HSM shredstar S10 1/4 inch strip cut with separate CD cutting unit - HSM1042w

The HSM shredstar S10 is a compact home and personal shredder that slices paper into 1/4 in (6 mm) strips at DIN 66399 security level P-2, 10 sheets at a time. Its distinguishing extra is a separate cutting unit for CDs, DVDs and plastic cards with its own collection tray. It suits one person clearing routine, low-sensitivity paper who also wants an easy way to destroy an old disc or an expired card.

shredstar S10 at a glance

• P-2 strip cut, 1/4 in (6 mm) wide
• 10 sheets of 80 g/m² paper per pass
• 8.66 in (220 mm) feed slot
• 4.8-gallon (18 L) bin, about 125 sheets of strip waste
• Separate disc and card cutter
• 8.58 lb, small enough to move with one hand

The S10's place in the small shredstar body

HSM builds several shredstar models on the same 13.58 x 9.65 in base and 8.66 in throat. The S10 is the strip-cut member of that group; the X5, X8 and X6pro in comparable bodies all cut particles at P-4 or P-5. Strip cutting asks less of the 125 W motor, which is why the S10 manages more sheets than the P-4 X8 at a lower price. The trade is security: strips 6 mm wide leave words and lines intact, so they belong with junk mail, drafts and delivery notes rather than statements or tax records.

Day-to-day handling

A light barrier in the throat switches the motor on as paper arrives and off once it has cleared, so there is nothing to press. If too thick a stack goes in, automatic reverse backs it out. Staples and paper clips are on HSM's approved list. The housing top lifts off the bin for emptying, and an inspection window shows the fill level without opening anything. Discs and cards go through their own slot one at a time, and their fragments land in a separate tray, so plastic stays out of the paper recycling. HSM publishes no duty cycle for this model; thermal protection and a status indicator stop it if it overheats.

Note that strip waste is springy. The 18-liter bin holds only about 125 sheets, so expect to empty it more often than a particle-cut bin of similar size.

HSM shredstar S10 specifications

HSM's datasheet for this article gives no warranty term, so none is listed here.

S10 compared with nearby shredstar models

• shredstar X8: same body, 4.8-gallon bin and throat, but a P-4 particle of 3/16 x 1 1/8 in at 8 sheets. The step to take if the paper carries personal details.
• shredstar X6pro: P-5 particles at 6 sheets for the most sensitive home paperwork.
• shredstar S25: the same 1/4 in P-2 strip at 25 sheets, with a 6.9-gallon bin, for a shared office.

Who the S10 suits

A single user at home or at one desk, shredding everyday paper that carries little risk, will find the S10 cheap, light and simple. Anyone handling customer data, medical records or anything a privacy policy covers should treat P-4 as the starting point and choose a particle-cut shredstar instead.