Bought the cute and cool little pen sander off Aliexpress for $35CAD and it is good! Looks to be a Proxxen knockoff (or the same production line with a different sticker), but a quarter of the price.
I got the variable speed model and it goes from very slow to "I'll never use it at that speed"! Straight and angle sanding heads that use adhesive sandpaper. Fortunately, my woodworker wife has miles of the stuff, but that thick super sticky double-sided tape works well, too.
It's like a dremel--let the tool speed do the work, not pressing harder. That said, it does have good power and you're mistreating it if you stall it out. Linear, side-to-side movement, not rotary.
I've bought some crazy gizmos, but this one isn't!
Don't buy this steaming pile. Cheap price but the single AA battery can barely keep it going even under its own weight. Trash.
For those hesitant to use Aliexpress, they got this tool to me in 2 weeks. The two I tried to buy through Amazon-- one order was mysteriously cancelled and the other still hasn't arrived after 2 months. Needless to say, fully refunded. I guess Bezos hasn't figured out Chinese suppliers like Aliexpress has.
Mike.
Pen Sander--where you been all my life?
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ColemanCollector
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Pen Sander--where you been all my life?
Elbows up
- Herr Dr. Professor
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Re: Pen Sander--where you been all my life?
Yes, that looks just like the Proxxon tool, but with a smaller transformer. I think the Proxxon transformer that I have was intended to run other Proxxon tools, too.
Re: Pen Sander--where you been all my life?
Cool tool. I bought the Proxxon unit years ago and it does work well, but the Proxxon sandpaper wears out really fast. I have some double sided tape at home and never really thought of making my own sandpaper for it. I'll have to try that.
Derek
Too many project builds to list...
Too many project builds to list...
- Son of a gun-ner
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Re: Pen Sander--where you been all my life?
Check out Permagrit tungsten carbide flexible file / sanding sheet.
It is a thin metal sheet with a carbide grit stuck to it. Usually comes in course medium and fine in various sizes, and can be cut and bent to suit your tools.
Mick - The grit in the underpants of life!
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- TankDriver
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Re: Pen Sander--where you been all my life?
Ooo, something else I didn't know I couldn't live without!
"If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing"
- TankDriver
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Re: Pen Sander--where you been all my life?
BTW, I've always had great luck with AliExpress
"If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing"
- Stormbringer
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Re: Pen Sander--where you been all my life?
Only problem with Ali Express is you end up buying more than you intended to buy 
Cheers
Alan
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Alan
Let slip the cats of war!!!!
Taigen Panther G
Taigen T34/85
Heng Long King Tiger
Heng Long Tiger 1
Heng Long Jagdpanther
Coolbank Crusader III
Tongde Centurion Mk 5
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ColemanCollector
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Re: Pen Sander--where you been all my life?
Stormbringer wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 12:04 pm Only problem with Ali Express is you end up buying more than you intended to buy![]()
Sums up Aliexpress in a nutshell! My cottage neighbour (handyman, inventor, fettler extraordinaire), had to quit cold turkey.TankDriver wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 6:21 am Ooo, something else I didn't know I couldn't live without!
Me, too. And they have gotten much better in terms of delivery times in the last year or so. Great source for rc tank stuff and bits you just can't find anywhere else, or at non-stupid prices.
Mike.
Elbows up