GBC ShredMaster Small Home Office Shredder, PX08-04, Cross-Cut, 8 Sheets

The GBC ShredMaster PX08-04 is a small, entry-level home shredder that cuts 8 sheets of 20 lb paper per pass into P-3 cross-cut particles of 5/32 x 1 3/4 in (about 4 x 44 mm). It weighs 7.7 lb, holds 3.96 gallons and still has a full 8.7-inch throat. It is meant for a household or a single desk shredding everyday personal paper a few pages at a time.

ShredMaster PX08-04 at a glance

• P-3 cross-cut, around 176 mm² per particle
• 8 sheets of 20 lb paper per pass
• Full-size 8.7 in throat for letter, legal and A4
• Takes staples and paper clips
• 3-minute run time; 3.96-gallon bin
• 13.5 x 12.8 x 9 in, 7.7 lb

Where P-3 fits, and where it falls short

The PX08-04 is the one P-3 model among ACCO's small ShredMaster machines; the others step up to P-4. DIN 66399 allows a P-3 particle up to 320 mm², and this head's roughly 176 mm² strip-and-cross pattern sits well within that, though above the 160 mm² that P-4 demands. In plain terms, it is proportionate for junk mail, receipts, delivery notes and old utility bills. For bank statements, signed forms or medical letters, where a fragment could still show a few digits, a P-4 model is the safer buy.

Living with a compact shredder

A slider switch sets auto, off and reverse, and the reverse lets you back out a handful that was too thick. Recessed blades keep fingers away from the cutters. Staples and paper clips can stay in, which is not a given on shredders this small; credit cards, CDs and DVDs are not approved.

The limit to respect is the three-minute run time. After that the motor needs to cool, so the PX08-04 is for shredding a few documents as they arrive, not for emptying a filing drawer. The bin is also small, so it fills quickly on a busy day. ACCO shredder oil, part 1760049, keeps the cutters running smoothly.

ShredMaster PX08-04 specifications

PX08-04 or a 10-sheet ShredMaster?

• ShredMaster PX10-06: P-4 at about 4 x 38 mm, 10 sheets per pass and a 6-gallon bin, with front-facing touch controls.
• ShredMaster PSX10-06: the same P-4, 10-sheet performance in a narrow upright cabinet.
• ShredMaster SX15-06: 15 sheets per pass at P-4 with a 6-gallon bin, for people who shred in longer sessions.

Who the PX08-04 is for

It is a good match for a household or a spare-room desk that needs routine personal paper destroyed without a big machine. It is not the right choice for business records, which usually call for P-4, or for anyone with a backlog to clear.