Customer Reviews

Bosch 1295DVSK 2.2 Amp 5-Inch Palm Grip Variable Speed Random Orbit Palm Sander with Dust Canister

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I purchased this to replace my old 1295D unit. I thought it would be similar but I was wrong. Bosch apparently redesigned the whole insides. It vacuums more dust into the new pleated filter dust collector. The variable speed give you speeds lower and higher than the single speed. High speed allows you to really remove material in a hurry, and the low speeds with very fine paper allows you to buff finishes between coats. Don't scrimp on your palm sander. Pay the little extra the variable speed is worth ever... I am continually pleased with the value and quality I get with the Bosch products.

I bought this sander because my palm sander just wouldn't do the job on some of the harder woods and I am hesitant to use a belt sander on my smaller projects. I have not been disappointed using this sander so far. It does a good job with rapid removal on hardwoods (maple, cherry, mahogany, cocobolo) when using the more aggressive grits. It will also product a nice finish ready for final hand sanding with 320 and 600 grit. It is not too loud, it is a sander after all. The vibration is very tolerable and it is easy to control it's movements. the dust collection is adequate since I use it outdoors, not sure how it will be in an enclosed space. The dust collection adapter available on amazon is ok but the sander is a bit more awkward when you attach it ito a vaccuum hose. Most of the time I just make sure to open the garage door and stand close to it so the dust that escapes blows outside. The hook and loop setup holds the paper more securely then I thought it would, no complaints there. It feels nice and solid when you pick it up and when in use. I have addressed Bosch carrying cases in other reviews and this one is as good as the others. Nice fit for the tools and a couple of sheets of paper, and the locking clips are metal and are very secure compared to the plastic clips on some cases I have seen. The only reasons I gave this tool 4 stars is because of the dust collection adapter awkwardness. If you ignore that small issue this is a 5 star tool. I would recommend this item to anyone wanting a small sander capable of moderate to fine sanding work.

Solid, quiet, seemingly well made. Variable speed is a great feature and I use it more than I expected to.The efficiency of the dust collection is questionable, but I didn't expect much. Without a vaccuum attached, dust collection is commonly more of a concept than a reality. Nice that it comes with a case, though the fit is a bit tight when the cord is coiled up and I spend more time fussing with it than I'd like. That's a pretty minor complaint, though. Overall I love Bosch tools, with the possible exception of my Bosch router (refer to that review for specifics. If you're interested, that is.)

I had several choices on ROS after reading reviews on epinions and amazon. My first choice was the Porter cable (bec. I already have their 340 finish sander) and then the Dewalt, then the Bosch. All having variable speeds as an option. I couldn't decide, but my experience with Bosch's other tools have been great so I took a chance on the 1295DVSK even though there weren't too many reviews on this particular model at the time. Another factor that I was sold on was the "bang for your buck" value. It is around ten dollars lower than the comparable competitor's offerings in my area. It does what it's meant to do very well and the dust collection isn't too bad. I'm comparing this to my Porter Cable that needs the holes punched in the sandpaper to work. I've sanded a variety of materials from fence panels to hardwood floors and cabinetry -of course all with great results with the appropriate grits of paper. Vibration is typical of ROS, but less than my PC 340 finish sander. Overall, another well thought out Bosch tool.

I have owned several random orbital sanders over the years, and I feel that this sander is the best of them all.

What I really like about this model:

1. The variable speed motor (great power for a small tool).
2. The size and feel of the hand grip.
3. The pleated filter dust collection.
4. It comes with a nice heavy duty cord and case.

Obviously, hooking a sander up to a vacuum is the best way to go (and Bosch offers an inexpensive adapter to do that with this tool) but for those times when the vacuum option is not practical, this pleated filter is the best dust capturing system around. I have used it extensively on white oak and poplar and find that the filter makes sanding and breathing comfortable enough that you can get by fine without a vacuum if you have to.

What I don't like about this model:

1. The variable speed control is a bit stiff and nearly impossible to adjust while the sander is in use. I wish that the adjustment wheel was a bit more easy to spin.

Overall this is a great tool at a very fair price. Highly recommended!

I like thise palm sander, however, the electrical cord has disintegrated over time (about 4 years). My Bosch router which has shared the tool cabinet with the palm sander has had no such problems. The cord on the router is still pliable and like new while the palm sander's cord has hardened and cracked apart every inch or so.

