Customer Reviews

Bosch 1274DVS 6.6 Amp 3-Inch by 21-Inch Variable Speed In-Line Belt Sander with Cloth Dust Bag

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is an extremely well-designed and well-built sander. I have used many sanders and been disappointed by poor design and bad belt-changing clamping systems. Its variable speed eliminates the need to press harder or softer on the sanding surface, cutting down on the chance of gouging material or cutting divots in the surface. Changing the belts is easy: pull on the side lever and the belts slip on and off. There is an belt alignment adjustor which I set the first time I used it and haven't touched since. The front handle is removable for sanding up to obstructed edges. The dust bag actually works, and the sander can be hooked up to a dust collector. Most importantly, there are two accessories for the sander which make it versatile. The sanding stand turns the sander into an upside-down bench-mounted sander, and the optional fence provides a way to easily and accurately sand endgrain on wood. It's built in Switzerland and it looks and feels like it was made by Swiss watchmakers.

I could not agree more with Jim Thompson on this sander. You can tell that alot of thought went into its design. It is so much more useful than ordinary belt sanders. For one thing the balance is perfect. You don't have to torque your wrist to get it to sand level. Because of the in line design, you can see both sides of the belt when you are sanding. Of course you have to watch it and keep it moving, but it's alot less work with the little Bosch than the others. It's a little slower than the fastest sanders. But what you sacrifice in speed, you gain in control and accuracy. I wouldn't buy one to sand floors, but for finish work you can't beat it. It's light enough to use one handed if you have to. It easily becomes a table top horizontal sander by flipping it over on its flat top.(it's even better with the sanding frame) The dust collection really does work. The front handle comes off for tight spots. Belt changes are a cinch with the lever action release. The variable speed is a lifesaver with soft woods, detail work where you don't want to take too much off or even rough grinding on chisels and plane irons. I have several Belt sanders from different manufacturers and this truly is my all time favorite.

This is a great sander for a homeshop that is also a great buy for industrial use. Inexpensive and agile. The belt system used on this sander makes the workpiece highly visible. Also it is easy to keep from dipping.

PROS

** Inexpensive

** Lightweight

** Very agile

CONS

** Not the best tracking system

** Dust collector blows off (or gets in the way) alot.

** Requires alot of blowing out.

While I agree with the other reviewers about the clean styling and ability to turn it upside down, I would have to disagree on the dustless and durability points. After using the sander for about two months the variable speed switch had to be replaced because it would no longer work. Also, Because the opening used to gather the dust is very thin. Therefore, when you work with fibrous materials, it clogs very frequently. I would also like it more if it had a little more weight to it so that with very hard wood you do not have to press down. But, this can obviously work against you with the softer varieties.

I bought this Bosch at the beginning of a major remodeling project to replace a tired, 30 year old ... sander. I haven't been disappointed.

For two years I fnished molding, leveled countertops, stripped old paint, sanded out difficult flooring stains and bevelled edges with it, and it's still running like new. It's light enough to use all day, the belts never need adjusting or wander off, and the variable speed feature makes it easy to set it for the job at hand. And the dustcatcher really works. An excellent choice for the pro or handyman.

I'm a son of a carpenter, mechanic, home rebuilder, and avid hobbyist. I started using power tools when I was 7 or 8 years old. I'm now 39; you do the math. I've had an older model (3270) that looks identical to the 1274DVS for 10+ years and wouldn't trade it for any other. This is the only belt sander I could find with a flat top and sides. You can place the sander up side down on a table, lock the trigger and sand small parts all day. I also set the sander on its side and clamp it to my table saw's table for sanding 90-degree work. The belt centering is not the best I've seen but it works okay. The end of the belt release handle got broken years ago but it still works by pulling on the remaining stub. I recently got the cord stuck in the belt area and snapped the rubber drive belt (no other damage). Good design here as other tools I've overstressed broke more than a simple drive belt. (No, I'm not a klutz, these things happen every so often.) The sander is light enough to handle fairly good with one hand. I'm in the process of finding out if the variable speed switch and graphite platen will adapt to my older model. Bosch has a web site which is very good except no parts are available on line. A listing of authorized parts locations is given though.

