4.7.2015

A lovely little sander that's helping me bring new life to a tired old yellow chair. Looking forward to working on other small projects around the house.In the box:- Power sander, including dust collector and attached plug- Finger attachment for sanding fine details- 2 small sanding mesh sheets for the fine detail finger- 2 each of fine (240g), medium (120g) and course (80g) sanding mesh sheets for the main sanding plate (6 in total)- Instruction leaflet (clear, detailed and helpful - couldn't ask for more)What you will also need:- Eye protection (essential – it is a power tool, after all)- Face mask (to stop you breathing in the dust if sanding indoors; I sanded outdoors so didn't bother)-Small philips head screwdriver to attach the fine detail finger- Dry cloth to wipe dust off the sander; and soft dry brush (to clean the filter, which needs to be done every 10 mins of use)The sanding mesh sheets were a design I hadn't seen before - last time I used a power sander it was a circular attachment for an old powerdrill, so this was a new product for me to try. They work like velcro, sticking firmly to the sanding plate on the device. Press on, pull off – simples. They do a great job, with the rough sanding pad cutting through the old yellow paint on a wooden chair and the fine one producing a smooth surface to the exposed wood. (See the first photo, where the chair leg in the top of the picture has been sanded back to wood.)The fine detail finger was straightforward to attach to the sanding base – just unscrew the one screw holding on the diamond-shaped tip of the sanding base and replace it with the fine detail finger, then stick on a small sanding mesh sheet. I tried the fine detail finger out on a corner of the chair and it got right into the corner. (See the second photo where the shadow cast by the finger points to the spot sanded.)So far, I don't know how long each sanding mesh sheet will last, but I suppose that’s an expense that comes with any power sander. Sandpaper wrapped round a block of wood applied with elbow grease will always be cheaper. The sanding base (the ‘velcro’ part attached to the tool) can be replaced when worn and not “sticky”.When you’re sanding, do expect fine dust to be produced; I find it better to sand outside, which is easy to do with a power cord if working on portable items like the chair. To be honest, I couldn't see how the attached dust collector made any difference to the amount of dust produced by the sander; I tried the sander without the dust collector on and it just seemed to mean a small amount of air came out the back of the sander where the dust collector had been.The first challenge I faced was to get the sander out of the storage case! I had to slice through the two product labels stuck down the sides of the storage case in order to open it. Once inside, the power sander was straightforward to use.One note of caution: older furniture may be covered in lead paint so wouldn't be suitable for sanding off in case you breath in the dust and poison yourself. In that case, use a chemical paintstripper instead. Also, please note this mouse sander is only suitable for small jobs because it's so tiny.

7.7.2015

SANDERJust six months ago, as it happens, I bought the Terratek 180W 3 in1 Multi functional Sander, for a total of £33, including P&P (now down to £29). But what you need to bear in mind is that it comes with no less than 60 sanding sheets which at the very cheapest price is worth £18. I doubt you get much cheaper than this, palm-sander-wise, and it works a treat for my very limited purposes.So what’s extra special about this £50 B & D ? Let’s start with the instructions. Having recently so suffered, we are not here burdened with an irritating vast sheet or thick booklet containing instructions in 27 languages, of which only two pages are relevant for the UK.I’d pay a pound or two extra for that pleasure alone – it demonstrates a sensitivity to customer friendliness frequently lacking in other products, even expensive and supposed quality items.The tool – and it’s carry-box – oozes quality from the moment you pick it up; the Terratec is fine, especially given its price, but this one has an emphatic luxury look and feel, at least to my eyes. It’s B & D, so you have at least to assume that it’s of equal quality on the inside; I’m still using B&D tools I bought thirty years ago.In operation, it‘s faultless, handling well in my arthritis-riddled hands, and accommodating nicely to my feeble grip; but whilst so does the Terratec, I find the latter’s on-off switch a pain, due to its awkward position and lack of positivity, and its power lead is inconveniently short. The B&D’s dust collector is unique, and greatly to be preferred to the cheap, nasty, often insecure, leaky cloth bags attached to other makes, including the Terratec; but no dust collector will prevent all dust escaping from the edges of the tool, especially with certain materials, or eliminate the need for dust masks – even outside, if there’s no strong breeze.Obviously it sands efficiently, how could it not ? And the little finger-sander is invaluable for certain applications – how much it’s worth to you in particular depends entirely on your type of work.A tool’s lifespan depends upon the amount and type of use it gets, but even when all things are equal, it’s a quality only the passage of time can prove. For my purposes these days – sanding art boards and erasing failed paintings - this sander is undoubtedly overkill and the Terratec just right – but back in the day, I would have determinedly forked out the big bucks for a tool with the high quality feel that this has, in the belief, substantiated by experience, that it’s a risk worth taking; since, by and large, you do get what you pay for, and the chances are that it would comfortably cope with the long-term frequent use of those far-off days, without dying on me in the middle of a job, a risk always involved with cheaper products. And who doesn’t luxuriate in seeing lovely, expensive, quality-looking stuff displayed neatly (or not !) in his workshop ? That feeling alone, every time you walk in there, is worth a bob or two…

