How to use a detail sander
Updated: 21 October 2026
The pad in your hand is a triangle, and the architrave meets the wall in a sharp internal corner. How to use a detail sander is a flat sheet, a grit you climb, and a light touch on the tip so the arris stays a corner. Which machine to buy stays on the [delta sander comparison](/hub/sanders/delta-sander). Peter F. wrote this from the UK listings and HSE wood-dust guidance, 19 October 2026. There was no filmed test. Links to amazon.co.uk may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The pad in your hand is a triangle, and the architrave meets the wall in a sharp internal corner. How to use a detail sander is a flat sheet, a grit you climb, and a light touch on the tip so the arris stays a corner.
The pad in your hand is a triangle, and the architrave meets the wall in a sharp internal corner. How to use a detail sander is a flat sheet, a grit you climb, and a light touch on the tip so the arris stays a corner. Which machine to buy stays on the delta sander comparison. Peter F. wrote this from the UK listings and HSE wood-dust guidance, 19 October 2026. There was no filmed test. Links to amazon.co.uk may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Speed | Dust | Sheets | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Metabo Metabo FMS 200 Intec | Not stated | Cartridge | Not listed | 9.0 | about £38.99 | View offer |
| Best value |  DEKOPRO DEKOPRO 180 W corded | 13,000 per min | Collector | 15 sheets | 8.4 | about £21.99 | View offer |
 Einhell Einhell TC-DS 20 E | 12,000–22,000 per min | 36 mm port | 9 sheets | 8.2 | about £33.95 | View offer |
On this page
Fit the sheet before you switch on
Hook-and-loop is the usual fixing. Press a triangle that covers the tip, and line the dust holes with the pad. A sheet that overhangs folds and scorches. A short sheet leaves bare plastic on the filler. Empty the dust box before it packs solid. If the tool has a hose port, the Einhell TC-DS 20 E lists 36 mm, so connect it before the first pass. Ports and power are on the buying guide. Confirm a BS 1363 plug in the photos. A voltage line is not that check. Set variable speed low on paint, veneer or fresh filler. If the tool shocks you, unplug it and stop.
Climb the grits and keep the arris crisp
After filler has cured, start coarse enough to level the defect, then climb in small steps: often around P80 or P120, then P150 or P180, and finer only if the finish needs it. That is a workshop habit, not a British Standard. A jump from coarse to fine leaves scratches in raking light. Draw a pencil grid and sand until the marks have gone. Change earlier if the sheet clogs, because a loaded sheet heats softwood and can burn thin veneer. On modern emulsion, stay finer and keep the speed down. Stop when the surface is even and the corner is still a corner.
Put the tip in the joint and the flat of the pad on the face
Put the tip where skirting meets architrave, or where a window bead meets the sill. Support the pad so it does not rock. Rocking rounds the arris. If the motor note drops, the pad is stalling and the tip heats. On veneer, a few seconds of heavy pressure can cut through the face. On the flat of the board, use the broad part of the pad and keep moving. A pause dishes the filler. A round pad bridges that corner. Wide faces belong with a 125 mm or 150 mm orbital, the split on delta sander vs orbital sander. Finish a softening external arris by hand.
Dust, a mask, and the limit of a plastic box
Wood dust does not stay in a canister because the listing draws one. HSE guidance on cutting and sanding wood expects on-tool extraction where you can arrange it, and respiratory protection where the dust is not controlled. Assigned protection factor 20 is the example HSE gives for much indoor sanding. A dust box suits a short garage rub. Corded DEKOPRO reviews say the collector misses fine dust. Line the holes up, empty the box, and wear a mask in a room people use. At home, take a break before your hand tingles.
Turn a worn tip, and stop if the paint might be lead
On the Einhell TC-DS 20 E the pad has three positions. Turn it when the tip is glazed and the sides still cut. If the plate does not rotate, fit a new sheet. A bald tip polishes a hollow into the filler. Rotation will not rescue a clogged sheet or replace the next grit. Stop and call a professional if the paint might be lead, or if you do not know an older coating. A detail sander suits modern trim and small furniture corners. Floors need a larger pad.
Common questions
Which grit should I use after filler?
Wait until the filler has cured, then take the high spots back around P80 or P120 as a rule of thumb, and climb in small steps until the patch blends. A fine sheet first polishes the ridge. You do not have to sand a smooth wall back to bare timber. Stop when the patch is flush and the corner is still sharp.
How much pressure should I put on the tip?
Use enough pressure to keep the sheet in contact. If the motor note drops, the pad is stalling. On a veneered corner, a few seconds of heavy pressure can cut through the face. Support the pad so it does not rock, and keep it moving. The tip is for the joint. The flat of the triangle is for the face of the skirting.
Do I need a vacuum?
For a short garage rub, the included box is a convenience. Indoors, connect a hose if the tool has a port, 36 mm on the Einhell in this set, and wear a mask. A box does not by itself meet HSE expectations for wood dust. Empty the canister before it packs, and leave the broom in the cupboard.
Can I sand paint indoors?
You can sand modern paint indoors with extraction where the tool allows it, a mask, and no dry sweeping. Drop the speed so the film does not melt. If the paint might be lead, or you cannot tell, stop and arrange a professional survey. A socket is not permission to sand an unknown old coating.
When should I stop and prime?
Stop when the filler is flush, the scratch pattern is even, and the internal corner is still sharp. Vacuum, then prime. If a ridge shows in raking light, go back one grit. Between coats, use a fine sheet and a light hand. On a three-position plate such as the Einhell, turn the pad when the tip is glazed.
Related pages
Sources
Sources taken from the research digest. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk listing figures as of 19 October 2026.
- B&Q — planer and sander buying guide (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- ITS — detail sanders (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- MyToolShed — delta sanders (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Tooled-Up — delta sanders (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- HSE WD7 — hand-held sanders (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- HSE — cutting and sanding wood (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 35 (retrieved 19.10.2026)