StaffReview

Fellowes PowerShred PS-70 Paper Shredder Review

Personal-sized paper shredders are great for use both in the office and at home. One personal shredder that deserves your consideration is the Fellowes PowerShred PS-70. Here's what's great about this device, as well as what isn't so great.

Strengths:

• The PS-70 is perfect for junk mail, correspondence, old bills, canceled checks, and more. It has a 9-inch feed opening that's large enough for both letter- and legal-sized paper that measures 8.5 x 11” and 8.5” x 14” respectively.
• This is a shredder is strong enough to take care of several types of non-paper items. These include document fasteners (i.e. paper clips, staples), CD's and DVD's, and credit cards. Because of this, you'll be able to use the shredder to get rid of just about anything containing your personal information.
• The PS-70 is a strip-cut device that can turn an item into strips that are 7/32” wide. This is a pretty good shred size for a personal shredder, so you can rest easy knowing your information is safe. It has a Level 2 security rating.
• This machine has a 7-gallon wastebasket which should be more big enough for a large amount of shreds, especially if you don't shred on a regular basis. It's easy to pull the bin out to dispose of your shreds. If you leave the cabinet door ajar, the machine will alert you so you can replace the bin and then close the door.
• The PS-70 will start shredding as soon as you place something in the feed opening. It can run continuously for up to 12 minutes before it needs to cool down. This device has the ability to shred up to 11 feet of paper per minute.
• When you use this device, you can shred up to 14 sheets of paper at once. There's an overfeed indicator that will let you know if you're shredding more than the recommended amount. Then you'll be able to remove some paper so you don't jam the machine. If a jam does happen, you can use the reverse mode to clear it up.
• Finally, the cutting mechanism has a five-year warranty. The rest of the machine is covered for one year.

Weaknesses:

• The primary weakness of the PS-70 is that, after you run it continuously for 12 minutes, it needs 20 minutes to cool off. It's disappointing that the rest time is longer than the running time.
• This shredder was designed for personal use, so it's not ideal for large, shared workspaces. It wouldn't be able to handle a lot of paper all the time. Also, it's not the right device for destroying highly classified documents because of its security rating. (A Level 5 or 6 machine would be better for that type of use.)
• The PS-70 only has an interlock switch for a safety feature. It lacks Fellowes' SafeSense technology, so be careful when using it.

Overall, the Fellowes PowerShred PS-70 is a great choice if you need a personal-sized paper shredder that doesn't have an overly high security rating. It does have a couple of weaknesses, but they're overshadowed by what's great about this device. Take a look at the PS-70 today to see if it's right for you.