Black & Decker Sandpaper Assortment for MOUSE Sander (12-Pack)

Why I reached for this Mouse sandpaper pack

Detail work is where finishing jobs are won or lost, and a good assortment of abrasives for a compact sander saves time. I put the Black & Decker Mouse sandpaper assortment through several real tasks: stripping old lacquer from a chair back, flushing wood filler on a pine cabinet door, and easing paint drips on a window sash. Over a couple weekends, I cycled through the included grits (50, 80, 120, 220), swapped a few of the replaceable tips, and tried the contour sheets on curved profiles. Here’s how it behaved and how I’d use it next time.

Setup and compatibility

The sheets fit my Mouse detail sander cleanly, with the dust-extraction holes aligning as expected. On a generic triangular detail sander I keep in the shop, the shape was close enough to be usable, but the hole pattern didn’t line up perfectly. That meant dust collection wasn’t as efficient on the non‑Black & Decker tool. If you’re using a Mouse, expect a plug-and-play fit. If you’re using a different brand, the sanding surface still works fine; just don’t count on optimal dust pickup.

Hook-and-loop adhesion to the pad was generally secure, but the nose can lift once the sheet warms up under heavy pressure, especially after the abrasive loads. The replaceable tip system mitigates this—when the point wears first (it always does), you can peel off the small tip and stick on a fresh one without discarding the whole sheet. The swap takes seconds and extends sheet life meaningfully on detail-heavy tasks.

Abrasive performance by grit

• 50 grit: This is a truly aggressive cut for a small triangle. It made quick work of hardened varnish and did the heavy lifting on paint edges and epoxy patches, particularly in corners where a larger sander won’t reach. On softwoods like pine, it can bite deeper than you expect—keep the sander moving and ease off the pressure to avoid low spots.

• 80 grit: Useful for smoothing out the 50’s scratch pattern and for leveling filler. On oak and maple, it produced a consistent scratch that the 120 was able to clean up without a fight.

• 120 grit: This is the daily-driver grit in the pack. On bare hardwoods it left a uniform surface ready for 180–220 by hand or 220 on the sander. I used 120 to blend machine-sanded fields into hand-sanded profiles, and it behaved predictably.

• 220 grit: Good for pre-finish touch-ups, knocking down nibs between coats, and easing edges. Because the Mouse has a small contact area, you’ll still want to do your final passes with a sanding block on broad surfaces to ensure flatness, but 220 on the triangle is great for corners and small panels.

The aluminum oxide abrasive stands up well on clean wood. On resinous pine and old paint, it resists clogging better than bargain sheets I’ve used, but it’s not magic—load-up happens. A quick tap on the bench or a pass with a crepe cleaning block clears the face and buys more life.

Dust collection and surface quality

With the holes aligned to a vac-enabled Mouse, dust capture is respectable for a detail sander. Fine dust still escapes on end grain and in tight corners, but the perforations reduce airborne dust and keep the abrasive cooler. That cooling effect matters: a cooler sheet stays flatter, clogs less, and maintains adhesion at the hook-and-loop interface.

Surface quality improves dramatically with light pressure. Pressing harder doesn’t cut faster; it just warms the adhesive, invites pigtail swirls, and accelerates tip wear. Let the abrasive do the work, especially at 80 and finer.

Durability and wear

Detail tips are the first casualty on triangular pads. Here the replaceable tip feature is genuinely useful. On the chair back, I burned through two tips before the body of the 120 sheet showed much wear. Swapping the nose extended the sheet’s useful life by roughly a third. The seam between tip and body didn’t telegraph into the work unless I lingered right on the joint.

Overall, the backing paper and hook-and-loop held up as expected for a quality DIY/prosumer consumable. On curved moldings, the edges of the sheet can fray, particularly with the contour sheets, which are thinner and more flexible. Plan to use a couple of those on a project with lots of profiles.

Contour sheets in tight spots

The pack includes contour sheets designed for the Mouse’s profile attachments. These shine on coves, roundovers, and spindle-like shapes where a flat triangle can’t make full contact. I used them on a window casing with a shallow ogee and was able to maintain the profile without flattening details. They do wear faster than the flat sheets, largely because they’re flexed over a small radius. Still, they’re worth having when detail preservation matters.

Ergonomics and control

A triangle pad is all about access and control. The abrasives in this assortment track evenly without grabbing. The 50 grit is the only exception; on old finishes it can chatter if you drop into a recess at an angle. A light touch and keeping the pad square solves it. Swirl marks are minimal with 120 and 220, provided you vacuum the surface and move with the grain.

Mix and value

The 12-pack assortment covers the common steps, but the distribution means you’ll run out of 120 and 220 before the coarse sheets if you’re doing finish prep more than heavy removal. I’d love to see an intermediate grit like 150 or 180 in the mix; as is, I sometimes jumped from 120 on the Mouse to 180 by hand for a perfect finish. For users tackling both stripping and prep in the same project, this pack is a convenient starter that you can supplement with extra 120/220 as needed.

Price-wise, it sits above generic multi-brand triangles and below premium coated abrasives from industrial suppliers. The replaceable tips and contour sheets give it an edge over no-name assortments, particularly if you often attack corners where the nose wears out first.

Shortcomings to note

• Hook-and-loop adhesion at the tip can loosen when the sheet heats up or loads, especially under heavy pressure. Swap tips early and lighten your touch to reduce lift.
• The hole pattern is optimized for Mouse sanders; dust extraction on other triangles may be only so-so.
• The grit spread skips some useful steps (150/180). You may need to fill gaps with separate sheets for the best finish on furniture-grade work.
• Contour sheets wear faster than flat sheets; budget two per profile-heavy project.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re worth accounting for in your workflow.

Tips for best results

• Use light pressure. You’ll cut cleaner, keep the sheet cooler, and avoid adhesive fatigue at the tip.
• Clear the abrasive frequently. A quick vacuum or crepe block extends life and improves finish quality.
• Swap the nose before it’s totally bald. You’ll get a more consistent cut and avoid digging with a rounded tip.
• Step through grits. 50 → 80 → 120 → 220 gives predictable results; add a hand-sanded 180 step if you’re finishing hardwoods to a high standard.
• Pair with dust extraction. With the holes aligned, you’ll reduce clogging and keep fine dust out of your face.

Final recommendation

I recommend this Mouse sandpaper assortment for anyone using a Black & Decker Mouse or a compatible detail sander who wants a no-fuss fit, solid aluminum oxide performance, and the practical advantage of replaceable tips. It’s particularly good for projects heavy on corners and profiles—cabinet doors, window trim, furniture repairs—where the triangle pad shines and the contour sheets earn their keep. If you’re working on a different brand of triangular sander, it’s still a good option, but expect less-than-perfect dust hole alignment. And if you do a lot of finish prep, plan to supplement with extra 120/220 (and possibly 150/180) to round out your progression. Overall, it’s a reliable, thoughtfully configured pack that balances convenience and performance for detail sanding tasks.