After pulling out our microscope and taking a closer look, the Intimus 502 (1/4) Strip-Cut Shredderhas proved to be a worthy machine. It's a fairly versatile machine witha not-too-crazy price tag either (but remember you can often get abetter deal if you call or email :-) Overall we'd recommend thismachine but cable reel suppliers I suggest that you take a look at the specs yourself.

Security

This is the second lowest level of security available rated at a 2.This strip-cut shredder is a tad better than a level 1 machine but nota whole lot. If you are really concerned about the information on yourdocuments then we highly recommend that you start looking at some ofthe cross-cut machines. The one benefit of the strip-cut machine isthat you can shred faster and more pages per pass. Just make sure thatyou are choosing the right security level for your needs.

Shredable Material

The Intimus 502 (1/4) Strip-Cut Shreddercan shred Paper, Paper Clips, Staples. If you need to be able to shredsomething else then we recommend that you look at a larger machineand/or look for something with a little bit lower security (the higherthe security the less likelihood that the machine shreds somethingother than paper).

Continuous Motor

This shredder is rated for continuous operation. That means thattheoretically you could shred all day long and the machine would nothave to shut-down to cool off. Remember that results may vary underreal-world operating conditions and things such as the temperature ofthe room will affect the ability of this motor to stay cool andcontinue to shred. We give this machine 2 pats on the back for beingrated continuous duty and we know that you'll appreciate this featurein due time.

Bin Size

The Intimus 502 (1/4) Power Strip Outlet Manufacturers Strip-Cut Shredderhas a 22.4 gallon bin. We're happy with this size because it will giveyou a bit more time between emptying your bin. Although the size maymake it difficult to fit this shredder in a tight space, it's alwaysworth it in the long run to get a bigger bin size and move your officearound a bit.

Throat Size

We love the 10.25 inch throat on this shredder because you can putin odd sized paper and it leaves plenty of breathing room when it comesto regular sized paper. Some of the smaller machines will crumple thepaper and eventually jam because the throat opening is just not largeenough.

Auto Oiler

With an Optional Auto-Oiler available on this machine we highlyrecommend that you get it pre-installed. The machine is pre-wired toaccept an oiler so all the manufacturer has to do is hook it upproperly and you'll never have to worry about messy oil again.Automatically oiling your machine takes the guess-work out ofmaintenance and will most likely increase the life of your machine.

Warranty

The 3 years parts/labor - 5 years cutters on the Intimus 502 (1/4)Strip-Cut Shredder is one of the best in the industry so rest assuredthat you are covered. Just make sure that you oil your machine andavoid inserting any foreign object in the cutting heads and you'll bejust fine!

Price

With an MSRP of $2,920.00 this shredder is not the cheapest aroundbut remember to NEVER pay the full amount. You can find discounts of upto 50% off if you look around on the web.

About the Manufacturer

Martin Yale Industries is a US manufacturer of office and mailroomequipment designed to make work life more productive and secure.Founded in 1940, Martin Yale has over 68 years of experience designing,engineering, and manufacturing quality products for the office.

Manufacturer Jargon

Great shredder for small departments and multiple users. Alsohandles media storage! For all general office requirements with variousshred sizes to fit all security needs. Handles computer printouts withease. Attractive enough to fit any office decor. User friendly,automatic operations. Also available for CD ROMs and diskettes.

So as I mentioned before, we think that the Intimus 502 (1/4) Strip-Cut Shredderis a worthy competitor and deserves a second look. If you have morespecific questions I didn't answer here, feel free to give us a calland we'd be happy to help you out. I also wanted to remind you thatreal-world conditions do not always produce the same results that youmight expect from the listed specs. Happy Shredding!