Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
What does P-5 actually buy me over P-4?
A particle roughly four times smaller: 30 mm² against the 160 mm² P-4 permits. In practical terms P-4 defeats casual reconstruction; P-5 defeats determined reconstruction and is the level most commonly named in policies covering personal data, medical records and financial account information. If nothing in writing specifies a level, P-4 is usually sufficient and the 600X is cheaper.
Does the finer cut slow it down?
It costs you five sheets on the manual feed slot — ten instead of fifteen — and nothing else. The hopper capacity, run time, bin size and noise level are identical to the 600X. That is unusual: on most ranges a security upgrade costs throughput, and here it very nearly does not.
How often will the bin need emptying?
Less often than the 600X for the same number of sheets, because micro-cut particles are smaller and settle more densely. Expect somewhere around 800 to 1,000 sheets per 29-gallon fill, though paper type and how the waste falls make a real difference. The machine stops when the bin is full rather than jamming.
Can it shred staples and paper clips?
Yes, both, from the hopper. Credit cards go through the manual slot. Optical media, laminates, adhesive labels and continuous form paper are not rated for this machine — and on a P-5 head in particular, feeding it something it is not rated for is an expensive mistake, because the cutters are finer and less forgiving.
How often should it be oiled?
More often than you would oil a P-4 machine. Finer particles create more paper dust, and dust in a micro-cut head is what leads to jams and premature cutter wear. Oil at least every time you empty the bin, using ACCO part 1760049 rather than a general purpose lubricant — aerosols and household oils can damage the cutters and void the warranty.
Is this NSA approved?
No. P-5 is not NSA approval. NSA/CSS 02-01 requires a maximum 1 mm x 5 mm particle — finer than P-6 — and requires the exact model to appear on the NSA Evaluated Products List. The 600M is neither, and no auto-feed shredder is.
What is the duty cycle?
Four hours of running before the machine needs to rest. In a department that shreds in the morning and again in the afternoon, that is enough that nobody has to think about it. It is not continuous duty; a machine that must run without pause through a full shift needs a commercial cabinet.