Bosch ROS65VC Sander

[Staniam]

Hello,

    I am a former owner of the RO125 and I absolutely loved it. The only reason I sold it was to move across country (again). It took a few hours to get used to it but once I was, it was great.

    I recently came across the Bosch ROS65VC sander on YouTube and it looks pretty nice with plenty of top notch features. The one that has me most interested in the vibration control.

    Since I'm currently looking to purchase a TS55 for my father, saving $200+ on my main sander would be nice. Does anyone have hands on experience or 2nd hand experience with the Bosch?

   

 

[sae]

Just FYI, the 1250DEVS is Bosch's Rotex competitor. Makita makes one as well, the BO6040.

The ROS65VC is more a ETS 150 competitor.

I will leave it to others to comment, as I have not used any of the above for any extended length of time. The Bosch sanders lack an edge guard, which may or may not matter to you depending on your workflow.

The reviews I have read on the ROS65VC have been really interesting though. The decoupled housing is neat, and the canister design seems really smart. It has a fishmouth shaped attachment, which covers a vent hole when using the canister. However, when using a vacuum hose, the port is open, eliminating the suck-down effect that many complain about the ETS needing less suction.

 

[Staniam]

I checked into the 1250DEVS and it sounds like its a pretty good machine. The overall look of it seems like a much smaller profile as well.

I wonder if I could attatch the Festool edge guard to the Bosch. Even if I couldn't I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to replicate it.

Does anyone else have any input or experience with these Sanders?

 

[AlexThePalex]

I had a chance to play with the 1250DEVS last week, I was painting a house and one of the neighbours was working on his garage door with it. At first I only heard this odd noise, very loud, and I knew it was some sort of power tool, but I couldn't place it. Turned out it was the 1250DEVS, or GEX150 Turbo as it's called over here.

When I saw the neighbour was working with this sander I approached him because I was curious about it and had a talk with him. I got to try the Bosch on his garage door, and I showed him the RO150 and DTS400 I had with me.

The Bosch did a fine job as far as I could tell in the two minutes I used it, it removed the paint with ease. But it did feel like a much rougher, less refined tool than my Rotex in every way. I thought it wasn't possible to find a noisier sander than the Rotex, but in the Bosch I did. It is also bigger than the Rotex, just as long, but a good inch higher, and the grip is bulkier. The Rotex is more comfortable to hold and handle, it feels like one sleek unit, while the Bosch feels like an angle grinder with a tin can attached to it.
   
But as I said, it worked just fine. I am used to my Rotex, and not this Bosch, so that makes a difference of course. The owner had his sander for 2 years now, and was very satisfied with it. Except for the noise. Still working without hearing protection though. Or dust extraction. He liked my sanders too when he tried them, and said he might had to go shopping for a DTS sooner or later.

Now, I'm certainly not going to swap my Rotex for the Bosch, but if you get the Bosch, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Unless your previous ownership of a Rotex has spoiled you.   

 

[Locks14]

Don't know about the Rotex 150 vs the GEX 150/1250, but based on my side-by-side comparisons the ROS65VC/GEX125-150 is a more comfortable tool than the ETS150, with less vibration and due to its decoupled design is less likely to dig/cup your workpiece.

 

[Staniam]

The majority of reviews I've read about both Bosch sanders state that they're on par with their Festool counterparts so this is why I'm asking. I appreciate the input so far.

I can't imagine a sander louder than the RO125 so if that's kind of a downer if the 1250DEVS is truly louder. The inch taller on height isn't something that worries me. I certainly don't have the largest hands but they are probably above average  so handling it shouldn't be a problem.

Anyone own either or have any further experiences?

 

[NHSP759]

Stan, I have this and it's made in Switzerland. First place tool. I use this and my RO90 exclusively and the machine is a very VERY comfortable tool to use thanks to the support pillars that absorb shock. I shot a video of it in use attached to one of my MIDI's. I honestly cannot recommend this thing more, it is truly an awesome tool. I have not used the included dust canister as I had it hooked up to the MIDI. Here's a link to it in use from my YouTube video I shot. It's a two part of the unboxing and in use. The one attached just shows it in use.....

