KOBRA 260.1 S2

The KOBRA 260.1 S2 is a P-3 strip-cut office shredder: its 1.9 mm strips are narrow enough to clear the 2 mm limit DIN 66399 sets for a P-3 strip, a class KOBRA's wider-cut strip machines do not reach. It takes 14-16 sheets of 70 gsm paper per pass through a 10.25 in (260 mm) throat, runs without oil, and fits a small office or practice that wants finer output than a basic strip shredder without maintaining a cross-cut head.

KOBRA 260.1 S2 at a glance

• P-3 strip cut at 1.9 mm, rated P-3 T-3 E-2
• 14-16 sheets at 70 gsm, 12-14 at 80 gsm
• Oil-free cutting system, no lubrication schedule
• 16-gallon (60-liter) bin in a 33 in tall cabinet on casters
• Paper, credit cards and chip cards; no optical media

How a 1.9 mm strip earns a P-3 rating

DIN 66399 classifies strip output largely by width. Strips up to 6 mm wide count as P-2, while P-3 requires 2 mm or narrower. At 1.9 mm, the 260.1 S2 sits just inside that limit, so its output is noticeably harder to read and piece together than the 3.8 mm strip from the 260.1 S4. It remains a strip cut, though, so it is a step up for general business paper rather than a replacement for a P-4 cross-cut machine where policy demands one.

Low-maintenance by design

KOBRA specifies an oil-free cutting system for this model. On a shared shredder, the oiling routine is usually the first thing forgotten, and here it simply does not exist. Bags are the only consumable, and none come in the box. You should still keep binder clips out, empty the bin before it packs solid and clear dust from the throat now and again.

A 4/5 HP (500 W) motor with thermal protection is rated for 24-hour continuous duty, and carbon-hardened knives tolerate staples and the odd paper clip. The machine starts and stops automatically, reverses itself when jammed and stops cutting if the door is opened or the bin is full. An energy-saving standby cuts power draw after a short idle period.

KOBRA 260.1 S2 specifications

260.1 S2 or 260.1 S4?

The two Classic Line 260.1 machines share a throat width and motor rating but are built for different jobs. The S2 gives you P-3 output and an oil-free head in a shorter 33 in cabinet with a 60-liter bin. The 260.1 S4 cuts 3.8 mm strips at P-2, takes 26-28 sheets at 70 gsm, uses a taller cabinet with an 80-liter bin, and accepts CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray and floppy disks. If personal data is involved and policy names P-4, look at the 260 TS C4 AO, which cuts 3.9 x 40 mm particles and adds an automatic oiler.

Is the 260.1 S2 right for you?

It suits a professional practice, reception desk or small office that wants better-than-basic strips, quiet operation at 55 dB(A) and nothing to lubricate. Look elsewhere if you need to destroy discs, which this model is not rated for, if a written policy calls for P-4 or higher, or if throughput matters more than the finer strip.