Fellowes DS-3 Paper Shredder
10 Sheet Cross Cut Shredder Review
The Fellowes DS-3 shredder can handle 10 sheets of paper max. It is a cross cut shredder, cutting paper down to 2 inches by 5/32 inches. We also really liked the “Patented SafeSense Technology” which means if your hands touch the paper opening, it will automatically stop.
We really enjoyed testing the Fellowes DS-3 10 sheet cross cut shredder. Fellowes recommends this shredder as a deskside machine. What that means basically is it can be used to handle daily use, but not a large volume of shredding. Paper Shredders Reviews recommends this shredder for home use, or for a home office.
There were several features that stood out on this shredding machine. The things that make it unique include a SafeSense feature that recognizes if a hand touches by the shredding teeth. If your hand touches by the opening of the 9” paper entry, it automatically shuts down. We also enjoyed the easy pick up handle, and the small opening so you can toss paper into the five-gallon bin that doesn’t have to be shredded. Basically, it can double as a paper waste-basket and shredder.
For the most important aspects, The DS-3 by Fellows tested out extremely well. The shred cut size was 2 inches by 5/32 of an inch. A cross cut means the paper is cut in a long strip, but then cut horizontally after two inches in length. It claims that it can handle 10 sheets in one pass, and it did when we tested it. It also can cut up one credit card per pass, and will eat up the occasional paper clip and staple with no problem.
Pros and Cons
Pros- Nice design features including the carrying handle and waste basket opening
- For an inexpensive shredder, it can shred up to 10 sheets per pass and cross cuts them
- Feed Opening larger than a standard paper size at nine inches
- Also can shred credit cards
- SafeSense Technology and automatic power off to help protect the user
- Pretty noisy at 80 decibels when it is in operation
- Long cut size at two inches
- Have to turn on the power sometimes after you place paper in the feed (doesn’t automatically turn on when paper enters the feeder)
- Would be nice if it had castor wheels to roll in an out of a hiding space
- Can only handle four to five minutes of continuous use
Specifications
- Cross Cut Shredder at 2" by 5/32"
- Shreds 10 sheets per pass
- SafeSense Technology for personal safety if your hand gets too close to the feeder
- Automatic shut off if the waste bin is removed.
- Five gallon waste basket
- Nine inch paper entry width
- Shreds credit cards, and paper with paper clips or staples
- 16.5 inches tall, 15 inches wide, and 12 inch depth
- Black with silver trim
- Nice carrying handle on the top of the shredder
Shredder Performance
Our first test with the Fellowes DS-3 involved seeing how well a colored paper sheet would blend in with two white sheets that were shredded. The first thing we noticed was how quickly the shredder ate up the paper. It had some definite quick speed with a smaller amount of sheets per pass. When we opened up the five-gallon bin, the shred pieces were quite narrow and long. It was hard to decipher or organize what was what. As an added bonus, a paperclip was on these three sheets of paper. This metal paperclip was broken into two pieces after we ran it through the shredder.
Next up was a credit card. We shredded just one in a pass, as that was the manufacturers recommendation. The credit card was eaten up quickly and easily. The shred sizes were quite long again, so with some time and effort, I think I could have pieced the credit card back together, so make sure if you want to ensure your safety, to mix the credit card shreds in with some other garbage or recyclables.
One thing that is vital for any shredder is the ability of it to handle an envelope with at least one sheet of paper in it (a trifold). This was quite easy for this Fellowes Shredder model.
Our final test involved putting the machine up against its maximum recommended number of sheets. The Fellowes DS-3 claimed it could handle 10 sheets, and it did this with relative ease. We were impressed with this because not only did it shred the paper, but a staple was in there too and it didn’t flinch with the staple.
A nice feature that we shouldn’t forget to mention in our Fellowes DS-3 review is the SafeSense feature. There is a silver sensor surrounding the nine-inch wide feed. If your hand touches this area at anytime when the Fellowes shredder is operating, it automatically stops shredding. That is a very nice feature, especially if you are worried about safety with a shredder. Another safety feature is if you take the shredder off of the basket it shuts off. You can’t shred anything unless it is securely resting above the waste bin.
Details
One negative quality about the DS-3 is it’s quite noisy. Our decibel reader registered a noise level of 80 decibels. To put that level in perspective, the average vacuum cleaner is about 80 decibels when operating.
There are limitations to this shredder by Fellowes. It can shred paper, small paper clips, staples, and one credit card at a time. It however cannot shred transparencies, newspaper, cardboard, larger thick paperclips, or laminated sheets. Another thing that it doesn’t shred, and no personal shredder should shred is adhesive labels. This is because the sticky side of the label can get sticky residual glue on the cutting blades, which slows them down.
Since this is a paper shredder designed for home use or a small home office, it also can only handle a lower volume of work. You can’t take out a whole file cabinet of paper and expect this shredder to eat it all in one day. The recommendations from the Fellows operating guide say a maximum of 10 to 20 passes per day with 10 sheets at a time max. That adds up to only 100-200 sheets of paper in one day. Also, it only should operate continuously for four to five minutes before it will shut down do to overheating. If you push it to the limit, the DS-3 will automatically shut down to cool off for 20 minutes.
Don't forget to oil your shredder. You can do this two ways. Put the oil directly on the shredding blades every time your five gallon basket fills up. Another option is to put the oil on a piece of paper in a "S" pattern and then run that paper sheet through. Then hold the reverse button on the shredder for two to three seconds.
Summary
Paper Shredder Reviews Recommends The Fellowes DS-3 for Personal Use or for a Small Home Office.
There aren’t a lot of jobs that the Fellowes DS-3 can’t handle in a small home office setting. It’s only real limitations are extended use or overuse throughout the day. We really liked the design of this machine. It has so many nice features. The SmartSense protection it offers, the nice carrying handle when you need to empty the five gallon bin, and the powerful shredding capabilities all add up to a very nice machine. Don’t forget that you can simply toss some paper right in without being shredded, or you can keep yourself safe by shredding credit cards too. If you want a quality shredder for less than $100 for your home or for your home office, we give the Fellowes DS-3 five out of five stars.
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