 

[NHSP759]

Oh and one more thing, I shot this in an upper floor alcove that was about four feet wide above a stairwell. The MIDI and the RO are both going in this area so it is kind of loud. In truth, I don't have a problem with noise, it's no worse than my other ones.

 

[Staniam]

Hey Chris, thanks for the info and vid! It looks to be doing a pretty good job removing. Bosch markets the sander (ROS65VC) as an aggressive stock remover and fine finish sander which is truly why it caught my eye to begin with.

How is it as a finish sander? Or do you use your RO90/other Sanders for finish?

 

[Timtool]

I had the predecessor of the bosch, a GEX 125. I was actually pretty happy with it and i am sure anyone will be. At least anyone who hasn't used a Festool ETS 150, after i did it was obvious how much quiter the ETS was to operate.
They seem to have improved their design by adding all sorts of shock absorbers. But it seems weird since festool managed to make a stable and low vibration sander without damping anything just by using proper design, it looks counter productive to add vibration absorbers on something that is supposed to vibrate.

A problem i had with my bosch was the oval dust port, it would require an adaptor and that one has not properly sized so it would stretch my festool hose over time so that it wouldn't hold on my festool ports anymore. All my bosch tools had that problem, another reason why i replaced them all.

 

[Locks14]

I had the predecessor of the bosch, a GEX 125. I was actually pretty happy with it and i am sure anyone will be. At least anyone who hasn't used a Festool ETS 150, after i did it was obvious how much quiter the ETS was to operate.
They seem to have improved their design by adding all sorts of shock absorbers. But it seems weird since festool managed to make a stable and low vibration sander without damping anything just by using proper design, it looks counter productive to add vibration absorbers on something that is supposed to vibrate.

A problem i had with my bosch was the oval dust port, it would require an adaptor and that one has not properly sized so it would stretch my festool hose over time so that it wouldn't hold on my festool ports anymore. All my bosch tools had that problem, another reason why i replaced them all.

The GEX 125 is a completely different class of tool, not so much a straight a predecessor. The GEX 125-150 is a £250 sander vs the GEX 125 which is sub £150. Bosch have really put a lot more engineering into this new 125-150.

You're correct Festool has done a very good job of reducing vibration through good design in the ETS 150. However Bosch have done a better job with their decoupled body.  How can you say it's counter productive? Maybe you don't understand the purpose of what they've achieved? It's not stopped the tool from vibrating, it's simply stopped those vibrations being transmitted to the user so the tool can be used for a longer period of time and with less discomfort. The pad still vibrates/oscillates as much as required to be effective as a sander, it just doesn't transmit those vibrations into the handle of the tool as much as similar tools.

Finally the dust port is not oval, it's a standard port that hooks up to any standard adapter like Festool, Bosch, Fein, etc use.

I used both side by side and as good as the Festool was, the Bosch was clearly the superior in terms of comfort and both on par in terms of Performance/finish.

 

[Locks14]

Hey Chris, thanks for the info and vid! It looks to be doing a pretty good job removing. Bosch markets the sander (ROS65VC) as an aggressive stock remover and fine finish sander which is truly why it caught my eye to begin with.

How is it as a finish sander? Or do you use your RO90/other Sanders for finish?

It's really good, the decoupled body means there's a little flex between the handle and the pad, so when you move it around the workpiece it's less susceptible to the edge of the disc digging into the work piece. I guess in the same way a bit of flex in a scraper/stripping knife enables you to strip paint without gouging the wood underneath vs. a completely rigid blade.

 

[Staniam]

I watched another video on the 1250DEVS last night and the reviewer compared it to the ROS65VC. He said in aggrecive removal it does a better job but in finish mode it's slightly inferior. Makes sense as it's a dual mode. I liked how much smaller and sleeker the profile is in the 1250, like the Festool version.

Its basically between these two Sanders for me at this point.

