GENERAL SAFETY RULES
WARNING:
Read and understand all instructions. Failure to follow all instructions listed below
may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious personal injury.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
WORK AREA
• Keep your work area clean and well lit. Cluttered benches and dark areas invite accidents.
• Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids,
gases, or dust. Power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.
• Keep bystanders, children, and visitors away while operating a power tool. Distractions can cause you to
lose control.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
• Double insulated tools are equipped with a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other.) This plug
will fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it
still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install a polarized outlet. Do not change the plug in any
way. Double insulation eliminates the need for the three wire grounded power cord and grounded
power supply system.
• Avoid body contact with grounded surfaces such as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is
an increased risk of electric shock if your body is grounded.
• Don’t expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of
electric shock.
• Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord to carry the tools or pull the plug from an outlet. Keep cord
away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts. Replace damaged cords immediately. Damaged
cords increase the risk of electric shock.
• When operating a power tool outside, use an outdoor extension cord marked "W-A" or "W." These
cords are rated for outdoor use and reduce the risk of electric shock.
PERSONAL SAFETY
• Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a power tool. Do not use
tool while tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A moment of inattention while
operating power tools may result in serious personal injury.
• Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Contain long hair. Keep your hair, clothing, and
gloves away from moving parts. Loose clothing, jewelry, or long hair can be caught in moving parts.
• Avoid accidental starting. Be sure switch is off before plugging in. Carrying tools with your finger on the
switch or plugging in tools that have the switch on invites accidents.
• Remove adjusting keys or wrenches before turning the tool on. A wrench or key that is left attached to a
rotating part of the tool may result in personal injury.
• Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Proper footing and balance enables better
control of the tool in unexpected situations.
• Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing
protection must be used for appropriate conditions.
TOOL USE AND CARE
• Use clamps or other practical way to secure and support the workpiece to a stable platform. Holding the
work by hand or against your body is unstable and may lead to loss of control.
• Do not force tool. Use the correct tool for your application. The correct tool will do the job better and safer
at the rate for which it is designed.
• Do not use tool if switch does not turn it on or off. Any tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is
dangerous and must be repaired.
• Disconnect the plug from the power source before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or
storing the tool. Such preventative safety measures reduce the risk of starting the tool accidentally.
• Store idle tools out of reach of children and other untrained persons. Tools are dangerous in the hands of
untrained users.
• Maintain tools with care. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly maintained tools, with sharp cutting
edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control.
• Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, and any other condition that
may affect the tools operation. If damaged, have the tool serviced before using. Many accidents are
caused by poorly maintained tools.
• Use only accessories that are recommended by the manufacturer for your model. Accessories that may
be suitable for one tool, may become hazardous when used on another tool.
SERVICE
• Tool service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel. Service or maintenance performed by
unqualified personnel could result in a risk of injury.
• When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance
section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow Maintenance Instructions may create a
risk of electric shock or injury.
The label on your tool may include the following symbols.
V ..........................volts A ........................amperes
Hz ........................hertz W ......................watts
min ......................minutes ......................alternating current
....................direct current
n
o ......................no load speed
........................
Class II Construction
........................earthing terminal
........................safety alert symbol .../min ................revolutions or
reciprocations
per minute
KEY INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW:
•Never operate the sander without a recommended sanding sheet properly installed on
the base.
•The hook and loop pad and individual bases are replaceable parts. If they become
worn, return the unit to a local service center for repair.
•Do not push down—let the sander do the work.
•Extended drywall sanding is not recommended for this product.
VEA EL ESPAÑOL EN LA CONTRAPORTADA.
SAVE THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
INSTRUCTIVO DE OPERACIÓN, CENTROS DE SERVICIO Y PÓLIZA DE
GARANTÍA. ADVERTENCIA: LÉASE ESTE INSTRUCTIVO ANTES DE USAR EL
PRODUCTO.
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Catalog No. MS500
Safety Warnings and Instructions: Sanders
• ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION.
• Clean your tool out periodically.
WARNING: Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction
activities contains chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples
of these chemicals are:
• lead from lead-based paints,
• crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry products, and
• arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated lumber. (CCA)
Your risk from these exposures varies, depending on how often you do this type of work. To reduce your
exposure to these chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and work with approved safety equipment,
such as those dust masks that are specially designed to filter out microscopic particles.
EXTENSION CORDS
When using an extension cord, be sure to use one heavy enough to carry the current your product will draw.
An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating. The following
table shows the correct size to use depending on cord length and nameplate ampere rating. If in doubt, use
the next heavier gage. The smaller the gage number, the heavier the cord
SANDING LEAD BASED PAINT
Sanding of lead based paint is NOT RECOMMENDED due to the difficulty of controlling the contaminated
dust. The greatest danger of lead poisoning is to children and pregnant women.
Since it is difficult to identify whether or not a paint contains lead without a chemical analysis, we recommend
the following precautions when sanding any paint:
PERSONAL SAFETY
•No children or pregnant women should enter the work area where the paint sanding is being done until all
clean up is completed.
•A dust mask or respirator should be worn by all persons entering the work area. The filter should be
replaced daily or whenever the wearer has difficulty breathing.
•NOTE: Only those dust masks suitable for working with lead paint dust and fumes should be used. Ordinary
painting masks do not offer this protection. See your local hardware dealer for the proper (NIOSH
approved) mask.
•NO EATING, DRINKING or SMOKING should be done in the work area to prevent ingesting contaminated
paint particles. Workers should wash and clean up BEFORE eating, drinking or smoking. Articles of food,
drink, or smoking should not be left in the work area where dust would settle on them.
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
•Paint should be removed in such a manner as to minimize the amount of dust generated.
•Areas where paint removal is occurring should be sealed with plastic sheeting of 4 mils thickness.
•Sanding should be done in a manner to reduce tracking of paint dust outside the work area.
Minimum Gage for Cord Sets
Volts Total Length of Cord in Feet
120V 0-25 26-50 51-100 101-150
240V 0-50 51-100 101-200 201-300
Ampere Rating
More Not more American Wire Gage
Than Than
0-6 18 16 16 14
6-10 18 16 14 12
10 - 12 16 16 14 12
12 - 16 14 12 Not Recommended
3
1
Hook and Loop Pad
Tampon
Almohadilla
Sandpaper
Papier abrasif
Papel de lija
Pad Tip
Pointe de tampon
Punta de la almohadilla
Rotate 180°
Faire Tourner sur 180°
Gire180°
4
2
5
On Off Switch
Interrupteur
Interruptor de Encendido
Y Apagado
Extra Tips
Pointes supplémentaires
Puntas adicionales
Bayonets
Baïonnettes
Bayonetas
Bayonet Fixings
Raccord à baïonnette
Ajustes de bayoneta
Phillips Head Screw
Vis à tête Phillips
Tornillo Phillips
Cat. No. MS500 Form No. 377725-06 Printed in U.S.A. Copyright ©2001 Black & Decker (AUG 01-1)