I don’t have a ton of stuff to shred, but I don’t want to throw the old bank statements in the trash, because they have my full account number on them. I am surprised they still do that, as most banks just put the last few digits.
I switched to paperless quite a while back, but now I need to get rid of some old stuff. I might even attack the rat’s nest in my husband’s office, at some point.
It would all be paper. No plastic or anything like CDs.
I have some Amazon gift card credits, so that would be the preferred vendor.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

We just used an Amazonbasic in my office at the school. There was a lot of shredding and it did fine. I think it had a 12-sheet crosscut feed.

You can also burn the papers or soak them in water for a day, then stir. No cost involved in those options

---

“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

Quote
Ombligo
We just used an Amazonbasic in my office at the school. There was a lot of shredding and it did fine. I think it had a 12-sheet crosscut feed.

You can also burn the papers or soak them in water for a day, then stir. No cost involved in those options

Good to know. One thing I miss about going to the office is dropping my junk mail in the work shred bins!

---

San Antonio, TX (in the old city)


"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke
“Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Eli Weisel

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt (1918)

"I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it." - Billy Graham 1981

"Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise" - Barry Goldwater

Quote
Ombligo
We just used an Amazonbasic in my office at the school. There was a lot of shredding and it did fine. I think it had a 12-sheet crosscut feed.

You can also burn the papers or soak them in water for a day, then stir. No cost involved in those options

I have done the burn thing, back when we had a real yard, lol, but I can’t really do that now in the townhouse.
Soaking would be an option, but then I have a big wet mess to deal with, so I’ll probs go for the Amazon Basic since you say it is decent.
Thanks.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2022 11:31AM by rgG.

I have an Amazon Basics 12 sheet cross cut. Does a great job for the money. It's outlasted every other shredder that I've owned.

Edit: Newer version of what I have



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2022 12:22PM by macphanatic.

The two things that make for successful shredding in my experience are:
-don't try to shred too much at once. Check the heat of the motor by touching it, and use about half the capacity suggested in the instructions. So for a 12 sheet shredder use six sheets. Avoid staples and brads.
-lubricate the shredder blades with a little oil about every five uses. Canola oil works well, but a dispenser is only about $3 (https://www.amazon.com/Fellowes-35250-Powershred-Performance-Extension/dp/B00006I58N). They also make lubricant coated sheets to feed through the shredder.

If it's just a few random things you still get by snail mail to shred there are these shredder scissors to consider for under $10. There are more expensive models for cutting herbs.

I'm amazed at how little paper we have to shred anymore now that my wife has weaned us off paper statements.

---

I had good experience with a GBC brand medium duty shredder that was purchased for the office where I worked. So far it has survived use by staff lacking common sense who would feed large amounts of paper, filled the bin too full, etc. I have heard good remarks about their lower capacity, home models as well.

But as fromish has posted, they all last longer if you keep to shredding at most half the nominal capacity of sheets of paper at a time. Also most home use shredders have a limited duty cycle, a few minutes of shredding that needs to be followed by 15-30 minutes of cool down time. Observe that or the motor will burn out early.

As for shredder lubrication, some suggest vegetable oils, but in my experience that may gum up after a while. The do sell synthetic oil specifically for lubricating shredder blades, it doesn't gum up. What I liked about the GBC office shredder was that it had a reservoir for the oil, just had to fill it every couple months or so. Don't know if any of their home use/small office shredders include one.

So, these ones that cut off after 3 minutes, then have to sit for 30, how would I ever get through a stack of paper?
If I just go slowly, will it work longer before shutting down?

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Quote
rgG
So, these ones that cut off after 3 minutes, then have to sit for 30, how would I ever get through a stack of paper?
If I just go slowly, will it work longer before shutting down?

You just need to work in batches. I looked up one shredder's manual, it was rated for 4 minutes continuous, then 20 minutes of cool down. So it may work well if you shredder for a minutes or two, waited a bit and then repeated. A total of about 8-10 minutes shredding an hour.

Some shredders have a thermal breaker that will cut power and reset after cooling down. Depends on the model

Also, GBC is now owned by ACCO, they also sell shredders under the Swingline brandname they own as well.

