Black & Decker Sandpaper Assortment for MOUSE Sander, 220-Grit, 5-Pack

A finishing standby for detail sanders

I’ve been working through a batch of window trim and a couple of beech drawer fronts lately, and for the final surface prep I reached for Black & Decker’s 220-grit Mouse sheets. On a detail sander, 220 grit is the sweet spot for smoothing after 150/180, scuffing between coats, and knocking down light primer nibs without chewing through edges. These sheets tick the right boxes: aluminum oxide abrasive, holes that align with the Mouse dust system, and a clever replaceable tip to extend life where it wears the fastest.

What you get

The assortment I used includes five full-size 220-grit sheets sized for Mouse detail sanders along with a set of contour pieces for reaching tight curves and profiles. The full sheets have the familiar tear-off tip—once the nose of the triangle is spent, you peel it off and stick on a fresh tip to keep working without tossing the whole sheet. The contour pieces are cut to fit the sander’s finger/contour attachment, which is handy for inside corners, cove moldings, and furniture details that are awkward with the main pad.

At around thirteen dollars for the pack, you’re paying for convenience and fitment as much as abrasive. Because they’re purpose-cut for the Mouse and perforated for dust collection, there’s no trimming or punching required—just slap and go.

Fit and setup

Fitment on my Mouse was excellent. The hook-and-loop backing grabs firmly, and the perforations line up with the platen so the dust ports can do their job. I ran them both on the sander’s standard triangular pad and on the finger attachment; the contour pieces wrapped the finger neatly and didn’t creep under vibration. No edge overhangs, no misaligned holes, and no need to fuss.

One small tip: seat the sheet by pressing from the center out, then tap the nose and heels of the triangle with your fingers to make sure the hook-and-loop is fully engaged. That prevents the corners from lifting when you’re working along trim edges.

Performance on wood and finishes

On softwood (radiata pine casing), the scratch pattern was consistent, with minimal random deep scratches. Two quick passes after 180 grit removed mill glaze and softened sharp factory edges without rounding them excessively. On hardwood, I used them to refine a maple face frame before dye. The sheets stayed even and flat, and I didn’t see the swirl marks that cheaper papers sometimes leave when the abrasive coating is uneven.

Where these sheets shine is between coats. After spraying a waterborne polyurethane, one or two light passes knocked down the dust nibs nicely without cutting through on edges—provided I kept the sander moving and used a light touch. I also used them to scuff sand a primed MDF shelf; the aluminum oxide resisted loading reasonably well, though MDF dust always tests clog resistance. A quick knock against my palm or a swipe on a crepe cleaning block cleared the face and restored bite.

Durability and wear

Detail sanding is brutal on the tip, and that’s where the replaceable nose earns its keep. I wore out the tip first, as expected, then swapped in a fresh one and got noticeably more working time from each sheet. Across a morning’s work—scuff sanding four drawer fronts between coats and prepping two window casings—I used two full sheets and two spare tips. That’s decent, not stellar.

Durability is influenced by technique. With light pressure and clean dust extraction, the sheets hold up; lean on the sander to “make it cut” and you’ll cook the abrasive and glaze the paper early. Aluminum oxide is a good all-rounder for this grit, and these performed like a mid-tier paper: consistent cut for most of their life, then a fairly abrupt drop-off rather than a gentle fade.

If you’re grinding through old paint or heavy primer overspray, expect shorter life. For that kind of work I’d start with a coarser grit and save the 220 for the last pass.

Dust collection and cleanliness

The perforations in the paper align with the Mouse’s pad, and with a vacuum attached, dust capture was solid. In my shop, sanding pine and maple, I saw noticeably less airborne dust and the abrasive stayed cooler and cleaner longer. Without suction (just the onboard canister), collection was adequate but the paper loaded faster, especially on primer. If you have the option, hook up a vac; it meaningfully extends the life of these sheets and improves finish quality.

Contour work and tight spaces

The included contour pieces are worth having if you use the finger attachment. I used them on a small crown molding profile and the inside corners of a shaker door. They tracked the shape well and didn’t tear at the edges, which can happen when a sheet is too stiff or poorly cut. On very tight radii, I finished by hand anyway, but the time saved getting 80% of the way with the finger attachment was noticeable.

The full triangular sheets also perform well for inside corners and along trim reveals. The replaceable tip keeps the nose cutting cleanly, which matters when you’re chasing nibs into corners between coats.

Technique tips for best results

• Let the abrasive do the work. Light, even pressure keeps the scratch pattern uniform and prolongs life.
• Keep it moving. Pausing in one spot with a detail sander invites divots on soft woods and burnishing on hardwoods.
• Clean the sheet. Tap it out or use a crepe block whenever you notice reduced cut, especially after sanding primer or waterborne topcoats.
• Work up to 220. Don’t expect it to remove 120-grit scratches in one pass; 150/180 then 220 yields better results.
• Rotate the sheet. If one edge is wearing faster (often the heel), peel and re-seat to use fresher abrasive.

Value

At roughly $2.60 per full sheet (not counting the added value of the contour pieces and spare tips), these sit in the mid-price bracket. You can find cheaper generic Mouse-compatible papers, but in my experience the fit and hole alignment can be hit-or-miss, which compromises dust collection and finish quality. You can also buy premium abrasives with ceramic blends that outlast these, but the cost per sheet climbs quickly—and 220 grit is often a “one or two passes and done” step.

For homeowners and pros who frequently reach for a Mouse to prep trim, furniture, or cabinetry for finish, the balance of fit, finish quality, and convenience justifies the price.

Limitations

• Not the best choice for stock removal. That’s a function of the grit, but worth stating—use coarser sheets first.
• Lifespan is good but not exceptional on gummy substrates like primer and MDF. Keep expectations in check and the paper clean.
• The replaceable tip extends life, but once the main face dulls, you’re done—there’s no rotating the triangle like you might with larger pads.

The bottom line

The 220-grit Mouse sheets deliver what I want from a finishing paper for a detail sander: a consistent scratch pattern, reliable fit and dust extraction, and thoughtful touches like a replaceable tip and contour pieces. They’re not indestructible, and you’ll go through them faster on problematic materials, but used with light pressure and decent dust collection they produce clean, even surfaces ready for finish.

Recommendation: I recommend these for finishing and between-coat work on a Mouse sander, especially if you value OEM fit and the included contour pieces. If you need maximum durability for heavy sanding or paint removal, step down in grit or consider a ceramic abrasive. For finishing tasks, these strike a practical balance of performance and convenience at a fair price.