I was looking for a shredder to replace my very old GBC Shredmaster strip-cut shredder, which was adequate for low security work, but left the papers easily reassembled and only ran for less than 10 minutes before needing to cool down. I chose the Aurora AU1210MA based on a recent Consumer Reports review which rated it a 70 vs. the Fellowes Powershred LX22M at 89, but the latter costs more than three times as much and only has a 30 minute run time vs. the Aurora's 60 minutes. The only other higher scorers were the Tru Red TR-NMC122A (scoring 72), which was about the same price and was rated slightly better for noise but it has a 5 minute run time followed by a 60 minute cool-down, and the Amazon Basics 8 sheet Microcut (scoring 71), costing quite a bit less, but it also has a 5 minute run time (with a 30 minute recovery period).
The Aurora arrived very well-packaged in a sturdy box with tight-fitting cardboard inserts that completely protected it from damage. It was not inside of a second box, and there was no need for one. It was easy to assemble and was more compact than I expected it to be. It weighs about 22 lbs, most of which is in the shredding head. The wheels make it easy to move around. I'm not sure if it would work with shredder bags, due to the bin layout, but I'm emptying it into a 30 gallon paper lawn/leaf bag so I can meet my county's requirements for curbside recycling of shredded documents, which prohibit plastic bags. The large opening of these paper bags makes it easy to empty the bin without spilling any confetti.
I've now been shredding old records containing sensitive information like Social Security numbers for several days and this is what I've noticed: the Aurora has never stopped working, despite some long shredding sessions and some thick sheafs of paper, and it has yet to jam. I've nearly filled a 30 gallon bag. It is very quiet, despite Consumer Reports rating it as a 3/5. My only minor complaint is that the bin isn't quite as sturdy as the rest of the unit, and requires a bit of care when reinstalling to make sure it is aligned properly so it will close completely. One thing I noticed from reading the owner's manual is that it can be oiled using ordinary vegetable oil -- no need to buy special purpose shredder lube or pre-treated sheets. That should save money over the long run. I've not oiled it yet, since it's just a few days old. I have shredded some stapled documents with no problems. I haven't tried any credit cards or CDs yet.
I think that this shredder will give me many years of service and I'm very happy with my purchase. While I would have loved to own CR's highest-scoring unit, I couldn't justify spending around $400 for it and I really appreciate that the Aurora has the best rated endurance of any of the models I considered.
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From the manufacturer
AU1210MA Professional Grade High Security 12-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper and CD/Credit Card Shredder
- Shreds up to 12 sheet of paper per pass
- Shreds CDs/DVDs, credit cards, staples, and paper clips
- 60 minutes continuous run time
- 5.0-gallon pull-out basket
- Advanced features: Auto-reverse
- Security level P-4 (5/32" x 15/32")
- Ultra-quiet operation
AU1210MA Aurora 12-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper and CD/Credit Card Shredder
Professional Grade High Security 12-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder
Advanced Features:
- High security micro-cut: Provides ultimate protection with particles 6 times smaller than typical cross-cut
- Anti-jam Auto-reverse: Overload Auto-Reverse to prevent paper jams.
Special Features
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Bright LED status indicators |
Micro-cuts paper for maximum securityDestroys CDs/ DVDs, credit cards, clips and staples. |
Non-stop 60 minutes continuous run time |
Advanced features:Auto-reverse Anti-Jam technology to clear paper jams. |
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| 12-Sheet Micro-Cut | 8-Sheet Micro-Cut | 10-Sheet Micro-Cut | 14-Sheet Micro-Cut | 15-Sheet Micro-Cut | |
| Customer Reviews |
8,491
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| Price | $123.74 | $107.49 | $159.98 | $127.98 | $256.00 |
| Model# | AU1210MA | AU860MB | AU1060MA | AU1410MA | AU1580MA |
| Sheet Capacity | 12-Sheet | 8-Sheet | 10-Sheet | 14-Sheet | 15-Sheet |
| Shred Type | Micro-Cut | Micro-Cut | Micro-Cut | Micro-Cut | Micro-Cut |
| Shred Size | 5/32" x 15/32" | 5/32" x 15/32" | 3/32" x 15/32" | 5/32" x 15/32" | 5/32" x 15/32" |
| Security Level | P-4 | P-4 | P-5 | P-4 | P-4 |
| Shreds | CDs/DVDs credit cards, staples, small paper clips | CDs/DVDs credit cards, staples, small paper clips | credit cards, staples, small paper clips | CDs/DVDs credit cards, staples, small paper clips | CDs/DVDs credit cards, staples, small paper clips |
| Continuous Run Time | 60 minutes | 6 minutes | 60 minutes | 30 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Bin Capacity | 5 gallons | 4 gallons | 6 gallons | 5 gallons | 8.5 gallons |
| Bin Type | Pullout Bin | Pullout Bin | Pullout Bin | Pullout Bin | Pullout Bin |
| Features | ShredSafe, Anti-Jam, LED indicators, Quiet operation | ShredSafe, LED indicators, Quiet operation | ShredSafe, Anti-Jam, LED indicators, Quiet operation | ShredSafe, Anti-Jam, LED indicators, Quiet operation | Anti-Jam, LED indicators, Quiet operation, Auto Power-off |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Aurora AU1210MA Professional Grade High Security 12-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper/CD and Credit Card/ 60 Minutes Continuous Run Time Shredder |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -29% $123.74 List: $173.99 | -26% $103.67 List: $139.99 | $147.99 | -10% $114.28 List: $126.98 | $95.98 | $129.48 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 |
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| Easy to use | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| capacity | 5 gallons | 5 gallons | 5 gallons | 5 gallons | 5 gallons | 4 gallons |
| sheet capacity | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
| cut type | Micro Cut | Micro Cut | Micro Cut | Micro Cut | Micro Cut | Micro Cut |
| operation mode | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | — | Automatic |
| weight | 22.4 pounds | 22.42 pounds | 22.1 pounds | 21.2 pounds | 21.5 pounds | 24.5 pounds |
Videos
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Customer Review: Quieter than expected and super powerful.
Mojo
Videos for this product
1:17
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Customer Review: Very satisfying non-stop shreddy action.
Ian James
Videos for this product
1:30
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Awesome Professional Grade Paper Shredder!
Jeff & Ben | PIU
Reviews with images
A Better Paper Shredder
My last shredder finally quit. I “threw the dice” on a new shredder, and I’m extremely pleased. The Indicator lights for various shredder-related issues are very helpful. I was able to handle a major (to me) shredding job with minimum fuss
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Top reviews from other countries
Donald Mulders
Powerful, capable paper shredder
Reviewed in Canada on June 9, 2020Model: AU1210MAVerified Purchase
Robert Riley
This gets the job done quickly
Reviewed in Canada on March 25, 2024Model: AU1210MAVerified Purchase
ARTURO FLORES
Sactisfacion del cliente
Reviewed in Mexico on April 22, 2022Model: AU1210MAVerified Purchase
