subject: Dahle 20314 Level 3 Cross Cut Small Office Paper Shredder Review [print this page] Offering small offices Level 3 cross-cut shredding capabilities, the Dahle 20314 is intended for placement in a centralized location, and to shred as many as 400 sheets per day. We recently took a look at one of these machines, and put together a list of what we considered to be its strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths:
1.) The main strength of the 20314, as with all of Dahle's shredders, lies in the remarkably sturdy cutting heads. Constructed out of solid bars of German steel, these blades are inherently more durable and stronger than those which you will find on most other machines (most of which employ a system of stacked cutting knives). Dahle must have a lot of faith in their design as well, because they guarantee these cutting heads for the life of the shredder.
2.) The 20314 is a Level 3 security cross cut shredder, meaning that it complies with all federal FACTA regulations pertaining to the destruction of documents containing the personal and confidential information of your clients, customers, and employees. If you want to protect yourself from the fines and other liabilities that can result from that sort of information falling into the hands of identity thieves, Level 3 is the way to go.
3.) With a centrally located, multiple user shredder, quiet operation is a big plus. The 20314 does very well in this regard, encasing its cutting heads and placing them on shock mounts to absorb the vibration before it hits the cabinet. The wood construction of the cabinet also goes a long way in deadening the inherent noise. All in all the 20314 is one of the quieter small shredders on the market.
4.) The 20314 is incredibly easy to operate, featuring a single toggle switch that gives you the options of continuous run, reverse, or automatic on and off which uses an electronic sensor to detect the sheets. There is also an auto-off function and indicators to let you know when the shred bag is full or the cabinet door is open.
5.) The swing-open door and removable bin make emptying the 20314 is a quick and easy process. Dahle also makes bags that you can line the bin with to cut down on the mess.
Weaknesses:
1.) While the feed opening if 9-1/2 inches is more than sufficient for the majority of shredding jobs, if you need to shred larger sheets of paper such as computer printouts on a regular basis, you might want to find a machine with a larger opening.
2.) While the 20314's capacity of 15 sheets at a time and 13 feet per minute should be more than adequate for small office use, if you have a bigger business, you will want to find a more powerful machine, and Dahle makes several shredders with stronger motors that feature the same remarkable cutting head design.
3.) This is not a machine that is cut out for continuous use, and it should be treated as such. You will have no problems if you stay within the stated capacity of the 20314, but if you attempt to push it past its limits, the thermal protection will kick in and the shredder will shut itself off until it sufficiently cools down.
by: Jeffrey McRitchie
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