Some tools are classics, and if there were such a thing as a Tool Hall of Fame, they would be enshrined in it. The Black & Decker Mouse is one such "classic" tool. But over the years, it has evolved. Is it worth buying now?
What's the New Mouse Like?
The Black & Decker Mouse is a vibrating sander - of the type that has been around for many years. More correctly, the Mouse is an orbital sander, but the orbits clock in at over 11,000 revolutions per minute, so you cannot really feel the revolving motion.
The Mouse rocked the tool world when it first came out because of its unique shape which fit snugly in hand. In its most recent iteration, the Black & Decker Mouse's hand grip sits higher up (ironically, much like my computer "mouse"), keeping your hand farther away from the materials. Another welcome addition: gel grips. For ballpoint pens and office chair arms, gel grips are a nice, faddish thing to have, but not mandatory. But for a tool whose main job is to vibrate, gel grips are essential.
Also the Mouse has contour sanding attachments which help you get into tight and less-than-flat spaces. I'm not so sure of the necessity of these attachments, though. When you have nooks and crannies, about the only thing that will do the job is sandpaper and elbow grease.
Rounding out the product is a kit of goodies, including Mouse-specific sandpaper of varying grits.
The Mouse rocked the tool world when it first came out because of its unique shape which fit snugly in hand. In its most recent iteration, the Black & Decker Mouse's hand grip sits higher up (ironically, much like my computer "mouse"), keeping your hand farther away from the materials. Another welcome addition: gel grips. For ballpoint pens and office chair arms, gel grips are a nice, faddish thing to have, but not mandatory. But for a tool whose main job is to vibrate, gel grips are essential.
Also the Mouse has contour sanding attachments which help you get into tight and less-than-flat spaces. I'm not so sure of the necessity of these attachments, though. When you have nooks and crannies, about the only thing that will do the job is sandpaper and elbow grease.
Rounding out the product is a kit of goodies, including Mouse-specific sandpaper of varying grits.
