Black & Decker MS500 Mouse Sander/Polisher
by Black & Decker
(Click here)
Product Details
Manufacturer: Black & DeckerModel: MS500
Product features:
- Compact design
- Ligthweight ergonomic design with soft grips
- Optional interchangeable bases
- Dust sealed switch for extended life
- Two year home use warranty
Description of Black & Decker MS500 Mouse Sander/Polisher
The smooth, contoured grip on Black & Decker's Mouse sander/polisher fits snugly in your hand, making this tool remarkably easy to use. The two interchangeable bases are easy to put on and take off (although we had to do it a couple of times to get the hang of it). The iron shaped base is specially designed for larger sanding, scrubbing, and polishing jobs, while the base with a detail tip is perfect for maneuvering in smaller, hard-to-reach areas. The Velcro fastening system makes paper changes quick and easy, saving you both time and frustration. And, because the tip of the sandpaper commonly wears out first, each sheet of sandpaper comes with an extra tab; simply rip the tab off along the perforated lines and use it to replace the tip when it wears out. The Mouse runs at 11,000 orbits per minute, a nice balance between strength and finesse.We tested ours sanding in between chair spindles and were immediately impressed with the smooth (and fast) results. Then we switched bases and put the Mouse to work on larger surfaces; vibration was minimal. The Mouse is easy to control--which is a big plus if you plan to use the tool for long periods of time. It's a great buy for home hobbyists. In fact, when you get right down to it, your imagination might be the only limit on how many projects this tool can tackle. --Dori Anvinson
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Black & Decker MS500 Mouse Sander/Polisher
Customer Review: 4 1/2* Not a Mickey Mouse Tool!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a versatile sander/polisher (depending on what type of abrasive naterial you velcro-attach to the hook and loop base) that can tackle small jobs such as refurbishing furniture as well as medium-heavy ones including removing old paint from small sections of a house's exterior!
Advantages include its light weight, making it easier to handle for long periods of time; a pointed tip for sanding in tight places such as where wood meets at 90 degrees; and the ease of changing the sanding material. It's also priced well; however, you should look at the similarly priced kit on Amazon.com that also comes with sanding/polishing materials.
The disadvantages are relative to your job. It's certainly not as powerful as the typical orbital sander, and therefore will be slower and more tiring for large jobs such as exterior paint removal (after the surface has been prepped by chipping away at old paint). In fact, I generally wouldn't recommend it paint removal/wood sanding at all except that the Mouse's lower weight can be convenient when you're on a shakey ladder sanding the outside of a second floor and want a light, versatile tool.
Sandpaper: THere have been a lot of complaints from reviewers about the price and availability of the pre-cut Mouse sandpaper. I think this is no longer the problem it once was: Black and Decker is lowering its price, and 3-M sells a nicely competitive material that fits the Mouse (available at OSH). With a coarse (say 60-grade) sandpaper with a smallish target zone, you can sand just as well as with a larger orbital sander (for example, the "old-model" Black and Decker R100.) Therefore, for small areas with areas needing precision, and for sanding way up on a ladder (when getting it done fast is a priority) the Mouse does a surprisingly better job than the more powerful, traditional sanders.
Another potential disadvantage of this model is that it has fewer features and less versatility than other Mouse versions. For about another $10 you can get the Mouse 560, which has a more supportive grip (might be nice, but I didn't think the grip design was a problem with the Mouse 500), and some sort of extension for doing detail work in tight spaces. This last feature seems worth the extra money if you're going to sand/polish in tight spaces. The Mouse 500 is fairly tall; for example I was unable to fit the sander between an exterior wall and a fence.
For somewhat more money (current sale price is about $60), the Mega Mouse 700 4 in 1 Sander/Polisher uses interchangeable bases and has a dust collector of dubious utility (see the mixed reviews here at Amazon.com). I think that unless you reallly know that you need the 700's features, either the 500 or the 560 will nicely fit your needs. Overall, you'll be happier with your purchase if you understand your needs and the sander's benefits and limitations (compared to full-sized orbitals), and be sure to buy the correct grip for the intensity of your job!.
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