Customer Reviews

Black & Decker MS2000 Multi Sander with Smart Select

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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UPDATE #2!
Just finished making a half a dozen large poster sized picture frames (32" x 24") and decided to use this to sand down a few spots. While the sander worked... it didn't do a great job. The finest sandpaper I can find locally for it is 180 grit, which isn't fine enough for my projects where I typically end up using 400 grit for a pristine finish. This is the biggest complaint I have about this sander is the fact that you have to buy B&D's pre-cut hook and loop sandpaper at a crazy $1-$2 a sheet, where as most orbital rounds or plain sheet sandpaper will run anywhere from a few cents to MAYBE $.75 a sheet. For example I can pick up a twenty sheet pack of Norton 400 grit sandpaper for $10. While this on the other hand, the finest I can find for it is 240 grit, which runs $5 for five pre-cut sheets.

The fact that you just can't use any normal sheeted sandpaper with this machine is starting to wear thin on me... for that reason I have downgraded my rating to 3-stars.
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UPDATE #1!
Been using it a bit more and still liking it. I also forgot to mention one detail... you HAVE to use hook and loop sandpaper pads, you just can't go out and use regular ol sheeted sandpaper. It's be nice to be able to use standard non hook and loop pads but oh well.
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I must be some sort of sander collector... besides this Black & Decker I own a Porter Cable, Hitachi, and a Mikita all of which I use on a regular basis.

So lets get down to the nitty gritty of this sander. What makes this a great choice for the DIYer is the fact that it is a four in one design, no need for multiple sanders for different jobs... pretty nice. As for how the sander performs as these different sander, not bad.

The 1/4 sheet base and speed setting works pretty well. Great for knocking down really high spots fast as well as doing large surfaces and getting into areas that a random orbital sander just can't get into.

If you turn the 1/4 sheet base around it becomes your finish sander. Adjust the speed and change the grit and it does a FANTASTIC job. Easy to get into tight areas and produces a great finish.

The random orbital base and speed setting does a good job, but not as well as either the Porter Cable or Hitachi I own, then again those cost a considerable amount more then this... so honestly for the price it can't be beat.

And finally you have a detail sander base, very similar to Black & Decker's Mouse sander. It works good for getting into really tight areas, however the overall size of this sander prevents it from being a really great detail sander.

The noise level of this sander is above normal to my standards. The Porter Cable and Hitachi are quieter and better insulated. The quality of the tool isn't too bad, a lot of plastic and rubber but has a bit of heft to it.

I vowed never to purchase or own another Black & Decker tool, but this one has actually changed my mind. They must actually be working hard at producing fine tools at a reasonable price.

If you are considering getting a couple of different sanders, such as an orbital and a detail, buy this one tool, you wont be disappointed!

Pros:
Cost.
Tons of features.
Dust collection/filter work great, surprised the heck out of me.
Uses most started sized precut sandpaper sheets.
Quality of the tool is on par with most any other brand.

Cons:
Noise... found it to be noisier then I like my sanders to be.
Haven't owned it very long and Black & Deckers track record (for me at least) has been sketchy... so I'm not sure how well it'll hold up.
You have to use hook and loop sandpaper pads for all of the bases.
Dust collection could use some work, i.e. make it easier to empty it out.

Summary: "Jack of All Trades, Master of none" Overall I would definitely recommend this sander for the DIY'er, homeowner, hobbyist, or even to a very budget conscious woodworker for light and occasional use.

The key advantage is that it can switch between THREE modes: 1) Random Orbital Sanding(ROS) with 5" disks, 2) Orbital with a proprietary sanding pad (Which can get inside corners) and 3) Orbital with a detail pad (for sanding around spindles or intricate moldings, etc). All 3 modes use hook/loop (H/L) sandpaper. H/L sandpaper costs more than plain, but the convenience is great for swapping grits if you are a heavy userr, and the cost penalty is relatively small if you are an occasional user. For best results you should start with a coarse grit then move quickly to finer grades as the scratches come out. If there are deep scratches or blade marks I will start with an 80 grit. From here, to a 150, then 250, 330, etc. If I am staining (which is NOT often) then I will stop around 220-280. For an oil or natural finish I will go to 330. If I'm polishing aluminum, I will go to 400, 600, 1000, 1500.

