Bosch 1297DK 2 Amp 1/4-Sheet Sander with Dust Canister

by Bosch

Product Description

Amazon.com

Bosch took a great palm sander and made it better with a clever innovation that gets your sandpaper on the deck fast and securely. They call it the SheetLoc Sandpaper Attachment System. It's a simple configuration that makes loading sandpaper quicker and easier. Just open the front and rear clamps, insert the edge of the paper in the front and wrap it around to the back as usual. But when you close the rear clamp, it pulls the sandpaper taut and flat against the sanding bed. It's about time somebody figured this one out. The integrated dust collection system is nice, though of course you'll get more extraction when you hook the sander up to your standard dust collector or a wet/dry. On its own, it pulls in a good amount of sanding dust, and it's as snap to empty the canister. It uses regular sandpaper sheets, but you'll have to pop on the neat hole-puncher that's including you're your paper is seated; that lets the dust collector do its work. We like the feel of it and how hungry it is when it's wearing 60-grit. By the time you get up to 220, you'll have a gorgeous, smooth finish. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste

Product Description

Bosch took a great palm sander and made it better with a clever innovation that gets your sandpaper on the deck fast and securely. They call it the SheetLoc Sandpaper Attachment System. It's a simple configuration that makes loading sandpaper quicker and easier. Just open the front and rear clamps, insert the edge of the paper in the front and wrap it around to the back as usual. But when you close the rear clamp, it pulls the sandpaper taut and flat against the sanding bed.

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 4.5 x 5.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002EVDOG
• Item model number: 1297DK
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,443 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One feature sets it apart, January 20, 2005

By 

Bill Hurley "Bill H." (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bosch 1297DK 2 Amp 1/4-Sheet Sander with Dust Canister (Tools & Home Improvement)

All quarter sheet sanders are relatively similar, however, this one removes one of the small inconviences of the machines. It has a very easy to use quick sandpaper change mechanism. All of the other sanders work as advertised and all require a little bit of fiddling to bend the sandpaper in a small arc to insert into the clamping mechanism. Now along comes the Bosch 1297DK and that small complaint disappears. It also has a slightly better dust collection system, though, no sander short of using a vacuum hose is really going to have great dust collection. I'm replacing my DeWalt quarter sheet sander with this one and am very happy with the upgrade.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stands up to daily use, November 14, 2004

By 

Robert E. Walker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bosch 1297DK 2 Amp 1/4-Sheet Sander with Dust Canister (Tools & Home Improvement)

I purchased this sander about four months ago and have put it through some serious use. The sheet lock system is what attracted me to this sander, but I was not sure how I would hold up to heavy use. In the short time I have owned this tool I have burned through a sleeve (50 sheets) of sand paper which equals 200 (1/4 sheet) paper changes and every thing is still tight and crisp just like it was the day I purchased it.

The ergonomics are outstanding (i.e. balance, comfort, & control). The sealed swich appears to be of higher quality than other simular models.

The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because of the power cord and plug. The cord itself is more rigid than typically found on other power tools and the plug itself is thinner than normal and will not stay in the receptical, splitter, or extension cord.

I've recommended this tool to coworkers and would repeat my purchase.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Serious Design Flaw, September 21, 2007

By 

Frank B. Croson (North Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bosch 1297DK 2 Amp 1/4-Sheet Sander with Dust Canister (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've owned and used Bosch tools for decades, and consider them to be top of the line for price/performance, with the emphasis on performance. However, the 1297DK Sheet Sander has shaken my faith. As others have noted, the SheetLoc front gripper simply ceases to do its job after just a few hours of sanding work.

At first, the rubber gripping surface would dislodge, requiring a good deal of pulling and stretching to get it back into place on the metal holder. Perhaps that abuse of the rubber -although necessary- broke down its integrity in some way. But in any case, after a few more hours of sanding, stopping to reinstall the rubber, sanding, stopping... etc., the front gripper began losing its grip on the sandpaper. The failure is progressive, and now the sandpaper comes loose from the front gripper within just a few seconds of use. I suppose I'll have to go to stick-on paper, but that's very irritating since I paid for the SheetLoc system.

I never thought I'd say that Bosch has misengineered a tool, but that's the case with the 1297DK. The concept is good, but the engineering is a failure. Bosch needs to redo the front gripper, or take the tool off the market.

FC