Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this shredder genuinely NSA approved?
Yes, and the distinction matters. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a maximum particle of 1 mm x 5 mm and requires the specific model to appear on the NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List. Many shredders meet the particle size; only listed models are approved. Dahle North America's 41334 is on the current EPL with a medium-volume rating. Always check the edition of the EPL in force at the time of purchase, since the list is revised quarterly.
Why only five sheets per pass?
Because of the cut. Reducing a sheet to 1 x 4.7 mm fragments means roughly forty times more cutting work per page than a P-4 cross-cut, and the cylinders can only absorb so much at once. Dahle publishes 5 sheets on 20 lb bond and 7 on lighter 16 lb stock. Anyone moving from a P-4 office machine should plan for the change in working pace before the machine arrives, not after.
What does the CleanTEC filter actually do, and does it need replacing?
It captures airborne paper dust generated at the cutting head - Dahle states up to 98% of fine particulate. This matters more on a P-7 machine than on any cross-cut model, because micro-cutting produces very fine dust in an enclosed secure room. The filter is a consumable and needs periodic replacement; Dahle does not publish a replacement interval for this model, so check the manual supplied with your unit and inspect the filter when you empty the bin.
Does it shred CDs, credit cards or staples?
Dahle does not list optical media, credit cards, staples or paper clips among the media for this model, and there is no O-rating published for it. Treat it as a paper-only machine and remove fasteners before feeding. If you need classified optical media destruction as well, that is a separate machine - Dahle's EPL listings include separate optical destroyers.
Do I have to oil it?
Not manually. The EvenFlow Lubricator applies oil continuously to the cutting cylinders on its own. You do need to keep it supplied with Dahle shredder oil - unlike Dahle's oil-free 504xx office machines, a P-7 cutting head cannot run dry without accelerating wear. Budget for oil as an ongoing consumable alongside bags and filters.
How does it compare with the 41434?
Same 1 x 4.7 mm cut, same 10.25-inch throat, same P-7 rating. The 41434 takes 8 sheets instead of 5, uses a 30-gallon bin instead of 23, weighs 8 pounds more and carries the NSA high-volume rating rather than medium. If more than about three people will use the machine, the 41434 is worth the difference.
What bags fit the 23-gallon bin?
Dahle shred bags #20725, covering 20-30 gallon bins, sold 100 to a box. Bags are not included with the machine. Note that a P-7 particle packs far denser than a cross-cut one, so a full bag from this machine is considerably heavier than a full bag from a P-4 shredder of the same volume.
What warranty does Dahle publish?
Two years on the shredder. Note that the lifetime cutting-cylinder coverage Dahle publishes on its oil-free 504xx and 505xx office spec sheets is not part of the published figure for the CleanTEC high-security line - confirm cylinder terms with Dahle before purchase if that is a factor in your decision.