Vac attachment on B&D Mouse Sander

[Servalan]

Feeling really daft for asking this, but am a DIY newbie and have never used a sander before!

I've bought a Black & Decker Mouse Sander and want to sand down some furniture There's a bit that I think I can attach a vacuum cleaner to. When I'm doing the sanding, do I turn the vacuum cleaner on at the same time or afterwards? Also, does it matter what type of vaccum cleaner I use?

Also, I was going to do the sanding outdoors, but don't want to be antisocial to neighbours - in terms of getting rid of dust, is using the vacuum cleaner attachment enough so I don't get it into neighbours gardens etc?

Thanks

Oh man alive op!!

stop

read instructions very carefully
then watch loads of you tube videos
do not do inside

Very small garden?

pop over to neighbour to give head up and say you’ll clean dust that reaches them

Did it come without instructions???

It came with very sparse instructions. It says how to attach the vacuum but not whether to run vacuum at same time or not. In the safety section it talks about "toxic dust" from sanding wood and that I should make sure I clean it up properly - but not how.

I've spent over half an hour trying to find a YouTube video that shows someone using the vacuum attachment and have been unsuccessful.

I suffer from an anxiety based mental health condition that makes me second guess stuff.

And this is Black and Decker?

OP google and you tube are your friends

Yes, Black and Decker. Honestly I have scoured YouTube and Google and not found what I need to know, hence posting here!

Yes, run the vacuum cleaner while you're sanding.

You can also tape the vacuum hose to the vac attachment of the sander with masking tape or duct tape.

Thank you. I appreciate you replying. Do I need to take any other dust prevention measures, or is using the vacuum attachment enough? The safety instructions include "thoroughly remove all dust after sanding" and "dispose of dust particles and any other debris safely" but does not elaborate, so I'm getting really anxious and procrastinating on actually doing the job!

I think the instructions about the dust are a bit ott and arse covering against liability for B+D

i presume it’s the little triangle orange one like mine

you might have to tape little black adapter to vacuum hose and it’s not a brilliant fit
use common sense with dust and if need be wear a mask as well
use it evenly if you just use the top that bit on the pad will be worn very quickly

and when you need new sanding sheets I got the cheap ones from screwfix seem fine

If you want to belt and braces as it were get yourself a wet and dry shop vac. They’re not that expensive. Your home hoover will likely not have the right attachment or will get all blocked up / broken. I use this:

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwiO05DhxoCPAxUtmVAGHSk8NlgYACICCAEQIhoCZGc&co=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjtOQ4caAjwMVLZlQBh0pPDZYEAQYAiABEgJxk_D_BwE&sph=&sig=AOD64_1AcU5xQIEBXUWNAoy9zXbDscwRdw&ctype=46&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjqk4zhxoCPAxWMSkEAHV_JOQUQzzkoAHoECAkQFg&nis=8&ch=1&adurl=

You will connect the hose to the back end of your sander and then turn on both machines. Make sure the holes on your sanding pad align to those on the machine or it won’t suction properly. Then have at it. FFP3 dust mask or similar if you want full protection and then safety glasses of course. With that setup you’ll capture 98% of the dust.

You also need the sanding pads with holes in so the dust gets sucked up - learned that the hard way

Yes, attach the vacuum to the sander and run it simultaneously. If no proper attachment to the vacuum came in the box you can just tape it together of buy an attachment online (Amazon or Temu will have them).
Use proper respirator and eye protection. The sanding dust goes absolutely everywhere.
To minimise the dust flying around and onto the neighbours, consider having a tent in garden and do the sanding inside the tent.

Thank you