The sander works great, light weight, comfortable in the hand, and a smooth finish.... As far as dust collection, well there is a filter on the sander but I think it just for looks or maybe I have to read the instructions again to see If I am doing something wrong because it doesn't pick up any dust at all. For that I only gave it 3 stars.

In addition to what others have observed here,
1. It's almost impossible to scuff up the work. With a cheaper orbital sander you are always in danger of getting those circular scuff marks. This one just won't do it.
2. The vibrations transmitted to your hand are much milder than with a cheaper sander, so if you have a big job this sander will leave you with less of that painful tingly feeling.

Good sander, but not Great.

I had this sander for a short while before I knew it would not suit my needs. I usually prefer bosch tools over most other brands because of their reliability and sturdy build that I have come to expect. This tool had both those features, but lacked a few things I needed for my particular working style. I have the Dewalt 5 inch variable speed orbital sander, which after 2 years of light duty stopped working properly. That was a good sander, but the problem with the variable speed control breaking put a bad taste in my mouth for dewalt sanders alltogether. I hold electronic failure very high, as compared to mechanical failure which is expected with time and use. The porter cable 5 inch orbital sander also would not fit either, since the dust port/bag coming loose with sanding vibration brought back memories of the same thing happening on my Porter cable Biscuit joiner, and Belt sander. That type of failure would be unacceptable on an orbital sander because finer particles from the sander make a greater mess than the larger particles from the other tools. Back to the bosch. Because of the negatives on the other units, I thought I was directed toward the bosch, even though it had a few shortcomings. The fact that it does not come with a vacuum adapter was a negative. The usage of a filter element was also a negative, since it didn't seem like it had any longevity, if gotten wet and such. The microfiber filter aspect is nice, but not really practical for those who do any real amount of sanding, since the filter gets clogged so quickly, and when that happens, the sander does not suck up dust anymore and it just blows around the workspace, making a dusty mess. Filter cleanings every 3 minutes is not practical, and very messy. About filter longevity, the material looks like the stuff they use for the shopvac filters, which I also have to replace every 3 months or so. The scenario is something like this, I sanded some drywall, and the fine dust is still stuck in the filter, even after batting it against the trash can. Only way to clean it is to wash it. After several washes, the shrinkage and drying out of the filter paper can only take so much and starts to wear. Time to replace it. Don't know if it would happen this way, but just recalling from other experiences with similar filters. The locking mechanism leaves more to be desired too, the filter snaps on to the top of the filter box like a tupperware lid, but not as rubberized. There are 2 tabs that hold this filter box onto the sander unit. I've seen this cheap tab system fail repeatedly on numerous other items, from cars to tackle boxes. The filter I could have lived with, because if I had decided to keep the sander, I would primarily be using a vacuum adapter that would have to be purchased separately.

Another Problem I had with the sander was that the 5 inch pad is mounted to the sanding unit directly in the center, and leaves a nickel-sized hole where the paper has no reinforcement. I tend to sand a lot of corners on wooden boxes, to rid them of sharp corners, and the direct center is the place where the paper is usually the best condition after doing regular sanding.(compared to the outer edge of the paper). Well with this big hole in the center, the corner would rip right through and ruin the wood. This would be a problem even on already rounded corners. I noticed this after I had sanded a flat panel, and noticed that the sand paper in the center of the sanding pad was in perfect condition, and loaded with dust buildup, because of the indentation. Looking at the other sanders you will find that they distribute 3 to 4 holes around the center, using the smallest holds possible, quite opposite of what bosch did. This was a major deciding factor in why I returned the unit. It probably also had something to do with why the sander did not feel like it was sanding true when on a flat surface. It had a wobble to it that seemed like the sanding pad was not even with the sanding motor, giving a warped brake rotor effect.

All in all, the other claims are true. The unit is built well, it does have a nice vibration-free feel to it. It did have plenty of power to power through my sanding projects. Initially the dust extraction worked well, but when it clogs it blows dust around the workspace. The cord is shorter than my dewalt, about 2 feet short, enough to be noticeable and pull out an extension cord. There aren't very many other 5 inch sanders that appeal to me, and I am not looking to get another dewalt, I have decided to get the rigid 6 inch orbital sander at Home depot. It is the same sander sold here on amazon, under a different name though. The Metabo SXE450 00458 6" Random Orbit Sander. Look forward to seeing my review on that unit.

This ROS is just what I expected, coming from the Cadillac of power tools. Unlike others, I think the dust collection system works great. Quiet, smooth and effective stock removal. Highly recommended (I have used it about 10 hours so far and as you can tell I'm impressed)!