Why do you need different modes? ROS sands quickly with "no" swirl marks so it's preferred for doing large flat surfaces (There are in fact swirl marks, but since they're random it's much harder to see them). ROS however can't do edges, narrow pieces, curved surfaces and you can't sand inside corners. That's why a lot of people end up buying more than one sander. If you can only afford one, most people will get a "1/4 sheet" orbital. This gives you a square sanding surface and allows you to use regular (and inexpensive) sandpaper. The down side is that changing sandpaper is a hassle and it's a lot slower on large flat surfaces.

The main drawback to this sander is that it isn't as balanced or isolated as the more expensive sanders - it's noisier and vibrates more and you have to get a better grip on it. Sanding freehand or sanding odd shapes is also harder. Not a big deal if you're doing smaller projects now and then. If you're thinking that you'll be using it more than an hour here or there or have a really large project (like refinishing all the cabinet doors in your kitchen) then you'll want a "Pro" level sander which is dedicated to a single purpose.

For the price you can't go wrong. The "Pro" level ROS are $20 more and they don't do detail or corners. The cheapest ROS I saw at Home Depot was the Ryobi, but for $10 you lose the dust collection and the other two sanding modes. It's definitely not as smooth as my Porter cable sanders, but for about a third of the price you get more capability than I have with a Quicksand (ROS) and Speedbloc (1/4 sheet orbital)

TIPS: You'll want to use the ROS 5" disks for most of your work, especially since the hook/loop disks cost about 1/4 of what they charge for "Mega Mouse" sanding pads. You can also cut up your ROS disks to make replacement sanding pads for the detail "Finger" Finally, to clean out the dust compartment I simply remove it and hold a shop vac nozzle against it. This helps clear out the filter so that it breathes again.

LIKES: 3 sanding modes, 2 speeds. Dust collector actually works well (The cloth bags typically don't work on the exra fine dust, which is the most hazardous to health. This even when I used it with 5 hole disks which blocked all but ~2 holes). Fast spin down. can use inexpensive 5" disks (for ROS). Storage bag for accessories. Works when it's cold. My PC Speedbloc (super quiet and balanced but expensive orbital sander) won't start up when it's freezing since the rubber isolators are too stiff (see my related review)

DISLIKES: More vibration and noise than I would be able to tolerate for long periods. Pricey "MegaMouse" paper. Switching to detail sanding mode requires removing and reinstalling a small screw (which I am leery of losing).

For context I have been doing woodworking for >30 years and doing extensive home handyman and repairs for >15 (neither professionally) in addition to Habitat for Humanity and other similar volunteer work.

B&D is targeted towards the homeowner and hobbyist but also make the majority of hand power tools used in manufacturing but they also make DeWalt. B&D is therefore good for someone who is more sensitive to price rather than wanting something which is bulletproof. I have a number of B&D tools and, price considered, am quite satisfied with them (Note: I panned a B&D cordless drills based on price - I paid 1/5 and was therefore happy overall)

Disclosure: I received this through the Amazon Vine program. If you've found this review helpful (or have questions), please let me know!

I knew I was going to like this sander because it evolved from the "Mighty Mouse" which I purchased to sand the corners of the fir floors in my San Francisco Victorian where an orbital sander wouldn't reach. It really tore up the wood (in a good way) and caused me to cancel an order for a much more expensive detail sander. Now, Black & Decker has expanded the concept with multiple bases that are easy to snap on and off, including a standard 5-inch, 8-hole orbital base.

This is a good thing and a great value as long as you understand what you are getting into. Essentially, this IS an orbital sander and as you swap out the bases and change the settings you are simply adjusting the torque and the speed. The sander will always rotate in a roughly circular pattern instead of back and forth or hitting the four corners of a rectangle like some palm sanders or detail sanders do. Read on for the pluses and minuses of this.

