Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 0.78 x 11 mm P-5 or P-6?
P-6. The particle area is 8.58 mm2, which is inside the P-6 limit of 10 mm2, and DIN 66399 additionally caps particle width at 1 mm for this class - 0.78 mm satisfies that. It is a frequent cataloguing error to list this cut as P-5, because the area figure alone would also fit inside P-5's 30 mm2 ceiling. The width test is what settles it.
Does one full tray fill the bin?
Essentially yes. HSM rates the 35-litre bin at approximately 350 sheets of P-6 waste and the automatic tray at 350 sheets, so a full load takes the bin to capacity. This is the sharpest practical limitation on the model: the large tray saves you from reloading during a run, but you will still change the bag after each full load. Keep spare bags close to the machine.
Is this shredder NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a maximum particle of 1 mm x 5 mm and requires the exact model to appear on the NSA Evaluated Products List. This machine's particles are narrow enough at 0.78 mm but more than twice the permitted 5 mm length, and the model is not on the list. It must not be used for classified US government material.
Are the cutting rollers covered by the lifetime warranty?
No. HSM's lifetime warranty on solid steel cutting rollers applies to models rated P-2 through P-5. As a P-6 machine, this one falls outside that scheme and its rollers are covered by the standard machine warranty only. Buyers moving up from a P-5 model are often surprised by this, so factor it into any lifetime-cost comparison, particularly if the machine will run heavily.
Can it shred credit cards, CDs or DVDs?
No. This configuration is rated P-6 for paper and F-3 for film, with no card or optical media class. A 0.78 mm cutting head is not built for rigid plastic and forcing cards or discs through risks damage that the warranty will not cover. If you also need media destruction, keep a second machine for it - the P-4 versions of the AF300 and AF350 are rated O-3 for discs.
How does it compare with the AF300 at the same cut size?
The cut, motor, throat, bin volume, noise and warranty position are identical. The AF350 offers a 350-sheet tray against the AF300's 300, in a taller and deeper cabinet at 435 x 837 mm versus 381 x 740 mm. Manual capacity is 6 sheets on both. If floor space is tight, the AF300 is the same machine in a smaller box for less money; the extra 50 tray sheets rarely justify the difference.
Will it take stapled documents?
Yes, HSM rates it for paper containing staples and paper clips and fits solid steel rollers. With a fine P-6 head and no lifetime roller warranty behind it, though, it is prudent to remove fasteners where that is easy and to feed heavily stapled bundles through the manual slot rather than the automatic tray, where a thick staple can jam the sheet separator. Never feed spiral bindings or bulldog clips.