21.7.2015

The Black & Decker 120W Mouse Sander (KA2500K-GB) is a small hand sander that's ideal for general DIY projects and furniture restoration.WHAT YOU GET:The Mouse Sander comes in a small-to-medium-sized hard plastic storage case that double-clips shut at the top. Inside the case the Mouse Sander fits snugly within its designated position, keeping it protected and tidied away perfectly.The Mouse Sander measures approximately 24cm (L) x 10cm (W) x 13cm (H). The sander also has a 118cm long mains lead (from the sander handle to the 3-Pin UK plug).Also included are 2x 280g mesh sanding sheets, 2x 120g mesh sanding sheets,2x 240g mesh sanding sheets and 2x 120g mesh detail finger sanding sheets.Finally you also get a small 6 page instruction manual.SET UP:Setting up the Mouse Sander is absolute simplicity itself. Simply press the desired mesh sanding sheet onto the Velcro-like base of the sander, plug in the sander, and away you go.IN USE:The Mouse Sander is certainly an effective hand hander - sanding down thick varnish within a handful of seconds of circular motions (see accompanying video). Used on reasonably soft woods (such as pine) the sander really comes into its own, sanding down the wood to a consistent smooth finish with very little effort or skill required.The Mouse Sander has a micro filtration dust canister attached to its rear which collects a fair portion of the fine dust produced whilst sanding. Obviously with sanding you'd expect dust particles to be produced, and so having an attachment to reduce this output is certainly an advantage. We have a similar hand sander which doesn't include one of these dust collecting canisters and to be honest the difference is instantly noticeable. However, it should be noted that the canister does not collect all of the dust particles, and so a face mask is definitely necessary (as well as a well ventilated area to work in).Using the fine 240g mesh sanding sheets, the sander produces an incredibly smooth finish to the wood. Used in conjunction with say the 240g sheets (to get the wood to a reasonable finish first) the sander can produce a very effective and near-perfectly finished area.Furthermore, the sander comes with a small finger attachment which can be quickly and easily screwed on to the base of the sander for sanding down more intricate areas. The elongated diamond shaped finger sanding sheets are fully reversible, meaning you can reverse them once the tip has become worn down, effectively extending the life of the sanding sheet.SUMMARY:Okay, so for a small hand sander of this type the price is perhaps a tad more than you might usually think of paying. However, the quality of the sander, with its hard-wearing thick rubber handle, its micro filtration dust canister, and its finger attachment for small areas, makes the extra cost worthwhile (in my opinion at least).All in all I couldn't be happier with the Mouse Sander.

7.7.2015

This Black and Decker KA2500K-GB 120W Sanding Mouse comes well presented in a plastic tool case and in the box you get the Sander Mouse with integral dust collector, finger attachment for detailed sanding complete with 2 small sanding mesh sheets for it, plus, 2 sanding meshes each of fine (240g), medium (120g) and coarse (80g) for the main sanding plate plus a clear instruction leaflet. My immediate impression on opening the box was that Black & Decker have gone up in the quality stakes a bit - the overall presentation, kit box and general feel of the tool is of a quality product. The unit comes with a 2 year warranty.The opportunity to try out this sander was timely as I am just restoring a bathroom door and have used the sander quite a lot.

22.4.2014

I have toyed with buying a B&D Mouse for sometime, but was not sure about committing based on some reviews and the uncertainty of where I could buy the replacement sanding paper and how cost effective it would be (and which types to get as each grade of paper is explained differently on different sites).I am so pleased I went ahead and bought the KA280, I love the iron shaped based plate and the finger attachment (not so sure on the 'sanding disc' base yet, it made my arms ache and hands red and didn't seem to be as effective as I'd hoped).I gave the mouse a good run in over the weekend on some old very silvered garden benches - wow what a change!

6.8.2015

I know this Black and Decker KA2500K-GB 120W Sanding Mouse is a small sanding mouse but I wasn’t prepared for the quite compact plastic box it came in. It may be small but it’s really well packaged and protected. In the case you get the sander and dust collector along with a detailed finger sanding attachment, 2 x 180G Mesh sanding sheets, 2 x 120G Mesh sanding sheets and 2 x 80G Mesh sanding sheets. Not to mention a comprehensive instruction manual. The general feel an quality is good probably better than the entry level mouse that I already have (no dust collector with the entry level).This sander couldn’t have come at a better time for me as I’ve been meaning for a while to sand back and paint the bay sash window at the front of my house.