Quote
JoeH

Quote
rgG
So, these ones that cut off after 3 minutes, then have to sit for 30, how would I ever get through a stack of paper?
If I just go slowly, will it work longer before shutting down?

You just need to work in batches. I looked up one shredder's manual, it was rated for 4 minutes continuous, then 20 minutes of cool down. So it may work well if you shredder for a minutes or two, waited a bit and then repeated. A total of about 8-10 minutes shredding an hour.

Some shredders have a thermal breaker that will cut power and reset after cooling down. Depends on the model

Also, GBC is now owned by ACCO, they also sell shredders under the Swingline brandname they own as well.

Thanks for the info.
I thought maybe it worked like that, but wasn’t sure. Maybe I can just have the stack of paper sitting around near the kitchen or somewhere and shred a few batches whenever I walk by. Lol

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

If you do 6 sheets at a time and it takes about 10 seconds to chew those, you can do 36 sheets per minute, and 144 sheets in 4 minutes before needing to cool down.

Every so often, one of the local banks has a "shred event" where you can take papers in to be shredded by a huge machine - they ask for a small "donation" - if you have a lot to do, it is worth checking out.

Quote
vicrock
Every so often, one of the local banks has a "shred event" where you can take papers in to be shredded by a huge machine - they ask for a small "donation" - if you have a lot to do, it is worth checking out.

Yeah, that is another option, but I would like to just do it as I go through it. I don't have a lot, but the rat's nest down the hall, well......

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Quote
GGD
If you do 6 sheets at a time and it takes about 10 seconds to chew those, you can do 36 sheets per minute, and 144 sheets in 4 minutes before needing to cool down.

True. I think I may have to just get one and see how it goes. This stuff has been lying around for several years, so really, a few more days, weeks, won't matter. Lol

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

I've got an older Fellows 11-sheet cross-cut shredder that's — ok.

My 'work flow' for shredding is to get a stack of papers, etc., and sort and feed as I work my way through the stack.

This keeps the shredders heat sensor from shutting it down, most of the time.

The motor gets warm but never hot.

There's no continuous ON, so the motor stops and has a chance to cool or not get hotter while I sift through for the next sacrifice.

I don't feel all paper into the shredder to ease the wear on the motor and blades.

Light 'office' staples are allowed to go through as those are few and far between.

I use Rem Oil to lubricate the blades, because I have a fair amount of it.

The only nit I have is that I don't like removable bins.

I've found them messy and fiddly to work with.

An older shedder, with a monster motor, sits on top of a bin and I like that much better, but it's not a cross cut, and though I don't need NSA security levels, cross-cut is a box that likes to be ticked.

If I could 're-shred' the first pass, I'd still use it.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

How many pounds do you have?

Office Depot/Officemax has a same-day shredding service for 99¢/lb

---

“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

This is the one I got last year:
[www.amazon.com]

It's very quiet, and has a nonstop 60-minute continuous run time. It's also very quiet compared to our last one.

Quote
Ombligo
How many pounds do you have?

Office Depot/Officemax has a same-day shredding service for 99¢/lb

Right now I don’t have that much, but the “rat’s nest” could produce a fair amount. Lol
I would prefer to be able to do it as I get around to it, which is likely on Sunday when hubby is watching something on TV that I can do without.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Haha. The problem WE have is what to do with the shredded stuff after its shredded. We're not allowed to put it in the recyclable bin.

---

Quote
bazookaman
Haha. The problem WE have is what to do with the shredded stuff after its shredded. We're not allowed to put it in the recyclable bin.

That seems crazy. It’s just paper. I’ll have to check and see if our recycler makes any mention of it.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Quote
rgG

Quote
bazookaman
Haha. The problem WE have is what to do with the shredded stuff after its shredded. We're not allowed to put it in the recyclable bin.

That seems crazy. It’s just paper. I’ll have to check and see if our recycler makes any mention of it.

Ours specifically tells you to wait for free shredding "events", or to just put in the regular garbage. Nice.

