After 8 years of loyal service, my small, cheap shredder died. I needed a new shredder for my home office, but I didn't want to settle like I did with the last one. (I really disliked my old shredder.) So, I looked at a lot of different kinds, brands and capacities. I also read a lot of reviews, and decided on this one. Immediately upon receiving it, I put it to the test. (I recently moved and had a lot of unwanted personal documents to shred.) I put about 1000 sheets of paper and 5 credit cards through it in 2 days. Here is what you need to know about this shredder:
It will shred:
-Paper
-Credit Cards
-Staples
It will NOT shred:
-Unopened junk mail
-Cardboard
-Continuous forms
-adhesive labels
-transparencies
-newspaper
-CD/DVD's
-Paper clips
-Laminates
-File folders
-X-rays
-Plastic
-Greeting cards with sounds chips/batteries (Fire Hazard!)
Maximums:
-11 sheets per pass*
-100 sheets per day
-1 credit card per pass
-5 credit cards per day
-5 minutes of continuous use.
*Please, keep in mind that different papers will vary in thickness and the environment (example: humidity) plays a role in how much capacity the shredder has. The 11 sheets per pass is assuming that you are shredding 8.5 in X 11 in, 20 Ilb paper at 120V/60Hz; anything other than this will change the capacity.
It shreds in a cross-cut (5/32 in X 1-3/8 in). The paper entry is 9 inches wide, and it has a convenient handle to lift the shredder off the bin when you need to empty it. It senses when the motor is getting too hot and will deactivate for a 20 minute cool down if it is ran for more than 5 minutes continuously. The safety lock and the control switch seem to be made out of cheap plastic and I doubt their ability to withstand heavy use. The safety lock in particular is a bit comical to me, and if you have kids or pets, the best thing to do after you're done shredding is to simply unplug it. The rest of the shredder seems to be of good quality, and I feel it will last for a long time.
This shredder is not meant for heavy/commercial use. With that in mind... I did shred about 500 sheets per day (more than the recommended sheets per day), but I did not shred anything I wasn't suppose to. I ran it for 5 minutes, letting it cycle through each pass (when it revs up at the end to clear the entry), and let it cool down for 20 minutes before shredding again. I ran it all day for 2 days that way, and it never gave any signs of exhaustion. It shredded paper of all shapes, sizes and thicknesses with relative ease. I varied the number of sheets per pass, and it took everything from 1 sheet to 11 sheets. Yes, it does slow down slightly when shredding 9-11 sheets of paper. Unlike other reviewers, I never felt like it was struggling. In addition to that, it ate staples like a champ. Per the instruction manual, I oiled it every time I emptied the baskets (about every 200 pages or so). Other reviewers stated that it is heavy and loud, but I don't find it to be any heavier or louder than any other shredder I have encountered. Overall, it is a great machine, and you won't find better quality for the money. I am extremely satisfied with this purchase, and would recommend to some one looking for a shredder for their home office.
| Manufacturer | Fellowes |
|---|---|
| Brand | Fellowes |
| Item Weight | 14 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 8.5 x 13.8 x 18 inches |
| Item model number | 3103201 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color | Black, Silver |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Size | 11 Sheet |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 3103201 |
