredder typically slices paper into
1/4-inch strips. Though strip cutters are better
than tearing by hand, identity thieves could
still reassemble and read your information.
CONSIDER ANY SPECIAL NEEDS
Because paper shredders have become more
common in businesses and households, concerns have been raised about shredder safety.
Look for brands with built-in safety features
such as sensors that automatically stop a
shredder from shredding if a user comes in
contact with the paper opening.
If you have owned a shredder before, you are
probably aware of features you are looking to
improve upon in your next model. Jamming
or noise may have been a frustration with
your previous shredder. Consider choosing a
shredder with an anti-jam feature to prevent
jams and ensure quiet operation.
If emptying shredded waste neatly is a problem, choose a shredder with a pull-out bin for
hassle-free waste disposal.
TIPS &TRICKS
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SHARPEN THEIR FOCUS
IT’S TOUGH AT the best of times to keep
younger students focused: They will look for
any excuse to get up and move around the
classroom. Young students are fascinated by
pencil sharpeners, and have a tendency to
spend a great amount of time sharpening
their pencils. They will then break the pencil
lead and need to sharpen again.
To stop this distraction, sharpen a bunch of
pencils and keep them on your desk, in a
flowerpot or a decorative cup. Once a day
have one child come into the classroom early
and take on the task of sharpening the class
pencils. Sharpening 20 or more pencils in
one sitting will soon have that pupil losing
his or her appetite for this chore! A
