Powershred LX200 Cross-Cut Shredder (Black)

The Fellowes Powershred LX200 (Black) is the entry model of the LX range: a P-4 shredder that cuts 12 sheets of 20 lb paper per pass into fine 5/32 x 1/2 in (4 x 12 mm) particles and runs for 10 minutes at a time. Its 6-gallon bin and 20.7 lb weight make it a good match for a single desk or home office with confidential paperwork.

LX200 at a glance

• Particle of about 48 mm², roughly a third the size of a typical P-4 cross-cut
• 12 sheets per pass through a 9 in (230 mm) entry
• 10 minutes of running, then a 15-minute cool-down
• 6-gallon pull-out bin
• Accepts credit cards, staples and paper clips; no CDs or DVDs

Why the LX200's small particle matters

Most P-4 cross-cut shredders, including Fellowes' own Ci models, leave fragments of around 150 mm². The LX200 cuts to roughly 48 mm². Both results fall inside P-4, but the smaller pieces are much harder to reassemble, which is a real gain for bank statements, tax papers and medical letters kept at home.

Fellowes markets the LX models as micro-cut. Under DIN 66399, micro-cut normally refers to P-5 and above, where particles must be 30 mm² or smaller, so the LX200 is classed here by the standard as P-4. If a written policy names P-5, it will not satisfy that requirement.

Working within ten minutes and six gallons

Ten minutes of continuous running clears a good-sized pile at 12 sheets a pass. Go past it and the machine pauses for 15 minutes. The fine shred packs more tightly than coarse cross-cut, so the 6-gallon bin lasts longer than you might expect, and the machine stops rather than jams when the bin is full.

Fellowes excludes optical media on all LX models, along with labels, laminates, cardboard, newspaper, transparencies, file folders and X-rays. Oil the cutters with Fellowes 35250 non-aerosol oil at each bin change. Fellowes calls the operation quiet but does not publish a decibel value.

LX200 (Black) specifications

Stepping up within the LX range

• LX210: 16 sheets and a 20-minute run time, still with a 6-gallon bin.
• LX220: 20 sheets, 30 minutes of running and an 8-gallon bin.
• LX45: a lighter, cheaper option with 8 sheets, but a coarser 148 mm² particle and only 6 minutes of running.

All three LX200-series models share the same 4 x 12 mm head. The LX200 is also sold in white.

Who the black LX200 suits

It suits a single user who wants a finer cut than budget shredders offer and handles mail and statements regularly but not in bulk. It is the wrong choice for clearing a filing cabinet in one sitting, for destroying discs, or for meeting a P-5 policy.