Dahle 20634EC Level 6 Cross Cut High Security Paper Shredder

In order to protect national security, the NSA has set very high guidelines for document destruction standards in government and military agencies. Dahle's line of high security shredders meet or exceed these requirements in order to provide ideal shredders for extremely sensitive material. Their 20634ec model is designed for use in an office setting. Here's what you should know about this high security shredder.

Strengths:

• This shredder is easy to operate, thanks to the fully electronic controls. A sensor detects items in the feed and turns the blades on and off accordingly. The motor shuts off when the shred bag is full, preventing back end jams as well as notifying the user so it can be changed quickly. For an added safety measure, the automatic off also kicks in when the cabinet door is open to prevent fingers from coming into contact with the blades. And finally, the auto reverse function helps to prevent overfed paper from jamming the blades.

• The powerful motor uses a chain drive system to connect to the blades, resulting in slip-free power. It offers continuous use so you can shred all day without encountering frequent cool down periods.

• Solid steel cutting shafts sit on rubber shock mounts to provide hushed operation. The sound output is around 51 decibels, which is about the noise level of an average home. Most likely the use of this machine won't disrupt your office.

• A 10.25 inch throat easily accepts up to 12 sheets of paper and shreds them as fast as 26 feet per minute. The sharp cross cutting blades convert full size documents into tiny pieces only 1mm by 4.7mm. A standard sheet of paper is turned into about 15,5000 particles, completely impossible to reassemble. These miniscule bits provide a high level 6 security rating and exceed the NSA's standards for document destruction.

• Paper remnants fall into a large 16 gallon bin. The container is housed in a wooden cabinet, which also helps to reduce the noise by absorbing some of the sound waves. The cabinet is mounted on casters for easier mobility.

• Dahle provides a one year warranty on the blades and two year coverage on parts and labor.

Weaknesses:

• The blades can only take in paper, no staples, paperclips or anything else. While it may be tedious to remove those items, the security is generally worth it. If you don't need this much security, the 20614ec provides medium security while also taking in staples, paperclips, and credit cards.

• It's recommended that this shredder be oiled for every 15 minutes of use. Unless you want to be constantly oiling your machine, we would highly recommend you get the optional automatic oil injection system. This shredder is pre-wired for the system and will save you the hassle. The cutting heads will be lubricated as needed and your machine will last longer.

The Dahle 20634ec is clearly an ideal system for high security office shredding. It is especially useful in government and military agencies, research labs, and other high security facilities. With such a high security rating and multiple beneficial features, all top secret documents will stay safely destroyed while you enjoy the convenience of simple, quiet shredding. The 20634ec is an excellent choice for your next high-security office shredder.