Fellowes' IntelliShred MS-450Ci Almost Makes Your Papers Disappear
While shredding papers at work a few weeks ago, a coworker asked me, “Isn’t there something deeply satisfying about that?” I laughed and replied, “Yes, except when the shredder gets jammed.” Which it just did. That frustrating instance could have been eliminated had I already started using the IntelliShred MS-450Ci from Fellowes that features a 100% jam proof system, among other features. Designed to provide superior security, the micro shredder shreds a letter-sized piece of paper into more than 3,000 pieces- we’re talking pieces that are the size of a grain of rice- ensuring your confidential papers remain that way.
We were impressed with the machine’s quietness. While certainly not silent, it was easy to shred and still carry on a conversation. The shredder’s capacity is seven sheets, so if you have mass amounts of shredding to do, this isn’t the one for you. The shredder can also shred staples, CDs and DVDs, and credit cards. Our credit cards were shredded into fine pieces when placed in the designated area, but CDs are shredded only into strips. It is slower than a typical shredder, on account of the tiny pieces it produces. The shredder is billed as a desktop shredder, although we found it to be a little larger than that, measuring 21.5” x 15.375” x 10.875”. The shredder is substantial, weighing around 30 pounds, and features four casters for rolling from room to room.
Removing the collection bin was a breeze, and trash bags can be put in the bin and reused to ensure quick cleanup. We appreciate the shredder’s unique sliding flap, which contains dangling shreds when the bin is removed and eliminates the proliferation of stragglers from invading your floor. We did notice a couple stragglers, but really it is unavoidable. Because the shredder shreds pieces so finely, it does create some paper dust, which those with sensitive breathing should keep in mind.
We like that the shredder has lights on the side that indicate how close you are to capacity, so as to avoid a jam. When we purposely overfed the shredder, the lights turned red, indicating a jam, and the shredder stopped to allow us to remove the offending papers. The shredder will stop working when hands get too close to the opening, which is great if you have children or pets around, but could potentially be annoying for the user who knows what he’s doing. We had a hard time getting the shredder to shred smaller pieces of paper, as our hands were too close to the opening.
The IntelliShred also features an energy savings system, which reduces energy consumption during use by as much as 70%. The shredder goes into sleep mode, turning off power, after two minutes of inactivity. The shredder is activated by touching the control panel or by simply inserting a piece of paper.
Fellowes offers a 5-year warranty on the machine’s cutters, and a 1-year product and service warranty. We found it on Amazon for around $220. This shredder is an excellent choice for people who desire more document security than the traditional shredder offers. There’s no way in the world a crook will be able to piece together papers shredded by the IntelliShred.
