UPDATE: I've recently encountered issues with this sander that has changed my outlook on it in a major way. Below, between the lines, is the original review, and I'll post the latest info at the bottom.
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So, when asking on a forum about what to get to replace my old Porter Cable Random Orbit Sander, a lot of people suggested one from Bosch. I have a belt sander by them, and it works great, so I thought I'd try this one out. To start with, I'll say that many people suggested their next one up from this one (in the $100-200 range), but since I'm a hobbyist and I like to be frugal, I tried this one out despite a few negative reviews (more on this below). I initially had some problems with the sanding pad, and it took a few weeks to get it resolved, so I'll talk about that first.
When it came, the first thing I did was check the flatness of the sanding pad, as that seemed to be a fairly common complaint among the lower scored reviews on here. I was disappointed to see that it was somewhat cupped when placing a straightedge to it (see pics). Although I also got a soft interface pad for polishing up finishes (in conjunction with Micro Mesh disks), this cupping did make a big difference when just using the backing pad on the sander without the interface pad. It left a ring, and although moving it around helped even out the sanding action, sometimes you have to focus on a smaller spot and can't move it quite as much. The cupping and resulting flared edges of the pad made the sander start to dig into the surface more than I'd like for this type of sander, and this was on the finest setting (6)!
Needless to say, I contacted Bosch. The representative was VERY prompt and helpful, especially considering I got it around the holidays of 2017. They sent out a replacement pad free of charge, and when I got it, I tested it with a straightedge like before. This one was cupped as well (see pics). This time, I didn't hesitate to send a picture with it and ask if this was somehow a normal thing for these pads. The same rep responded and sent it to some people in a different department. They checked some of the pads and the representative got back to me saying that they found some other of the same pads that were cupped, and they sent out a different but equally usable pad for this sander and confirmed with me that it was flat.
When I got the new pad, I checked it and it was definitely flatter than the first two, but still had a slight cup at spots. When I put it on the sander, though, unlike the pad that was already on there when I first got it, this new pad was perfectly flat when screwed onto the sander, so that problem was solved (once again, see pics). I tested for the reverse effect on the pad the sander came with when I took it off the sander, and it was more cupped at that point. Anyway, Bosch's customer service gets a big thumbs up from me!
The sander now leaves a nice even surface with seemingly no swirl or scratch marks. I've only tried it with 220 and 320 grit paper as well as with the fine Micro Mesh disks (1500 to 12000 grit), but I'm sure it will do fine with pre-finishing grits as well. I've only tried it for significant periods of time on the two finest settings (5 and 6), so I might have to update the review if I do try the lower ones.
Just a couple of minor gripes beyond having to wait a few weeks total for the pad problem to get resolved...some of the negative reviews also said that this sander was hard to control. I do notice that if I apply even a little bit of downward pressure, it starts to erratically move about the surface. When I just let the weight and sanding action of the sander do the job, this lessens up to a more than manageable amount at worst. Also, the dust collection chamber is a bit finicky to get off. It does stay secure, but this proves to be a bit of a hassle when getting it off. You have to rotate it back and forth slightly while pulling to get it off.
Bottom line, if you're a hobbyist like myself and time is not of the essence, this sander is a solid one. However, as much as the product works well and Bosch's customer service (at least for me) was top notch, the quality control on the pads seems spotty at best, and that could prove to be an issue if you're a professional and depend on the product being perfect right when you get it. In that case, I'd recommend going with one of Bosch's more expensive ones. And if a Bosch rep read this, please tighten the standards for the standard sanding pads on this sander.
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UPDATED INFO: In the past few days, I noticed the sander was running WAY too quickly at no-load speed and when I put it on a surface, it spins WAY too slowly and leaves tiny swirl marks on the surface similar to what you'd get with a sheet sander. I read in the owner's manual that it's the dampener ring that is failing if this happens, so that's one thing. Also, when I put the sanding pad back on after cleaning the underside of the dampening ring (to no avail), I noticed the pad was now cupped kinda like the previous ones I mentioned earlier in this review (see newest picture). Here's the thing...my old Porter Cable sander went for YEARS without having these issues, and that one came with my router for FREE! I've only had this one for just over two months, used it decently for one month of that, and then encountered these issues. I e-mailed Bosch and they offered to have me ship it back to them (they'd pay for it), and while I told them I'd be glad to send it back for purposes of them inspecting and learning from the issues present with the sander, I said I'm no longer interested in it. Not sure if mine's just a dud or what, but I'm honestly VERY shocked at how short lived this thing's performance was. When asking about maybe getting some credit towards one of their better ones, Bosch said it'd be dependent on where I bought my next sander from (due to the decision being left to the manager of that place), so now I might be out $70 or so because the quality control is so poor on this sander. I take back what I said before...it's good to be frugal, but sometimes if you try too hard it can leave you in a worse place than if you had just spent a bit more up front. I DO NOT, under any circumstances, recommend this sander. Again, maybe mine was just a dud, but it's not a very good first impression of this sander, and I will not try it out again. Be careful about buying lower-priced stuff, even if it's from a reputable brand such as Bosch!
| Manufacturer | Bosch |
|---|---|
| Part Number | ROS20VSC |
| Item Weight | 3.5 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 9 x 5 x 6 inches |
| Item model number | ROS20VSC |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color | Blue |
| Style | Sander with Soft Carrying Bag |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number of Handles | 1 |
| Special Features | Compact |
| Included Components | (1) Soft Backing Pad, (1) Sanding Disc, (1) Vacuum Hose Adapter, (1) Contractor Bag |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Warranty Description | 30 day money back guarentee, 1 year manufactuer warranty |
