Fellowes Powershred SB-87CS Cross Cut Paper Shredder

Staff Review

Fellowes PowerShred SB-87CS Paper Shredder Review

Fellowes makes some wonderful paper shredders, including some that are great for both small professional offices and home use. One such product is the PowerShred SB-87C, a machine that offers safe and jam-free operation, as well as the ability to destroy CD’s. However, this device does have a couple of drawbacks, including a lengthy cooling-off time. Here are the good and not-so-good aspects of this product so you can tell if this is the right machine for you.

Strengths:

• For a smaller shredder, the SB-87CS has a pretty impressive shredding capacity. It can accept up to 15 sheets per pass and feasibly shred up to 150 sheets per minute. The machine has a 9-inch feed opening to accept letter- and legal-sized paper.
• In addition to paper, this product has no problem destroying other items including paper fasteners, credit cards, and CD’s. There’s even a designated CD slot.
• This machine offers a terrific amount of security because it is a cross-cut device. It has the ability to turn a single sheet up paper into countless particles that measure 5/32″ x 1-1/2″.
• The SB-87CS is yet another Fellowes shredder with SafeSense technology, so it’s a great choice if you’re concerned about safety. SafeSense will immediately shut down the machine if it senses that your hands are too close to the feed opening.
• This is one of Fellowes’ jam-free shredders. It has a paper overfeed indicator that will turn red when you attempt to shred too many sheets. The device will also turn off if a jam occurs so you can fix the problem.
• Operation is quick and easy thanks to the device’s ability to automatically turn itself on and off. It will also shut down immediately in the event of a paper jam or if the 7-gallon waste bin is full.
• Speaking of the waste bin, it is housed in a convenient cabinet-like area that easily opens up so you can get rid of your shreds. The door even has some storage space for accessories such as shredder oil.
• The SB-87CS is a modern-looking device that’s small yet still has a lot of power. It is easy to move around thanks to the inclusion of casters on the bottom of the unit.
• There is a 7-year warranty on the machine’s cutting mechanism.

Weaknesses:

• While the SB-87CS has a good shredding capacity and it can shred quickly, this is not a continuous-duty device. The machine can run for up to 20 minutes before it needs twice that long to cool off. A 40-minute downtime is rather long and will be frustrating for some users.
• Due to the downtime and the rather small waste bin, this wouldn’t be a good shredder for large offices.
• Despite the inclusion of a designated CD slot, the paper and plastic waste is all mixed together, making recycling a bit of a challenge.
• The SB-87CS operates at about a 70-decibel level. It produces the same amount of noise you might get from a vacuum cleaner, which will probably be a bit distracting, especially in shared workspaces.
• Although this product would be good for home use, some potential consumers might be a bit taken aback by the SB-87CS’s price.

When it comes right down to it, the Fellowes PowerShred SB-87CS would be just right for small and home offices that need a device with all the bells and whistles of a larger machine. You’ll just need to be sure the shredder’s long downtime and sound level won’t be a problem. If that’s the case, you’re bound to be very pleased with the SB-87CS.