Detail Sanders

[Mike Turner]

I am looking at detail sanders....really as small as I can get.. And something to lessen the stress on my hands as much as possible. I have plenty of hook and loop sand paper that I can cut to fit on whatever I get or make. I need something for the small intricate work.

 

[Rennie Heuer]

 

[Ryan Mooney]

Not sure what you're trying to sand?

The proxxon "pen sander" (not actually for pens? just like a pen..) is pretty small
https://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-28594-12-Volt-Pen-Sander/dp/B000NDGUXU

They also have a small more traditional looking small detail sander
https://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-38520-Delta-sander-OZI/dp/B0017PUR2I

Disclaimer I've never used either, but I really like the dremel like small rotary power carver I bought from them so I have some level of confidence in their equipment (its not for remove lots of material but for careful small amounts of material removal its sweet). I have used various sanding drums and mops in that as well, which.. work ok.. for some things.. (there is a tendency for the mops/flap sanders to round things over). For the detail carving their "milling bits" are awesome https://www.proxxon.com/us/micromot/tools-milling-bits.php - I get a super clean cuts with them so very minimal or even no sanding (especially cutting downhill in super hard woods like blackwood or ebony) - there are a number of folks selling similar things mostly as "rotary files" or "high speed rotary file" (not sure on other vendors cut quality - I suspect there are a lot of variables there)

I also use detail rifflers a lot for fine stuff, they're easier on the hands (especially with a temporary handle - aka round stick with a hole in the end) to help hold the one end. Reducind the amound of sanding required is kind of my step one I've also found small scrapers to be faster, less painful to use, and also yield a better surface than sanding in a lot of cases. Doing detail work with them does take some practice but can work really well.