Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the AF150 and the AF300?
The chassis, throat, bin, motor and cut sizes are identical. The difference is the automatic feed tray: 150 sheets on the AF150, 300 on the AF300. Because both share the same 35-litre bin, the AF150 is actually better balanced for continuous use - you get nearly three tray-loads before emptying, where the AF300 gets about one and a half. Choose the AF300 if you want to load large batches in one go.
Can it shred staples and paper clips?
Yes. HSM rates the AF150 for paper containing staples and paper clips and fits solid steel, induction-hardened cutting rollers. For the automatic tray, avoid thick stapled bundles because the sheet separator can bind on a heavy staple; feed those through the manual slot. Bulldog clips, ring binders, plastic wallets and laminated sheets must be removed before shredding.
Will legal-size paper fit?
Yes. The throat is 9.45 inches (240 mm) wide and US letter and legal are both 8.5 inches across the short edge, so they feed without folding. Tabloid at 11 inches will not fit unfolded and would need to be folded once, which counts against the 6-7 sheet manual capacity. The automatic tray is designed for standard letter and A4 stacks.
How often will the bin need emptying?
HSM rates the 35-litre bin at approximately 432 sheets of P-5 waste, which is just under three full 150-sheet tray-loads. A small team shredding a tray a day would empty it roughly twice a week. Because the particles are small they settle well, so the usable capacity is close to the rated figure rather than filling with air the way strip-cut waste does.
Is this shredder NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a maximum 1 mm x 5 mm particle and requires the specific model to appear on the NSA Evaluated Products List. This is a P-5 machine at 1.9 x 15 mm and it is not listed. A high DIN rating on its own never constitutes NSA approval. For classified material you need a listed P-7 device.
Can it shred CDs or credit cards?
Credit cards, yes - use the manual slot and feed them one at a time. CDs and DVDs, no: this configuration carries E-4, F-2, P-5 and T-5 ratings but no optical media class, so HSM does not list discs among the materials it accepts. If disc destruction matters, look at a model with a published O rating rather than assuming a high P class covers it.
Does it need oiling, and does it have an automatic oiler?
It has no automatic oiler, so oiling is manual. P-5 cutting heads produce fine dust that builds up on the rollers, and periodic oiling with HSM shredder oil keeps capacity from drifting down over time. Apply oil across the width of the throat, run the machine in reverse briefly, then feed a few sheets through. Do not use aerosol lubricants, WD-40 or cooking oil.