MyBinding Knowledge Base
Are there different levels of security when it comes to a shredder?
If you have been looking at different shredders and are confused about the different levels of shredder security you are not alone. Unfortunately, there is no single standard for measuring the level of security of a paper shredder. This has led each manufacturer to come up with their own terminology for describing the security that their shredders offer. As you can imagine, this makes measuring the security of shredders across different brands very difficult. This article is designed to help you determine the security level of any shredder no matter who the manufacturer is.
Before we look at the different types of shredders, there is one important thing to remember when considering the security of any particular shredder. No matter who the manufacturer of the shredder is, the smaller the particles that it produces the higher the security is. With this in mind, there are four main types of paper shredders available on the market.
- Strip-Cut Shredders: A strip-cut shredder is the least secure type of shredder available on the market. These shredders cut documents into long strips of paper. Depending on the model of strip cut shredder that you choose, the width of the strips will vary somewhat. The narrower the strips, the higher the security.
- Cross-Cut Shredders: These shredders cut documents into small chips. These shredders are sometimes called confetti cut shredders. Some companies also refer to these as diamond cut machines. Cross-cut shredders cut documents into long strips and then cut the long strips into little sections. Again, the smaller the chips that the shredder produces, the higher the security that it offers.
- Micro-Cut Shredders: A micro-cut shredder is actually just a variety of a cross cut shredder. Micro-cut shredders cut shredders into smaller particles than standard cross-cut shredding machines. The smaller particles offer higher levels of security and make it much more difficult to reassemble documents after they have been shredded.
- DOD / NSA High Security Shredders: The highest level of security in shredding is offered by DOD / NSA high security shredders. High security, classified government offices are required to use these types of shredders in their facilities. These shredders cut documents into such small pieces that it is virtually impossible to reassemble them afterwards. These shredders are the most expensive but also the most secure.
< Over the years, a number of customers have asked me whether they can use twin loop wire with their plastic comb binding machine. These customers often don’t want to have to buy a brand new machine but like the look and feel of twin loop wire binding. However, the answer to their question isn’t as simple as it seems. You see, they actually do make twin loop wire that is designed to work with the plastic comb binding hole pattern. With that said, if you want to use these wires you are going to need a way to close the wires. What is Spiral-O Wire? Let me explain a little bit more…There is a product that we carry called Spiral-O Wire. This wire has 19 loops and is designed to work with the hole pattern from a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O Wire is sometimes called Wire Combs or Ibico Wire and was originally designed for use with some of the older Ibico binding machines. A number of the older Ibico plastic comb binding machines also included a twin loop wire closer on the front of them to allow users to use both plastic combs and wire. This 19 loop wire was designed for this purpose. What Equipment is Needed? As the Ibico brand has been phased out by GBC and all of the older Ibico plastic binding machines have been replaced with new models, they no longer have the twin loop wire closer on the front of them. This presents a problem in trying to use these spiral-o wires since you can’t use the wires without a way to close them. One of the only options left is to purchase a Twin Loop wire closer. However, since twin loop wire closers are not incredibly cheap this option usually only appeals to users who have larger electric plastic comb binding machines. Otherwise, it is often advisable to simply buy a low end 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine (the supplies are cheaper). This being said, if you have one of the older Ibico binding machines that has a wire closer included you are in luck. The Spiral-O binding supplies that we carry will work perfectly with your machine and you will be able to use both plastic combs and wire depending on your needs. These Spiral-O binding supplies are available in Black, Silver, White, Blue and Red and in sizes up to 1″ in diameter. If you aren’t sure what type of wire binding supplies that you need to work with your machine simply give us a call. Our trained sales representatives will be glad to help you find the correct supplies for use with your machine.(Read More)
