The Dahle 20434 is a Level 6 security shredder
that offers small offices the highest level of document shredding
security. We will took a closer look at its features, and here is a
rundown of what we consider to be its strengths and weaknesses.
The Dahle 20434 is a Level 6 security shredder
that offers small offices the highest level of document shredding
security. We recently took a closer look at its features, and here is a
rundown of what we consider to be its strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths:
The main feature of the 20434 is its Level 6 security
shredding capability. Recommended by the National Security Agency for
the destruction of documents that are considered top secret, Level 6
shredding is what is required for many government agencies and for the
military. Level 6 security is also something that those who do business
with these organizations may be required to demonstrate. While this
type of security may be over the top for the average business, or for
those who are simply looking to become FACTA-compliant, using the 20434
for your document shredding is one way to make absolutely sure that
those documents will not be read ever again.
Level
6 security means that the average sheet of paper is cut into shreds of
1mm by 4.7mm. What this translates to is more than 15,000 tiny
particles per sheet. The 20434 is able to accomplish this by virtue of
its matched pair of cutting heads that are milled from the best German
solid steel available.
Operating the 20434
couldn't be more simple. A single toggle switch allows you to choose
three different settings. One turns the machine on and off
automatically when you start a shredding job and when it it finished,
the other is for continuous run, and the last is for reverse in case of
a paper jam. The 20434 also features automatic power cutoff when the
shred bag needs to be emptied, or when the door to the cabinet is
opened. The bin size of 10 gallons might seem huge, but when you take
into account how small the particles are, you will be going a much
longer time between emptying jobs than you would with a normal shredder.
Weaknesses
It is a fact of life in the shredder world that with
increased security comes diminished capacity. While the 20434's stated
sheet capacity of 8 at a time is decent for a small sized Level 6
machine, if you want adequate 3 to 5 (FACTA-compliant) level security
and higher capacity, Dahle, as well as a lot of other manufacturers
have plenty of other choices out there. Also worth considering is the
fact that the cutting heads of the 20434 are guaranteed for a year,
while those on most all of Dahle's Levels 3 and 4 machines offer a
lifetime warranty.
While the feed opening of 9.5
inches is plenty for letter and legal sized sheets, if you are
regularly going to be shredding documents that are larger, such as
computer printouts, you may want to find a machine with a larger throat
opening such as the Dahle 20835 EC.
The 20434 is
not rated as a continuous use machine, meaning that it should be used
on an as-needed basis rather than powering through huge shred piles in
a single sitting. The engine is thermal protected, meaning that if you
attempt to overuse this shredder, it will turn itself off for a
requisite cooling off period.
This machine does
not include an auto oiling system. You can purchase one as an add-on
when you buy the system or add it later. However, if you decide to use
this machine without an auto oiler you will probably need to oil it on
a daily basis (or possibly more often). This is true of all high
security level 6 paper shredders. The shred size is so small that paper
dust builds up quickly reducing the effectiveness of the system unless
it is oiled.
If you are interested in more information about the Dahle 20434 High-Security Shredder, you might want to visit MyBinding.com. They offer a great price on this machine and they even offer Free Shipping. Plus, they carry the full line of Dahle Paper Shredders, shredder bags and shredder oil. Check it out today!
