As smooth as a baby's butt (Black & Decker Orbital Sander)

Member Name: raynor238

Product:	Black & Decker Orbital Sander
Date:	05/07/01 (1463 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very effective, Easy to Use, Quiet/Low Vibration

Disadvantages: Not Cheap, To use, you are actually doing DIY - a disadvantage in itself

My entire house is now as smooth as a baby's butt.

Destruction of the Raynor house Part III

After owning this sander for 4 weeks, I have systematically sanded every surface in my house, whether it needed it or not. Doors, window frames, skirting boards, you name it - it's smooth.

How can I describe a sander, and make it seem exciting? Simple fact - I can't. A sander is a small household electrical power tool used for rendering surfaces smooth - as simple as that, no more, no less, and there is not really anything sexy about it.

The sander has 4 interchangeable modes dependent on the surface you are working on. This allows you to perform detailed sanding on window frames and banister rods through to large area sanding on floor boards, walls and ceilings. It is a simple mechanism to change sanding modes with a snap-fit lock and a small screw action.

The sanding sheets are also incredibly to change, being attached by velcro - simply rip off and attach another. Even the detail sanding sheets which are only about one inch across attach firmly with a simple velcro fitting.

Sanding itself is very easy, as the sander has a variable speed setting suitable for any surface, and little pressure is needed to achieve the desired effect. There is only a small amount of vibration feedback (although this could be a negative point to some!) and the result of this is that you can continue working for much longer periods without having to take a break to rest your arms.

Another great feature is the inbuilt braking system which will prevent gouging if uneven pressure is applied. This allows you to put more effort into what you are actually doing rather than how you are doing it.

There is a small dust collection bag at the back, but this is only of use when detail sanding, as it cannot pull in a large amount of the dust. You can connect a vacuum cleaner, but this makes operation very unwieldy. I found the
best option to be for my wife to follow me around (particularly whilst doing the ceiling) holding the nozzle of the vacuum next to the sander. This left very little mess, and also eliminated the requirement for me to work with a 20lb vac strapped to my back!

As I said earlier, nothing to get excited about. But somehow, I was grabbed by the thrill of it. Once I had done a door, I felt an addictive pull towards the next item, and so on. I felt like a cross between a pyromaniac with his first match box, and Jack Nicholson in the Shining. The sander was my axe and I was maniacally 'destroying ' everything in my path. (For those of you who have read any of my previous DIY chronicles, this mood was exactly the same as the ones brought about by my new jack-hammer, and jigsaw). I hope it isn't just me who gets a bit insane with tools, as it is a great feeling that I wish you could all share.

As a sander, this was by far the most expensive in Argos, but easily the most versatile. It is quite expensive for a domestic tool (although mine was paid for by Regal Focus points - who says smoking is expensive?) although its durability and flexibility will surely make it worthwile over the years.

It is more than capable of doing every job required of it, so if you need any sanding then it will make sense to go with this one.

Summary: