Powershred LX220 Cross-Cut Shredder (Black)

The Fellowes Powershred LX220 (Black) is the largest shredder in the LX range, cutting 20 sheets of 20 lb paper per pass into fine 4 x 12 mm particles at DIN 66399 P-4. It runs for 30 minutes and empties into an 8-gallon bin, so it can handle a small office or a serious personal backlog in one sitting.

LX220 at a glance

• 20 sheets per pass, the most in the LX line
• 30-minute run time, then a 15-minute cool-down
• 8-gallon pull-out bin, larger than on the LX200 and LX210
• 5/32 x 1/2 in particle, about 48 mm²
• Accepts cards, staples, clips and unopened junk mail

Run time and bin that keep pace with each other

On the smaller LX models the 6-gallon bin tends to fill before the motor needs rest. The LX220 addresses that with an 8-gallon container alongside its longer 30-minute cycle, so the bin and the motor reach their limits at a similar point. For a small team, that means clearing a box of paper without repeated interruptions.

At 34.2 lb and 23.25 x 11.75 x 16.50 in, it is a sturdier floor-standing machine than its siblings, drawing 5.8 A at 120 V, 60 Hz.

Security and limits of the LX220

The 4 x 12 mm head produces fragments of around 48 mm², a much finer result than standard cross-cut, and appropriate for client files, payroll records and contracts. The machine is P-4 by DIN 66399; Fellowes' micro-cut branding should not be read as P-5, which requires 30 mm² or less.

A 30-minute cycle is still a cycle, not continuous duty. Discs are not accepted on any LX model, and labels, laminates, cardboard, newspaper and file folders are excluded. Oil the cutters with Fellowes 35250 when the bin is emptied. Fellowes describes it as quiet but does not publish a decibel rating.

LX220 (Black) specifications

LX220 versus the LX210 and the Ci cabinets

The LX210 takes 16 sheets, runs for 20 minutes and has a 6-gallon bin; it is enough if your batches are moderate. If the shredder will be fed throughout the working day, a continuous-duty cabinet such as the Powershred 125Ci (20 sheets, 14 gallons) or 225Ci (22 sheets, 16 gallons) is the right category, though their P-4 particles are coarser. The LX220 is also sold in white as 5015501.

Who the black LX220 is for

It is the LX model for a small office of a few people, or for one person with a large backlog who wants a fine cut. It does not suit all-day departmental use, disc destruction or a P-5 requirement.