Black & Decker MOUSE Sanding/Polishing Kit

Why I reached for the Mouse kit

I’m a frequent user of the Black & Decker Mouse, mostly for trim touch-ups, light refinishing, and the odd bit of metal cleanup around the shop. The Mouse kit appealed to me because it bundles exactly the things I tend to need for those jobs: a couple of mid-grit sanding sheets for between-coats work, small “fingertip” pads for tight corners, and a few polishing options for light oxidation on metals. It’s a lightweight set with a focused purpose: quick, controlled, light-duty work.

What’s in the box and how it fits together

The kit includes:
- 2 sheets of 180-grit sandpaper
- 2 sheets of 220-grit sandpaper
- 5 small detail “fingertip” sanding pads
- 2 foam pads for applying mild polishes or finishes
- 2 No. 0 polishing wool pads

Everything is sized for the Mouse platform and its detail accessory. The standard triangular sheets go on like any other Mouse paper, and the fingertip pads pair with the sander’s detail attachment to reach inside corners, V-grooves, and along window muntins. The foam and wool pads are for light polishing tasks: the foam spreads a mild compound evenly, while the No. 0 wool offers a bit more bite to knock back light oxidation.

Setup and first impressions

Installation is straightforward, and the fit is as expected. I had no trouble swapping between the standard pads and the fingertip accessory. The kit keeps the Mouse’s nimble feel intact; nothing adds bulk or throws off balance. It’s worth noting that this is a light-duty kit by design. The grit selection (180 and 220) is aimed at between-coats sanding and scuffing, not aggressive material removal, and the polishing pieces are meant for light oxidation, not deep corrosion.

Performance on wood: between coats and detail edges

For wood finishing tasks, the two grits make sense. I used 180 to flatten dust nibs on a water-based polyurethane coat over finger-jointed trim. It cut quickly enough to level the surface without digging in. Switching to 220 left a clean, uniform scratch that took the next coat nicely. On a set of cabinet door frames, the fingertip pads were especially helpful along inside corners where the triangular pad can’t fully reach without rounding an edge.

A couple of tips from my sessions:
- Keep the pressure light. The Mouse does the work; pressing harder only increases swirl marks and heat.
- Move steadily and avoid lingering at edges. Light finishing grits can still burnish or round over details if you stay in one spot.
- For very delicate finishes or high-gloss work, you’ll likely want to add 320 or 400 grit sheets (not included) for the final pass.

Performance on metals: brass, copper, and chrome

I tried the polishing pads on a tarnished brass door knocker and a lightly hazed chrome faucet. With a mild metal polish on the foam pad, the brass came back to a bright, even sheen in a few minutes. On chrome, I stuck with light pressure and a slower pace to avoid micro-marring; it cleared the haze without leaving visible swirls. The No. 0 polishing wool adds a little more cut if the foam alone isn’t quite enough, but be conservative on delicate plating. It’s easy to cross the line from cleaning to altering the surface if you bear down.

A few metal-specific pointers:
- Test in an inconspicuous spot first. Plated surfaces vary widely in hardness.
- Keep the pad clean and replace it if it picks up grit. Contaminants are what create swirls.
- Avoid steel wool anywhere near oak or other tannin-rich woods; stray fibers can cause black staining.

The fingertip detail pads: small but mighty

The fingertip pads are the sleeper hit in this kit. I used them to clean up inside corners on picture frames and to scuff narrow profiles before paint. Because they concentrate the sanding area, they cut faster than you’d expect, so the “light pressure” rule is critical here. They’re also easy to control one-handed for quick touch-ups, which I appreciate mid-project when I don’t want to break out full-size sheets and sanding blocks.

Durability and feel

As a bundle, the kit delivers competent performance with a few caveats. The abrasives do their job but wear faster than premium papers I keep on hand. If you’re smoothing a couple of coats of paint or clear finish, you’ll be fine; if you’re tackling a longer run of cabinetry or a large piece of furniture, plan on going through the two included sheets fairly quickly. The foam and wool pads hold up to light polishing—exactly their brief—but they’re not meant for heavy compound or sustained pressure.

In short, the kit’s materials are serviceable for their intended, light-touch use. If you demand the longest-lasting abrasives, you’ll want to stock some higher-grade papers alongside this kit.

Where it excels and where it doesn’t

Excels:
- Between-coats sanding on trim, doors, and furniture
- Quick scuff-sanding for adhesion before repainting
- Light oxidation removal on brass, copper, and chrome
- Tight-spot work with the fingertip pads

Falls short:
- Heavy stock removal or leveling (missing coarse grits)
- Final rub-out on high-gloss finishes (missing 320+ grits)
- Deep corrosion or pitting on metal (not the right tool or media)

Usability notes and best practices

• Keep pressure light and the sander moving. This is especially important with the foam and wool pads to avoid smearing polish or creating uneven shine.
• Vacuum or wipe down surfaces between grits and before recoating. Embedded dust will telegraph through your finish.
• On metals, use a mild polish sparingly; let the pad and compound do the work. Too much product loads the pad and reduces cut.
• Label pads for the product you used (polish, compound, finish) and don’t cross-use. Foam pads are easy to contaminate.
• If your project demands a finer scratch pattern, supplement the kit with 320, 400, or even 600 grit sheets compatible with the Mouse.

Value and who it’s for

This kit makes sense if you already own a Mouse and need a compact set that turns it into a light polisher while keeping your finishing workflow simple. The included grits are well chosen for scuffing and nib removal, the fingertip pads expand what the sander can reach, and the polishing pieces are genuinely useful for household metal touch-ups. If you’re a pro refinisher or you’re tackling large pieces regularly, you’ll want deeper inventories of grits and more durable abrasives. For occasional home projects, trim work, and quick revivals of metal fixtures, this hits a nice balance of capability and convenience.

Final recommendation

I recommend the Mouse kit for light-duty finishing and polishing tasks, especially if you value the Mouse’s control and want to extend it to tight spots and basic metal cleanup. It’s a compact, purpose-built set that covers the common needs of between-coats sanding and removing light oxidation. The trade-offs are clear: the abrasive sheets don’t have the lifespan of premium options, and the grit range is limited to mid-grade. Pair it with a few extra sheets in finer grits and you’ll have a versatile, go-to setup for small finishing jobs and quick surface tune-ups around the shop and home.