I owned a small inline belt sander and found the shape gave me the opportunity to use the machine in many more ways, especially on its side sanding the edges of large pieces of solid wood. When I had to replace the small sander, I knew I wanted a larger version, and the Bosch fit the bill. Amazon sold it at a lower price than I could find locally, and then there was the tax I saved and free delivery!

A week later it was on the door step and it came out of the box and went right to work on some local hardwoods. There is lots of power to turn the 3 inch belt. While I have checked the belt for running off ceter- it almost never runs off. And the graphite patten is flat and stays cool. It has only a few hours on it but I am very happy with it. I have not used the fence, but I will, and I wish I had ordered the clamps to tie it down to a table upside down.

The only problem I have with the sander is the dust control. I have been using the dust bag and it is small, and dust puffs out of a small indentation near the dust nipple when lifting off or moving down on the wood. I have not tried to trouble-check the problem.

A happy Bosch customer and a happy Ammazon.com customer.

While I take pleasure in owning and using quality tools, I am not one to gush or even normally write a review. That said, I LOVE this sander. Here's why:

Well-balanced, low center of gravity. Feels right when held, don't have to make conscious effort to hold true.

Variable speed. Note: Variable, NOT multiple speed. Speed varies infinitely depending on trigger pressure, just like any variable-speed drill. Speed dial on trigger acts as speed limiter, a not-to-exceed setting. Otherwise pull fully for max set speed and back off trigger to slow in those must-be-careful spots, then pull fully again for max speed. Truly intuitive, fluid.

Light weight enough to use without effort, yet heavy enough to do its intended job. Certainly not for massive stock removal day in and day out, but perfect for frequent use my small shop and occasional light construction duty. If you need a brute, buy a brute. If you don't, don't beat yourself up with one. Treat yourself with this Bosch.

A dust collector that works. Very, very little on my mask at the end of a session of sanding. Only a light powder on the surface of the work and a coating on the sander attracted by static. No dust laden air, no immediate sweep-up. Empty the bag, blow off the sander, wipe the sanded piece. Done.

Flat top and fence attachment extend its functionality, providing a small bench top sander.

Quality Swiss-made.

Okay, so I gushed a bit. Great tools are such a pleasure to use and all too rare a treat.

I agree with the other reviewers regarding the flat sides, it gives flexibility for sanding small parts and making adjustments after changing belts. As an added bonus, I was surprised to find that the shop vac hose attachment from Bosch that I purchased for my orbital sander worked with this belt sander. This makes it much quicker to achieve a smooth finish as it really helps to pull the dust off the work surface. I recommend purchasing the hose attachment. Dust bags, regardless of the tool brand just don't work as well. All in all this is a fine product for a reasonable price.

[ this is an update to the review I posted below. After several months of use, I'm having a problem with the waste port... the path that clears the dust from the surface to the bag. Basically, it's getting clogged and while this doesn't prevent the sander from working, it does prevent dust collection. Cleaning the port is a pain, I had to disassemble the motor cover and use a very small screwdriver to push the clog out. ]

I really like this sander, but I can't comment on long term durability as I have only used it for about a month. Nonetheless, Bosch's reputation for building high quality power tools is pretty solid.

The belt alignment on this is pretty much maintenance free, I have not had to adjust it yet. The overall design is outstanding, easy to use with one hand when you need to, and has good grips for when you need to bear down.

The other aspect of the design that is tops is that you can easily get into tight spots. The motor housing doesn't extend past the right side of the sander. The variable speed switch is nice, and it has a wheel to modulate the top speed (a higher speed would be nice, I think this is 1,400 feet/sec).

The sander really is "almost dust free", just depends on what you are sanding. The dust bag is the only negative, it is small and needs to be emptied a lot. But after looking at it, it probably would not be a big deal to retrofit another bag.

Bosch's 4x24 sander is also really nice, but it weighs 14 lbs. The 3x21 sander is perfect for most jobs.