M12 FUEL 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Orbital Detail Sander with HIGH OUTPUT XC5. 0 Starter Kit

I've had this sander now for a few years and absolutely love it. Originally I bought a corded SurfPrep sander with all the bells and whistles, and if you know what that is you know how great it is. However, I didn't use it enough to justify the cost and I am already invested in the M12 line so this was a natural choice. I'm a carpenter so I primarily use it for detail sanding on cabinets and trim. But I also use it from time to time sanding drywall mud (pair it with a nice light to pickup inconsistencies...you can thank me later). Makes a good amount of dust without a vacuum hookup so probably should wear a mask. I don't use it all day every day so I consider the battery life to be great. The Milwaukee sanding pads work great as you'd expect them to, but if you're looking for more flexibility in profile sanding consider buying SurfPrep pads...you won't be disappointed. The thicker sponge pad that comes with this is OK but a little stiff and will knock back edges if you're not careful. The interface pad is useful but wore out fairly quickly for me. I like the ability to select the speed but it's variable speed already so I tend to leave it on max. Wish it had a belt hook/clip.

The Milwaukee M12 Detail Sander is a fantastic tool for anyone tackling small projects or hard-to-reach areas. I recently used it to smooth out some patches around my exterior door where I had to repair some dry rot, and it performed perfectly. The compact size makes it easy to maneuver, and it has plenty of power for detailed sanding jobs without feeling overbearing. If you often find yourself working in tight spaces or touching up repair work, this sander is a real time-saver. Highly recommended.

This tool is perfect for small hard to reach places. Get for big or small jobs. Does a tremendous job. I was really impressed. I absolutely love it. It is my go to sander. I highly recommend it

How have I survived without this for so long? It's a dream to use. It's light-weight, quieter than my electric orbital sander, and easier to maneuver. It fits into tight spaces and no cord gets hung up on edges or the work bench. Squeezing the trigger for any length of time is awkward on my wrist, but the trigger lock button fixes that problem. The 4 speed ranges give me everything I need – the variable speed trigger is unnecessary for me, so locking in one of the four speeds with the trigger lock works great. It generates a lot of fine dust though, and there's no dust collection. The mesh sanding sheets are highly effective and easy to change out. The printed grit values on the sheets remain visible even after use. By the time I can't read them it's time for a new sheet anyway. Did I mention dust? This unit generates a lot of it. As a result I either use it for outside projects or touch-up work when its unique pad shape is really beneficial, such as inside corners. I think Milwaukee made the right choice in not including dust collection though; it would detract considerably from the convenience. It's still an excellent tool for carpentry and cabinet work.

This is a relatively small battery operated sander that has four speeds and a variable speed trigger. The trigger can be locked in the on position at the maximum speed for each speed setting. It has a 4-level battery power meter to help the user know how much power is left in the battery. It has a work light which will illuminate the top end of the sanding pads. This sander is effective and a fine choice for someone needing a detail sander. Included: 1. An extra hook/loop pad. 2. A foam pad that can conform to curved surfaces. 3. A good number of sanding sheets with a design that helps prevent the sanding sheets from clogging as much as standard sandpaper. Good to Know: 1. The sanding sheets are attached with a hook and loop system. 2. It seems like Milwaukee is the only company supplying sanding sheets for this at this time. 3. The balance of the tool is just behind the power trigger (towards the back of the handle). With limited use thus far, it seems that the balance helps the user very finely control how much pressure is placed on the sanding pad. Because of the balance point, the tool can be easily used with one hand. 4. It is a little heavier than you might guess just by looking at it. The handle though is long enough for me to put nearly both hands completely on it but most people will find it will fit two hands comfortably (I wear an XL glove). I’m guessing that two handed use would offer greater fine control as well as more comfort throughout long periods of use. 5. The tool does not vibrate much which will make it more comfortable to use during periods of longer use.

The variable speed trigger is very helpful. You can select from one of 4 speeds on top of the sander by pressing the push button in the middle. The speed selected is indicated by LED's that light up the numbers 1, 2, 3, or 4. The speed can be changed before sanding and also while you are sanding. I found the trigger lock to be very helpful. I tried the sander out by sanding the painted wood on my utility trailer. It worked well for that. I think that the orbital motion of this sander is better that my oscillating multi-tool. On my oscillating multi-tool the sanding motion is more on the outsides of the sanding pad whereas with this Milwaukee orbital sander the whole pad is sanding equally. Overall, this is a nice tool with lots of features.

I use my other cordless orbital sander for most jobs because it has an integrated dust collection system. I always finish with light hand sanding, and I prefer to hand sand pieces with radiused profiles, but for small, flat pieces and/or tight spaces this tool saves a lot of time. I love the compact size of Milwaukee’s M12 tools, but I find it almost impossible to remove the battery with my arthritic thumbs. I really wish there was a way to recharge them in the tool. I am also delighted that Milwaukee decided to use sanding screens for this tool. The sanding screens are extremely easy to clean and last a lot longer than sandpaper sheets. This tool came with 80 grit, 120 grit and 180 grit sanding screens but my job required 320 grit. I had some Sanding Screen Sheets from a different brand on hand so I cut a piece to fit my new Milwaukee Detail Sander. It worked fine, but the hook/loop side wasn’t quite the same as the Milwaukee Sanding Screens so it tended to work its way off center. Home Depot carries Milwaukee Sanding Screens all the way up to 400 grit. I now have 3 of the finer grits on order. This tool feels good in my hand; it has enough weight and size to stay stable yet it is easy to guide and light enough so my arms don’t get tired. The handle has a nice grip surface. It also has several helpful features. There is a power switch with 4 speeds on top of the sanding head. You can either use the trigger to control the motor or lock it on with the circular button just above the trigger. It has a small headlight to help illuminate dark corners. The head locks on with an octagon pattern so you can rotate the head in 22-½ degree increments (see photo). It has a 4 LED power gauge for the battery.A Milwaukee M12 2AmpHr or 3AmpHr battery is trim and fits almost completely inside the handle. These small batteries lasted long enough for my task, but, if you need longer battery life, the M12 4AmpHr batteries also fit; the foot that hangs out is not so large that it would hit the workpiece. I just wish it wasn’t so difficult to remove the batteries from the tool.

This Milwaukee M12 detail sander Is compact and has a nice reach to get into tight corners. It’s got a nice grip and four speeds that you can adjust with just a quick touch. It comes with several different grit papers that attach with Velcro so it’s very easy to change depending on the job. I did a quick test removing some paint inside the bookshelf and reach the corner quite easily. Another winner from Milwaukee!

Definitely a handy tool! I have other larger sanders for ‘heavier’ work, but this is will be a great ‘detail’ sander, getting into tight places. It comes with everything, ready to go to work. Included are, several various grit sanding pads the necessary pad to attach to the tool to accept the sanding pads, an extra foam rubber pad, for more gentle work, Included is the appropriate size Hex Wrench to remove from the tool and replace with the replacement, if/when that should occur. Not only do my spare M-12 batteries go to work immediately, but the tool also has an orbital speed dial on top of the tool. Depress the button to move the speeds through 1-2-3-4 seeds. The trigger is a varying speed, and has a Lock button on the left side of the tool. Lock in the speed you want, and go! It also provides a ‘headlight’ on the front of the tool to light up your workspace, and a ‘fuel gauge’ on the left side of the handle to check the level of your battery. It works great, and I’m really glad that Milwaukee knows what we DIY people need! And don’t forget, this is TOOL ONLY. An M-12 battery is required.

Got this for my wife because she likes refinishing furniture. She loves it and it. Can get into those hard to get places. Works better than an oscillating tool that’s for sure.