7.8.2015

I bought one of the original B&D Mouse sanders a couple of years ago.It was a little bit noisy and vibrated quite a bit, but it was small enough for my wife to use securely (she was never happy using the larger 'orbital' type sanders as they were heavy and hard on her arthritic hands) and it had the advantage of a small corner shaped sanding head, so you could get to narrow mouldings and tight spots with ease.This new model is much better. It vibrates a little less and has good, grippy shape with soft 'gel' areas to squeeze to get a really good grip.The new style sanding pads fit with velcro (as before) but they are made from a sort of mesh material, which is really easy to clean.

13.7.2015

I first used a mouse sander around 5 years ago and was impressed by how easy it made the job of sanding intricate areas of woodwork; I didn’t think it could be improved upon but Black and Decker has done just that with mesh sheets instead of sandpaper.Sanding does appear to be a more efficient process and the mesh sheets are easy to attach and change due to the usual Velcro-style system on the sander. A finger attachment is included for even more intricate work although I find I have limited need to use that as the mouse is small enough for most jobs.Black & Decker state that the mesh sanding sheets last up to four times longer than the traditional version; they certainly don’t need to be

24.5.2015

This arrived within hours of ordering, so top marks there. After spending ages trying to open the carry case (you have to run a stanley knife down the stickers on the sides - duh), I had a look inside. Yup - all there. So I had a go at taking the base plate off - yes, I've read the reviews on here, so it's the first thing I checked.Well, you've got to say it was difficult, but do-able. Once I'd got it off, close inspection revealed the problem. There are two spring clips which engage in grooves in the baseplate; when you press the release button, the springs retract, allowing you to pull the baseplate off. Trouble is, they don't q-u-i-t-e go all the way,

29.10.2016

When the motor on a first generation mouse burnt out after a few years of sanding everything from loose paint on doors and windows to plaster walls it seemed logical to replace it with the second generation model, if only because the more powerful motor should last longer.The new model looks odd with the collection box sticking out the back and you feel it must make the unit cumbersome, but in use you hardly notice it. It doesn't affect the grip at all and it hardly ever gets in the way. It does collect a fair bit of dust or sawdust which is a bonus,and is fairly easy to empty. The old mouse has a dust collection system which was not that effective - who ever hooks up to a dust extraction system or vacuum cleaner?

5.7.2015

I've had a few of these small craft sanders including a previous model B&D mouse in the past and I have to say this new model is certainly the best. Supremely easy to use and effective for low-intensity sanding it's very adaptable, with a fine detail finger for getting into awkward places. Black and Decker have always provided decent power to these tools and the current 120W is just the job. It's also really well designed ergonomically- easy to hold and manipulate for a good period of time without too much strain or weariness from the vibration, aided by the soft grip areas. As usual, the sanding pads are straightforward to fix and remove, attached by a velcro-like system.

23.10.2015

If dust collection is an important factor for you, you might not be too impressed. For me, I don't mind the dust, I work outdoors and it's just not an issue that bothers me.I use this sander for woodwork and it’s filled a hole that’s long been an irritation for me. A standard sander is bulky and next-to useless in tight spots, if you’re working on something intricate it’s just out of the question. This sander on the other hand is brilliant at just that, and it really has made things so much easier, I’m very impressed. The iron shape gives you a lot of flexibility, and when you combine that with a very low weight you have a tool that’s extremely versatile and can help you out in all sorts of situations.The velcro mesh is a considerable advance over the older sanders,

12.4.2016

I needed a handy sander that came with a hard case & had a variety of accessories as a total solution package.I read some of the reviews on here & did have some concerns BUT went for it anyway.I have just completed my 1st job using it & have to say that it worked out absolutely fine!The selection of velcro attached, different graded sand papers are limited though to just 1 of each type & I used the coarsest grade 1st. It was spent really before the job was complete so had a labour a little longer than anticipated on the next grade down.I regret now not buying some of the optional packs that were offered at the point of buying.I was just making sure the unit worked & did what I needed before committing to having a supply of sand papers.If your in the market for a reliable,

15.7.2015

I like updating, rejuvinating and upcycling furniture and my husband is a handyman and so a decent mouse sander is an essential piece of kit for us.I hadn't seen these kind of sanding pads before - the mesh is an interesting idea and essentially means that unlike traditional sandpaper pads, which quickly get clogged with dust, these allow the dust to pass through and into a small dust chamber, which filters the particles whilst allowing the air to flow through. The mesh pads are longer lasting than traditional pads - up to 4 times longer lasting, which is great news and they attach very easily with Velcro.The dust collection chamber works to a degree, but there was a fair amount of dust flying around when we tried it out,

26.7.2017

Good power and ergonomically designed, but I went through three of the supplied pads on one table top. In fairness, it was a pretty weathered outdoor table that someone had left out in the rain for extended periods. But they do claim that they are "innovative mesh sanding sheets provid[ing] four times the life of standard sand paper" so I was expecting a little more. Given that you can get 50-80 standard sheets for the price of 3 of the mesh variety, I think I'm certainly going to at least try that route.The device itself seems great. It is very small, but that is useful for many tasks, particularly furniture. The filter grabs a lot of dust, though I'd still work outside if you can. If not,

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