Black & Decker MS500 Mouse Sander/Polisher

by Black & Decker

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

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

From the Manufacturer

The Mouse/Sander/Polisher is ideal for sanding, polishing, and scrubbing projects. Interchangeable bases, sold separate, can be attached to help you squeak in and around tight spaces and corners so you can reach all surfaces. This unit runs at 11,000 orbits per minute, which can tackle just about any job around the house. And, it features a lightweight/compact design with soft grips to maximize comfort and control, plus a Velcro fastening system that makes paper changes fast and easy.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 7.9 x 4 inches ; 2.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000050FBC
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: MS500
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,595 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #40 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Sanders > Detail Sanders
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Paper cost exceeds Mouse cost after 5 purchases, November 10, 2001

By 

C Jack Allen (McLean, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black & Decker MS500 Mouse Sander/Polisher (Tools & Home Improvement)

I wish I'd read the posts warning about the cost of the paper before I bought the Mouse. It's a very useful little tool, and it's easy to think of uses for it. Unfortunately, each use means a trip to the store for paper or pads. The paper is horribly expensive, and it's not feasible to substitute for it. I've used my Mouse on only about a dozen minor projects over the last year but have easily spent 3X the original cost of the unit on paper and pads.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sander good, paper too expensive and hard to find, August 17, 2001

By 

B. Rutledge "sjsdad" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black & Decker MS500 Mouse Sander/Polisher (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is a useful and well-made sander, but it only uses Black and Decker paper that costs [a lot of money] for 5 sheets (if you can even find the paper - it is here on Amazon.com, but usually is hard to find at a hardware store), making it too expensive to use a lot. Orbital sanders with standard size disks or palm sanders that use 1/4 sheets of regular sandpaper are much more economical - about one tenth the cost. It has performed well the times I used it, but I almost never use it due to the expensive paper (that lasts no longer than other paper - you will use up several sheets on a small project).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2* Not a Mickey Mouse Tool!, October 2, 2005

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Black & Decker MS500 Mouse Sander/Polisher (Tools & Home Improvement)

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!.