We own the
Royal CIA 12X -- you can buy it via Amazon.com here:
Amazon.com: Royal CIA 12X Cross Cut Shredder: Electronics
We shred lots of paper, credit card receipts, communications, etc. We need to have real "security" shreds, not long strips or big squares.
This machine I originally bought at Sam's Club about seven years ago (for just $99 --- today retail is $299.00!). It has worked steadily and is still in service today. It has a 7 year factory warranty.
This machine is not easy to find for sale. The link I provided to Amazon is where I got my second unit recently. I just bought the second one about four months ago, to use at a second office location. I bought thru Amazon, because the freight was less, and I paid a total of under $200.00.
None of the shredders sold at Staples, Costco, etc., can produce a small enough shred to be of real use for security purposes.
The Royal CIA 12X can shred up to 12 pages at a time into 3*10mm shreds. This is the smallest particle size I know from a consumer-grade shredder. The particle size is 30*10mm meets the requirements for DIN 32757 Security Level 4.
The next step up in security seems to be DoD-grade shredders approved for shredding classified material. These start around $1K and cut the paper to 0.8*11mm particles or smaller.
Here is a very good review of the CIA 12X compared with Fellows highest rated consumer shredder. The Royal wins.
Paper Shredders
The Royal CIA 12X is quite heavy, and doesn't work if you need to move it around a lot. But it does an excellent job of shredding. It is superior to even machines being sold at office supply houses for seven or eight hundred dollars. I am just grateful it is still on the market, because I am certain I would have to spend more than $1,000 to match this level of capability.
My highest recommendation.
and his propensity to maul and shred paper - mostly paper towels, but I'm sure he can be adapted to handle legal documents. Probably only have to leave them on the coffee table. Even though my wife refers to him as a "freak of nature", I'm almost certain he doesn't have any plastic gears. I might be willing to let you borrow his services if you are really in a pinch. 
