Black & Decker’s 1.4-amp Mega Mouse sander/polisher comes in a carrying case with three attachments. The most useful for woodworkers is a 5-in.-dia. circular hook-and-loop pad for random-orbit sanding, which accepts sanding disks of any hole pattern. Faced with a different task, you can use the hex wrench to switch to a narrow finger attachment for detail work, or a clothes-iron-shaped pad for orbital sanding. Both of these options, however, require Black & Decker specialty sandpaper. The Mega Mouse can’t compete with high-end machines for continuous, heavy-duty work, but if you want these options without spending a lot of money—and you don’t expect good dust collection—this tool is worth a try.Â
—Andy Beasley is a retired U.S. Air Force instructor pilot who now spends his time working on his house near Hillside, Colo.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Makita XTR01Z 18V LXT
Power: Excellent
Cut visibility: Excellent
Control: Good (with standard fixed base)
Bit changes: Excellent
Depth adjustment: Fair
This tool is designed for convenience. The battery and pins are easy to load, and the safety lock operates with the same finger you use to pull the trigger. The depth of set is adjustable, there’s a work light, and there’s a hook for hanging the tool on your toolbelt. A gauge lets you keep track of when you’ll need to recharge.
The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in