Dahle 20434 Level 6 Cross Cut High Security Paper Shredder Review

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:

1. 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.

   
   

2. 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.

   
   

3. 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

1. 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.

   
   

2. 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.

   
   

3. 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.

   
   

4. 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.

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