When it comes to buying a shredder machine, the choice between getting a cross-cut and micro-cut paper shredder is often not clear-cut. Nevertheless, cross-cut shredders are rated P-3 and P-4, providing a medium level of security, whereas micro-cut shredders provide a high level of security by shredding paper into extremely small fragments that cannot be pieced back together. Both methods are great for shredding different types and levels of documents and ensuring that no one can access them. However, there are subtle differences between the two that should be taken into consideration when selecting the most suitable shredder for your office:
Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
Cross-cut shredders are ideal for tasks that require the shredding of documents containing any type of information. This is the most common type of paper shredder used by most businesses, and it is also the most reliable for most users. Cross-cut shredders usually have rectangular teeth that cut through the innermost part of a piece of paper, thereby reducing its size and making it harder to re-use in any way possible afterwards.
There are two main types of cross-cut paper shredders: with and without rotating drums. Cross-cut paper shredders with a rotating drum are suitable for more demanding users who want easy cross-cut shredding, while cross-cut paper shredders without a rotating drum are suitable for users who want to save space and don’t mind manually shredding their papers. They can also be equipped with feeding mechanisms that make shredding a large quantity of paper much easier.
Micro Cut Paper Shredder
Micro-cut shredders are exactly what they sound like. They let you shred paper into very small, confetti-like pieces. These shredding machines make cuts throughout the whole sheet of paper, reducing its size and destroying the original paper piece entirely. Similar to cross-cut paper shredders, micro-cut paper shredders are also available in two variations: with and without a rotating drum.
Differences between crosscut and micro-cut shredding
Cross-cut shredders have cutting mechanisms that break down paper documents into thin little strips. On the other hand, micro-cut shredders have extremely small cutting mechanisms that break down the paper into many tiny pieces that are often impossible to piece together. Cross-cut shredders are best used for any type of document that you wish to keep private or have no desire to reuse at all. On the other hand, micro-cut shredders are best used for destroying sensitive and confidential documents, such as those related to your business, family, or personal life.
These shredders also have two different feeding mechanisms. Cross-cut shredders have a feeder and a take-up reel that work together to feed paper into the machine. Micro-cut shredders, on the other hand, use a slot-feeding mechanism to feed paper into the machine from the front or side, depending on the model. This is why cross-cut shredders are also known as “conventional” shredders, and micro-cut shredders are also known as “high-security” shredders.
Micro-cut paper shredders are often much smaller and more secure than cross-cut shredders. In contrast, cross-cut shredding machines are much larger and less discrete, but they are usually cheaper than micro-cut shredders.
Which one is better?
The choice between a cross-cut or micro-cut shredder depends on your specific needs and the level of security required. But if you need more help and guidance in finding the right shredder, click here.
Cross-cut shredders are capable of shredding documents into small, rectangular strips, offering a medium level of security. They can, however, shred a large amount of paper in a single go. Cross-cut paper shredders are often less expensive and can be more commonly seen in office settings than micro-cut shredders.
On the other hand, micro-cut shredding machines provide a higher level of security as they can do an even better job of reducing paper into smaller pieces that cannot be reconstructed. This also means that the volume of paper is significantly reduced compared to cross-cut shredders. Micro-cut paper shredders are also less noisy and use less energy.
Final words
When it comes to securely destroying paper documents, cross-cut and micro-cut paper shredders both have advantages and disadvantages. Cross-cut shredders are typically cheaper and can shred a lot of paper in one go, but they are not recommended for shredding highly confidential documents. Micro-cut shredders provide a higher level of security than cross-cut paper shredders and may also be able to shred non-paper items such as credit cards. The two shredding techniques suit different scenarios according to the required levels of security in an office environment.
