Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the dust filter do that a normal shredder does not?
Every shredder aerosolises paper fibre, clay filler and toner at the cutting head. In a large open office that disperses; in a small closed room with a shredder running regularly, it accumulates and is what people notice as a dry, dusty smell. Dahle states the CleanTEC filter captures up to 98% of that fine particulate before it leaves the machine. It is not a HEPA air purifier for the room - it treats the source.
How often does the filter need changing, and what does it cost?
The replacement CleanTEC air filter for this model is Dahle item #20710, sold separately. Dahle does not publish a fixed replacement interval, because it depends entirely on how much paper passes through. Inspect the filter each time you empty the 23-gallon bin and replace it when it is visibly loaded - a clogged filter reduces airflow and the machine works harder.
Is it really oil-free, given the rest of the CleanTEC line uses an auto-oiler?
Yes. The 51314 and 51414 use Dahle's oil-free cutting head with the CleanTEC filter added; the 51322 and the P-7 41000 models use an automatic EvenFlow Lubricator instead. If you want dust filtration without a lubricant consumable, these two models are the only way to get it in this range.
Does it shred CDs and credit cards?
Yes. Dahle rates the 51314 P-4 for paper and O-3 for optical media, and lists CDs, DVDs, credit cards, staples and paper clips among the accepted media. Feed discs individually rather than mixing them into a paper stack - a disc fractures rather than shearing, and the fragments are the usual cause of jams. This is one of the differences between the 51314 and the P-5 51322 in the same cabinet, which Dahle does not rate for optical media at all.
Sixteen sheets - is that enough for a small office?
For two to four people it is. Dahle publishes 16 sheets on 20 lb bond and 18 on lighter 16 lb stock, and the machine runs at 18 ft/min. The constraint you are more likely to hit first is the 23-gallon bin, which is the smallest full-size bin in this range. If either figure looks tight, the 51414 gives you 18 sheets and 30 gallons in the same product family.
What bags fit the 23-gallon bin?
Dahle shred bags #20725, which cover 20-30 gallon bins and come 100 to a box. They are not supplied with the shredder. The same bag fits the 51322, the 51414 and the 30-gallon 504xx models, so a mixed fleet needs only one bag part number.
Will legal paper fit?
Yes - the feed opening is 10.25 inches, so letter and legal both go in short-edge first. Tabloid at 11 inches will not fit flat. There is no 12-inch option in the oil-free CleanTEC line; for a wider throat with dust filtration you would be looking at the high-security 41534.
What warranty does Dahle publish?
Two years on the shredder. Dahle's published spec sheets list lifetime cutting-cylinder coverage on its 504xx and 505xx oil-free office machines; that coverage is not stated in Dahle's published figure for the 51314, so confirm cylinder terms directly if it matters to your decision.