MBM Destroyit 4005 Shredder Review

Strengths:

1. The MBM Destroyit 4005 offers a super-wide 16 inch feed opening. This large opening enables users to shred just about any size document with ease. The sheet capacity of 30-32 pages on the cross cut model we tested was nice. The strip cut version is purported to be able to handle as many as 52 sheets at a time. That's impressive in anyone's book.
2. Safety is a big concern when you are talking about a shredder that a lot of people will be using in a typical day. The safety features of the 4005 are top notch, including a clear shield at the opening that will keep hands and clothing out; a well-designed, color-coded, and backlit control panel that lets the user know the machine's operational status at all times; automatic reverse function and power cut off in case of a paper jam; and power cut off when the bin is full or the whenever the cabinet door is opened. The safety shield in the feed opening also keeps stray shards of plastic from flying from the opening when you are shredding compact discs.
3. The 4005 not only has a photocell that automatically starts and stops the machine, there is a sleep function that kicks in after an hour on inactivity, which is a great energy-saving device.
4. The ECC or Electronic Capacity Control that uses a system of lights to indicate the sheet capacity level during the shredding process really impressed us as a great way to prevent paper jams before they happen.
5. A lot of people aren't aware that a shredder's cutting shafts need to be oiled from time to time to ensure proper function. The 4005 , however, comes with its own self-oiling system, and an indicator that lets you know when you need to change the oil bottle.
6. The cross cut model we tested shredded staples and paper clips, as well as credit cards, and CDs with ease. However the micro cut version will not shred CDs. That is something that is important to note.
7. The 4005 comes in four different security levels from strip cut (level 2) to cross cut (level 3 or 4) and even in National Security Administration and Department of Defense-approved super micro cut (level 6).
8. For such a powerful motor, we thought the 4005 was acceptably quiet in use. This is a great advantage in a busy office setting.
9. Destroyit offers a lifetime warranty on the cutting blades of the strip and cross cut versions, and one year coverage on the super micro cut model.
10. Though not as modern and sleek looking as some of the rest of Destroyit's line, the cabinet is made of wood, and is a nice change from the plastic bins we usually see in typical shredders.

Weaknesses:

1. This is a big, heavy machine. It comes mounted on casters which makes moving from room to room easy enough, but if you are going to have to move it from floor to floor on any sort of regular basis, you'd best have an elevator.
2. This is not a weakness per se, so much as a critique and advice: We don't know why Destroyit would offer this machine in a low-security strip cut version, and we're not sure why anyone would want to buy one. The cross cut versions offer superior security for shredded documents and the shredded cross-cut pieces are far more difficult (if not impossible) to reassemble.