Review: Milwaukee M12 Detail Sander

A few months ago, I found myself in need of a detail sander, but since it’s not something I thought I’d reach for very often, I didn’t want to spend a lot. A friend recommended the Milwaukee M12 Detail Sander, and since I’m already invested in the M12 battery platform, it was an easy decision.

The sanding pad has a distinctive “house” profile — essentially a square base with a triangle on top. The square portion measures about 2.5 inches across, while the triangle extends the total length to around 3.5 inches. The sander has four speed settings. Since I’m not using it for an aggressive task, I’ve never needed anything above level one.

I reach for this sander far more often than I anticipated. Any time there’s a small wisp of tear-out, or I need to quickly round over an edge, I grab this before even thinking about my random orbit sander. I’ve started keeping it right next to my CNC so I can clean up surfaces on the fly as I’m milling. Pieces come off the machine already cleaned up. It’s become a seamless part of my workflow.

There’s no dust collection, though honestly, I’m not sure it’s needed. It’s not a sander you’ll run for long stretches — this is a “pick it up, use it for 45 seconds, put it back down” kind of tool. -B.S.

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Orbital Detail Sander

If you’re on the M12 platform, this is a great addition to the shop. It won’t replace your random orbit sander, but it’ll earn its spot on the bench.

Price: $117.99 at the time of writing