Black and Decker Orbit Sanders of Death recalled

[zeez]

NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2010 Release #10-339 Firm's Recall Hotline: [phone] CPSC Recall Hotline: [phone] CPSC Media Contact: [phone] Black & Decker Recalls Random Orbit Sanders Due to Laceration Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Black & Decker Random Orbit Sanders

Units: About 192,000

Manufacturer: Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md.

Hazard: The black plastic disc (called the platen) that holds the sandpaper can fly off or break apart during use and the disc, or pieces of the disc, can hit the user or those nearby, posing a laceration hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Black & Decker has received 73 reports of incidents involving the sander?s black plastic disc (platen) breaking or falling apart, including 15 reports of injuries from flying pieces, one of which involved a serious facial laceration.

Description: This recall involves Black & Decker random orbit sanders with model numbers RO400, RO400G, RO410, RO410K, RO410LW and FS3000ROS and date codes between 200701 and 200929. The sanders are orange and black. ?Black & Decker? is printed on the sanders. The model number is printed on a label on the sander. The date code is stamped on the underside of the sander where the dust bag is inserted.

Sold at: Home center, hardware and discount stores and by authorized Black & Decker dealers nationwide from January 2007 through July 2009 for about $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled sanders and contact Black & Decker for a free replacement platen to hold the sandpaper.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Black & Decker toll-free at [phone] between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm?s website at

Picture of Back of Recalled Random Orbit Sander showing model number identification

Picture of Underside of Recalled Random Orbit Sander showing date code identification

[RBM]

I had that happen with my Makita random orbital. The piece that breaks apart sort of a dense spongy foam, and when it got old and dried out it just exploded. The replacement piece I bought for it was solid hard plastic, unlikely to break apart, but less flexible than the original pad

[Jeff Thies]

Does B&D make anything anymore that isn't crap?

Every B&D product I've bought in the last few years either didn't function right (string trimmer not feeding line or feeding it all out) or broke (drill broke at battery attachment). There's a few more.

I was using my 25 year old angle grinder a day ago and was thinking how happy I was with it. Turns out it was Black & Decker, made long before China. I suppose those days are long gone.

Jeff