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Quote
bazookaman
Haha. The problem WE have is what to do with the shredded stuff after its shredded. We're not allowed to put it in the recyclable bin.

Ours is the same. We just throw it out with the regular trash.

Quote
bazookaman

Quote
rgG

Quote
bazookaman
Haha. The problem WE have is what to do with the shredded stuff after its shredded. We're not allowed to put it in the recyclable bin.

That seems crazy. It’s just paper. I’ll have to check and see if our recycler makes any mention of it.

Ours specifically tells you to wait for free shredding "events", or to just put in the regular garbage. Nice.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Another vote for AmazonBasics. I've gone through several bins of shredding so far and it's been fine. Will be ordering the aforementioned shredder lube however as I recall the instructions mentioning that should be done.

Quote
bazookaman
Haha. The problem WE have is what to do with the shredded stuff after its shredded. We're not allowed to put it in the recyclable bin.

I just dump it into our compost bin outside, or the fire pit.

rgC,

If you're going to buy a shredder, buy one that is worth the bucks. The lower cost small quantity of sheet shredders don't cut it in my experience. Had too many of them go kablooey. Switched to better models from Fellowes and never looked back. The ones I've had have lasted decades.

My mom's older model just kicked the bucket a month or two ago. Got her this:

Fellowes Powershred 79CI Cross-Cut Shredder

[www.walmart.com]

Expensive, yes, but rock solid and well worth the bucks. Other people have the same model. I have an older version of it.

One of the key to shredder longevity is to not overload the feeder, use it in short bursts, oil the teeth properly and clean it properly. This goes for any shredder.

Robert

Quote
bazookaman
Haha. The problem WE have is what to do with the shredded stuff after its shredded. We're not allowed to put it in the recyclable bin.

I will have to check if it has changed here. When I last checked a few years ago the town recycling would accept shredded paper as long as it was in a sealed paper bag and marked as shredded paper.

Quote
JoeH

Quote
bazookaman
Haha. The problem WE have is what to do with the shredded stuff after its shredded. We're not allowed to put it in the recyclable bin.

I will have to check if it has changed here. When I last checked a few years ago the town recycling would accept shredded paper as long as it was in a sealed paper bag and marked as shredded paper.

I'm not sure why, but thats how we bagged all ours up. Regardless they don't take it at all now.

---

My shreds go out with the garbage.

I called the waste management company and they said no to recycling, because not all paper is recyclable, and too much non-paper content gets shredded.

Sounds reasonable to me, but I don't know for certain.

But they say no, and that's fine with me.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Quote
bazookaman

Quote
JoeH

Quote
bazookaman
Haha. The problem WE have is what to do with the shredded stuff after its shredded. We're not allowed to put it in the recyclable bin.

I will have to check if it has changed here. When I last checked a few years ago the town recycling would accept shredded paper as long as it was in a sealed paper bag and marked as shredded paper.

I'm not sure why, but thats how we bagged all ours up. Regardless they don't take it at all now.

I checked, and now they don't take bagged shredded paper. The list was updated along with a new contract last year for operation of the regional recycling facility the state created back in the '90s. Current contract is with WMI to operate it.

Edit: I went through their links to the updated graphic on what is accepted and what not to put in the recycling bins. A lot of changes were made effective July 2020. The list of unacceptable material is much more extensive, but they will now take clear plastic cups as long as they are not marked "compostable". They didn't want cups at all before that. In general everyone should check for updates from their local recycling programs on what they will take.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2022 11:31AM by JoeH.

Ours wants shredded paper bagged/tied in CLEAR plastic bags in the recycling bin. They sort everything so I imagine seeing the contents helps and bagging keeps it from mixing in with everything else.

Quote
macphanatic
I have an Amazon Basics 12 sheet cross cut. Does a great job for the money. It's outlasted every other shredder that I've owned.

Edit: Newer version of what I have

Proabably more than the OP needs, but I bought that exact "newer" version last spring, and it has been great. Was replacing a 10 year old Fellowes that wasn't the best. Spent a good couple days reading reviews and a few weeks debating on spending more. Glad I went with this one.