I already knew I like the mouse sanding features (using the triangular pad plus an extender "finger" for tight corners or detail work) and I do not have the patience for quarter-sheet sanding, so I went right to the circular orbital base and used it to sand a bunch of pine boards that had been rough-sawn for use in making Westport chairs. Normally I would use my Porter Cable for the job. I did not see any fall-off in performance with the Black & Decker and the sandpaper lasted just as long, so I would say the two are pretty close. That's pretty impressive since the Porter Cable orbital is close to $100 for a single-function sander.

But when I wanted to sand the edges of my 1-inch stock the sander became very difficult to control. I finally solved this by adjusting to the finger sanding setting without changing the base. But I'd compromised some square edges and I had to resolve to my Porter Cable to fix it. With more practice I will probably become comfortable with the Black & Decker but I can see a new user making a mess of a piece of stock. BUT, if you are just sanding a flat surface or maybe getting rid of old paint (two of the most common applications for orbital sanders) then I'd recommend this sander without reservation.

And I would definitely recommend this is a gift for somebody who does not have a power sander. The different bases provide a lot of versatility and they are easy to change. Also, the box is HEAVY which makes a favorable first impression. Heavy is good because it suggests the tool is not made of stamped parts.

I can think of two things I'd improve. First, there's a bag for the accessories but why not make it a little bigger so it will hold the sander itself? Sanders throw off a lot of dust and that's a problem if you have to keep them under the kitchen sink in condo etc. So buy a carry bag for your tool guy or gal and you will have an even better gift.

Second, the sandpaper is expensive if you buy it from Black & Decker, especially the specialized shapes used for the finger sander. Solution: buy some cheap generic 5 inch 8 hole hook and loop orbital paper (do a search on Amazon, it's here) then cut them to the shapes you need.

I admit, I am not Bob Vila or Norm Abram. Most of the woodworking projects I become involved in are those things which my wife suggests like "wouldn't it be nice to re-paint that dresser?" or "the finish on that table has gotten pretty bad... think you can fix it?" Sure, honey!

Unfortunately, I don't often have all the tools I need. And while I like to buy new tools, it's just not in my budget to own several sanders, saws, etc., when they may only get used once in a blue moon. So in the past, I've gotten out my trusty Black & Decker "Mouse" sander and tried to do as little damage as possible with the singular tool. That sander has lasted me for years, but is ill-suited for every purpose.

Well, I'm happy to say those days are OVER now that I have my Black & Decker Multi Sander! And on top of that, I really don't think it could be any easier to operate. In fact, I'm fairly certain my 5-year-old could figure it out! Just push a button to change out the sanding base to the one best suited for the type of job you're doing, turn the dial to match the base, snap on the filter so you aren't kicking sand everywhere (an AWESOME feature), and start sanding! It really is that simple! And the best part is that, when I'm done, I only have to put away ONE sander and not 3!

The MS2000 sander is really comfortable to hold. It's not too heavy, and has a nice rubberized top surface so your hand is cushioned and does not slip from the sander during operation. The cord is also very heavy-duty, so no worries about sanding through it.

On top of this, MS2000 Multi-Sander has a two-year warranty, so there's a little piece of mind with the purchase. I checked out other sanders of a simliar nature (there really aren't any), and most had lesser warranties. Black & Decker has always delivered good performance for me, so I expect the same from this tool.

I should add -- I've not really used it enough for any faults in construction to become evident. However, if there was one worth noting, it would be that this sander does not come with a case. It does include an "accessory bag", which is helpful, but it would be nicer to have a solid case for storing it in and keeping everything together. Some people like those, some do not. Also, it does require that you purchase the custom, pre-fitted sanding pads with the velcro backing. Those are certainly a little more pricy than sandpaper sheets, but they usually hold up pretty well unless you are doing some serious, heavy-duty sanding.

Overall, if you are someone who dabbles in varied projects and you are looking for a sander that will suit your needs without having to go buy several different sanders, this is the tool for you!

This is a handy little sander for small jobs around the house. I found that I was sanding down on the edger itself trying to sand deep into the corners. Another con is the price of replacement sandpaper. Other than that, it does do the job well and it's easy to handle and use.