The review was from WorkShopAddict...

 

[Timtool]

Well i'm sure it's great and they seemed to have fixed most of the issues i had with it, but looking at the numbers it reminded me of one thing i had forgotten, it's made of frigging lead!
The ROS65VC weighs a whopping 2,4kg, even heavier than the 2,3 kg of the frigging Rotex 150!
1,8 kg for the ETS 150 and 1,2 kg for the new EC models.
I have no problem with any vibration from the ETS150 during long use and apparently for people suffering from carpal tunnel it's one of the few they can use without pain, but working with it on vertical surfaces can be tiring after a while because of the weight. Adding 600 grams to that, i would say "are you mad?"

As a comparison Staniam, your RO125 was weighing only 1,9 kg. if it's for recreational woodworking i would think not such a big deal. But for professional use at the end of each day it can play a role.
As for choosing between the two bosch models, ask yourself how often do you need the forced gear rotation mode? if it's close to 50% then you are better off with one that has it, if not then a regular sander will do better. Rotex type sanders are a Pita to use compared to RO sanders, badly balanced, noisy and heavy. I only take out my rotex a few times a year, when my ETS was in for a free service i had to use the rotex instead. I was extremely relieved when the ETS came back. Never again do i want to be without.

 

[Locks14]

It is a little heavy, though I do think the 2.4kg is including the dust collector/filter unit which is about 300g on its own. But even at 2.1kg it's not a lightweight, though for horizontal work I find the weight to be advantageous!

I wouldn't want to use it vertically for an extended period of time, but then I didn't ever intend to use it for vertical or overhead work when I bought it. I have other sanders for that.

 

[Magpal]

I have this sander and i am very happy with it. It is very comfortable in use and the vibrations are nonexistent. Note that i have very limited experience with sanders, so i do not have any other references.

Don't know about the Rotex 150 vs the GEX 150/1250, but based on my side-by-side comparisons the ROS65VC/GEX125-150 is a more comfortable tool than the ETS150, with less vibration and due to its decoupled design is less likely to dig/cup your workpiece.

Did you note any difference in dust extraction between the units? Are they equally good?

Stan, I have this and it's made in Switzerland. First place tool. I use this and my RO90 exclusively and the machine is a very VERY comfortable tool to use thanks to the support pillars that absorb shock. I shot a video of it in use attached to one of my MIDI's. I honestly cannot recommend this thing more, it is truly an awesome tool. I have not used the included dust canister as I had it hooked up to the MIDI. Here's a link to it in use from my YouTube video I shot. It's a two part of the unboxing and in use. The one attached just shows it in use.....

Do you use Bosch or Festool abrasives? I currently use Bosch abrasives, but i may switch to Festool abrasives later. I wonder if the dust extraction will work equally good with the "Festool" sanding pad.

 

[woodman_412]

I just did a video review on the Bosch ROS65VC that I released today.  The vibration control is by far my favorite feature on the sander and really makes a big difference in use. 

I have tried the Festool ETS 150 in a shop I used to work in and found that it was also great for vibration levels and performance.  I didn't get enough time with the Festool to really get a full sense of it in use but the little but that I did use it I found it worked well.

 

[Lemwise]

We have the Bosch GEX-125-150 at work and it's my favourite sander for finish sanding teak decks and other large surfaces. We also have a Festool EST 150 but I grab the Bosch every time.

 

[sae]

I checked into the 1250DEVS and it sounds like its a pretty good machine. The overall look of it seems like a much smaller profile as well.

I wonder if I could attatch the Festool edge guard to the Bosch. Even if I couldn't I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to replicate it.

Makita released the BO6050 in the intervening months that has an edge guard.

 

[John Broomall]

I have been using the Bosch 1250 heavily for over three years in both modes. It handles everything between 36 grit and 180 and does a nice job. I don't use it for finish work on furniture. Keep in mind it is a fairly large machine and dust collection is a must. For the past several years I have been using Abranet discs exclusively because they make a difference in overall performance.