Bosch has hit a home run with this great redesign of an already great tool. This is an update of the popular Bosch 1295DVS(Variable Speed) random orbit sander. The Bosch 1295 was rated the best value AND the best overall random orbit sander in the August 2006 issue of Fine Woodworker magazine. It beat out the equivalent Festool, DeWalt, Makita, Craftsman, Rigid, Ryobi, and Porter-Cable.
I bought the ROS20VSK for $69.97 +tax at a big box retailer. I used the 1295DVS several months ago and now this one for a few weeks. They are very similar in performance. Same smooth start-up and great motion yet relatively low vibration and easy to control. Same vigorous removal of material but with a very even, smooth pattern. I'd like to see a side by side performance test of the ROS20VS and the 1295DVS because their internals are somewhat different, the most significant of which is the ROS20VS's less powerful motor.
The visible differences in this model are the features that were the biggest complaints from reviews of the 1295DVS. Bosch seems to have been listening: dust collection, sanding pad durability and ergonomics are all improved.
Ergonomics - The top has been given more form and elongated, similar to other random orbitals, but Bosch has made it's "tail" a bit more substantial than most. I thought it might get in the way and make it clunky but it doesn't. The shape allows for solid two handed sanding if needed and many other secure & comfortable hand holds. The variable speed dial has been moved to the back so there is no chance of accidentally adjusting it. Molded rubber has been added to all the right places for hands. There is even a small patch of rubber in the back above the dust port that is prefect extra grip for an index finger or thumb.
Sanding Pad - It comes with a standard soft backing pad with patented "Hook-Tight" backing. Bosch claims these extra tiny velcro hooks are more durable and thus make the pad last a lot longer. They also say it holds discs better and doesn't get clogged with dust as easily. My first use tells me the latter two claims are right. Time will tell on the pad's durability. The hooks are quite tiny, much more so than on any other hook & loop sander I've seen.(see picture above) Also... good feature: Bosch offers optional extra-soft pads for polishing and hard pads for finish removal... very thoughtful feature: Bosch provides space in the case for one of these optional pads.
Dust Collection - It seems a common complaint of the 1295DVS was its lack of an included vacuum attachment. If you wanted one, you had to shell out another $10. With this sander a vacuum hose attachment is included, it fits both 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 " vacuum hoses, and there is a special space for it in the case. Also, the dust outlet port is no longer a weird oblong shape but a 19mm cylinder with a rubber o-ring so you can use it directly with a Bosch hose if you have one.
The on-board dust collector has a larger translucent canister and comes off easily with a twisting motion. Because of the o-ring, it seals back on air-tight. It also has an easy to remove pop-off top with a pleated paper filter. (The filter is welded to the plastic top so a replacement filter would include a new top; the manual stresses not to wash the filter, dry clean only.) This collector is great for small jobs but it is so good at sucking up dust, you have to empty it regularly especially when using coarse grits. Having a vacuum attached is the way to go for bigger jobs.
No big complaints so far. Bosch has made a great sander better and when you add the case that has room for accessories and a bunch of discs, I think this is the best 5" variable speed random orbit sander in it's class... certainly the best deal.
--- UPDATE September '08 --- This sander has gone up in price since being introduced.(exchange rate) It's still worth every penny though. I have come to love the on-board dust collector; it is awesome! Very little wood dust escapes the powerful suction created. You must empty it regularly!!! If you don't, dust can block the filter and a large amount of air is forced back out through the pad's holes causing an undetectable air-cushion. I've found that this reverse air pressure can cause the disc to be released from the pad's hooks (too much dust collection is a nice problem to have).
--- June '09 --- Still running strong & smooth. At 5" and 2.2 amps, this efficient sander is, by nature, a finish sander. There are other types of sanders for other uses. That said, with 50 or 80 grit, this sander will tear through old finish, raised grain, scratches and cut marks... smoothly. If you plan to do a lot of coarse grit sanding, the hard sanding pad (Bosch Part No. RS035) improves performance substantially.
Bosch ROS20VSK 120-Volt Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander KitI took over a kitchen remodel from a contractor that disappeared mid-job. The intricate tile work behind (and on) the new butcher-block counters was impressive. Unfortunately, it prevented me from removing the unsanded, unfinished countertops. I knew my belt sander and 20-year-old pad sander would be of no use. The Bosch ROS20VSK was recommended to me by my local tool distributor who claimed to have sold 25 in the month since he first received them. Skeptical that anything this small and lightweight could actually work as well as promised, I soon became a fan.
No, it is not perfect, but it comes close. I took the sander back to the job and attached a 60-grit piece of paper, easy enough with the guide incorporated in the annoying plastic case. Good, tight grip on the hook and loop. My first few passes were not pretty...the sander wanted to wander and it seemed to bog down. I soon learned that it worked best with little or no pressure on the machine. Lightly resting your hand on the comfortable rubber pad is enough to accurately guide the sander in straight lines. The temptation to add some pressure will result in some chatter and a reminder from the unit to ease up. The 60 grit ate through the rough butcher block with ease. The dust collector works, really works. Sure, with course paper you need to empty the little box every few minutes but it keeps the air clean. I probably put more dust in the air emptying the thing than when using it.
I worked my way through the grits, down to 320 (or up to 320). Still no dust and less frequent emptying. The pad on the sander spins but does not rotate, preventing swirl marks and leaving an incredibly smooth surface. The soft edges of the pad made it possible to get right next to the tile without leaving any marks or breaking the tiles. The wheel controlling the speed it somewhat useless unless you lift the machine and play with it. Maybe it was my fat, arthritic thumb that rendered it impossible to control.
I spent less than an hour sanding 28 feet of butcher-block counter. The finished result was more than acceptable, it was beautiful. No swirl marks, no sanding lines, just a smooth, almost glossy surface. I finished the countertop with Behlen Salad Bowl Finish and realized that my old pad sander would no longer be kept in my van.
Overall, this sander may not be revolutionary but it will change the way you sand. Gone are the days of heavy machines with ineffective dust collectors. Perhaps the greatest quality of this machine besides the lightweight is the fact that you can use this machine in a client's home without spewing dust throughout the place thanks in part to the pleated micro filter.
I must confess to being a Bosch head. Over the past few years, I have replaced my Porter-Cable, Makita, and Dewalt tools with Bosch. The quality is there and their service policy is second to none. My local dealer provides 24 hour turn around on most repairs and only once in about 10 purchases I came away with a bad unit. My dealer replaced it on the spot, thanks to Bosch's 3-year contractors program on some tools. - Bosch - Sanders - Sander - Random-orbit Sanders'
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