The soft neoprene pad beneath the hook and loop on the base is too soft and wears out immediately at the edges and corners. I had work with many small tight surfaces that I used the corners of the pad on and it wore down quickly.

There are different types and styles of sand paper sold by Black and Decker and other producers. The sander product manual does NOT specify which type to get for this unit. The information on the packaging of the different Black and Decker sand papers, in the stores, confuses the issue.

The machine is not practical for real work other than large flat surfaces.

The online product registration requires that the customer FIRST sing-up to the web site and answer survey questions that are none of the business of the company. But if you don't answer you can't sign-on and so you can't register the product. I used a postage stamp and sent in the hard copy registration instead.

I liked the easy to remove interchangeable sanding bases. I liked the small amount of speed control. And I liked Amazon's price for it. Other outlets wanted $18.00 more for the unit which would have really felt like a rip off after the problems I had with the unit.

There is a nice button on the front which is supposed to release the sanding base (to switch the pointer for the round). However, though the button is easy to press, sometimes the stupid base doesn't want to come off and must be wiggled and shaken a lot. Other times it falls off easily. This feature clearly needs work.

The instructions are a bit weak, especially for a sander with a picture-based mode wheel which is clearly aimed at newbies.

One of the few pieces of advice was to start with a coarse paper (duh), but this thing only included 2 sheets of each shape, and both were the same grit.

However, the paper and sander are both of good quality. We used it for about 2 hours strait. The sandpaper is pretty tough stuff, and didn't wear out. The sander itself feels solid when operating, with no weird sounds or loose parts as I have experienced with generic machinery.

This review is for Black & Decker MS2000 Multi Sander with Smart Select.

** Main Feature:
This is a very versatile and inexpensive sander which is useful for a variety of sanding tasks. What makes this a great choice for the DIYer is the fact that it is a four-in-one design, no need for multiple sanders for different jobs... pretty nice.

The design of the unit make the hand positions ergonomic. And it has variable speed selector to slow it down for fine sanding task.

It is easy to swap out pads/devices with the push of a button...no tools required. And the dust collection/filter works great.

** Cons:
1. Overall limitation:
This sander is definitely not for sanding large areas but useful for sanding furniture or, a small area in a room such as a counter.

2. Expensive sandpaper:

The sandpaper is expensive if you buy it from Black & Decker, especially the specialized shapes used for the finger sander. Here is a tip to save you some money: get some cheap generic 5 inch 8 hole hook and loop orbital paper (it's available in Amazon) then cut them to the shapes you need.

3. Dust Collector:
It's hard to empty the dust collector. You can dump out larger particles but a lot will stay trapped inside. The air compressor blowing won't help too much either.


** In Summary:

This is an okay tool for people who don't need to do very much sanding. Overall I would definitely recommend this sander for the DIY'er, homeowner, hobbyist. Also, this is a nice gift choice for somebody who does not have a power sander. The different bases provide a lot of versatility and they are easy to change. I take out 1 point as it is difficult to clean the dust collector.

Works great on flat horizontal surfaces, however, for vertical surfaces the unit gets heavier the longer you use it. Be prepared for more breaks! Not much B&D can do about this as I am using for commerical purposes.

I would like to suggest to B&D to see if they can create a soft/flexible contour pad for slightly round and curved surfaces for both wood and metal surfaces. Of course, you will need sandpaper for metal surfaces, too.

Black & Decker MS2000 Multi Sander with Smart SelectThe Black & Decker MS 200 Multi Sander was my choice among a crowed field of hand-sanders. The deciding factor was the higher amperage but I also appreciate the included orbital cup, the variable speed selector, the removable finger attachment, the storage bag (though too small to hold everything included) and the multiple ways of attaching the sanding base. Compare amperage among the different brands. More is better, as long as you can control the speeds. The design of the unit make the hand positions ergonomic, and the dust collector mounts securely and works well. If would be nice if the low setting was a bit lower for detail work, but I suspect this comes at a price for the additional power. Unit feels solid and should work well for most needs.