Abstract: A power tool, especially a handheld sander, is described, possessing a motor-driven drive shaft that can be alternatively coupled either by means of an oscillation drive to an oscillatory tool drive shaft, or by means of a rotary drive to a rotary tool receptacle coaxial with the oscillatory tool drive shaft. Switching is provided by a switching element, in a first switch position of which the drive shaft is driven in an oscillating manner about the lengthwise axis of the oscillatory tool drive shaft, with a small pivot angle and at high frequency, by means of the oscillation drive, which can consist for example of an eccentric element on the tool drive shaft and a pivot element guided slidingly thereon and fastened on the tool drive shaft. In the second switch position of the switching element, however, the working engagement of the oscillation drive is abolished, and the tool receptacle is rotationally driven by the drive shaft by means of a bevel gear linkage.