No, shredders can do much more. In addition to paper from DIN A4 to DIN A2 size, they can also shred the following things:

• Documents including paper clips.
• Credit cards (often via a special slot).
• Storage media, such as floppy disks.
• CDs.
• DVDs.

Shredders that can shred such things are usually of very good quality and in a high price segment. Shredders from a discounter can usually not cope with such high requirements.

This depends on which security level you prefer for your shredder. The strip cut is found in shredders that are in the lower security segment. I recommend these shredders more for home use, to shred letters or just paper. They have a lower security level because the paper is only cut into strips, so it would be possible for a layman to puzzle them back together. Furthermore, it is usually not possible to destroy CDs or DVDs with such a shredder. Another disadvantage is that there is still quite a lot of waste volume left behind.

However, these devices work very quietly and are easy to operate with only one switch. In addition, they have compact dimensions so that they do not take up too much space.

The cross cut is found in devices that have a higher security level. They cut the paper not only vertically, but also horizontally, so that only confetti remains. It is almost impossible to put this back together again.

Shredders with a particle cut and a high security level are therefore something for companies, offices and private individuals who attach particular importance to data protection.

But of course there are also disadvantages with these devices: They are quite loud in operation and significantly more expensive to purchase than shredders with a strip cut.

In addition, you will certainly come across the term micro-cut during your research. This term belongs to the cross cut and is only a term for an ultra-fine cut.

This usually depends on the size of the shredder. Small and medium-sized devices can usually shred ten to twenty pages of documents at a time. Large shredders, on the other hand, can shred up to 30 pages at a time, plus CDs and DVDs.

Shredders designed specifically for businesses and offices can shred 50 pages at a time and even cardboard and entire paper files. In addition, they can usually also destroy large-format papers such as DIN A3.

Industrial shredders, which are usually used in large office buildings, can even shred 100 to 2,100 kilograms per hour. They shred not only paper, but also entire files and metal inserts.

The capacity of shredders varies from five to 150 litres. So the size of the box determines how often you need to empty it.

Shredders with a small collection capacity of five to 15 litres are useful for home use. As soon as you use it on a daily basis, such as in a two-person office, it is necessary for it to have a volume of 15 to 40 litres. For open space offices, you should go for a shredder with a collection volume of between 40 and 150 litres.

The security level of a document shredder provides information about the extent to which papers or data media are destroyed and made unrecognisable.

Basically, there are three protection classes for shredders, to which different security levels are assigned. These security levels provide you with information about the extent to which documents, paper and data media are destroyed.

A shredder with a low security level therefore tends to shred worse than a shredder with a high security level.

In this case, I advise you to alternate the reverse and forward functions. This will usually solve the problem. If this is not the case, a light pull on the paper can be promising.

If both methods are unsuccessful, disconnect the shredder from the power supply and carefully try to loosen the paper jam by hand. Then reconnect the shredder to the power supply and try the reverse and forward functions again.

Sometimes it can also help if you run a slightly harder piece of paper through the shredder. In some cases this will loosen the stuck paper.

If all this doesn't help, use a sharp tool to try to solve the problem. But be careful: You should only use this procedure in an absolute emergency. In most cases, this will damage the shredder or render it completely unusable.

To lubricate a paper shredder, disconnect it from the power supply and remove the block containing the cutting rollers. Then apply the lubricant and put the motor block back on the housing. Once you have switched the machine back on, use the advance function so that the oil is evenly distributed to the right places.

Under no circumstances should you use spray oil, penetrating oil or any other flammable oil. For care and maintenance, it is best to use special oils that have been specially made for shredders. Or you can use special oil-soaked papers that distribute the lubricant directly onto the rollers during shredding.