I currently own two Random Orbit Sanders (ROS), an older Rigid and this bad boy. There is ZERO comparison, this is hands down, in every way, superior. I will also add here I have used other ROS, and they all tend to have the same set of issues, namely vibration.
I will say upfront the reason I purchased this was the vibration reduction. Other ROS have horrible vibration and when I used them for longer periods of time I ended up tired and sore. My hands, shoulders and back took a pounding. This did not stop me from doing the work, it just became something I dreaded.
Enter this sander. I used it over the weekend, at first, while using it with one hand, I noticed some vibration, considerably less than other gear, but some vibration none the less. If this had been the level, I still would be happy, however when I put two hands on it and a bit of added pressure, the vibration was gone. I switched my grip a bit when I reverted to one hand and the reduction became a near match to two handed operation.
There are two downsides to this and one of them may be the way I configured my sanding disc. The filter collects a LOT of dust however I still ended up with about an equal amount on the exterior of the sander and on my work as I did with my old sander. I will say here I am using the Mirka AbraNet discs with their adapter for the discs so I suspect this impacts the sanders ability to pull up dust, however this is an okay trade off to me as I like the durability and performance of the AbraNet discs (NOTE: it is the adapter, not the discs reducing the dust collection effiency). The second downside is price. Compare prices for comparable products and you will see these are flat out not cheap. The price may be high, but you do get what you pay for and I am happy with this so far.
The build is solid. There is a fair bit of plastic, but you can also see where the metal you would hope for and expect is in place. You will notice one other thing too - it is not light. If you are using it one handed and lifting it off the work you will notice the weight after a bit, also you will notice how powerful it is when you lift off the work while it is running (again with one hand).
I have a lot more sanding ahead of me on the current project I am working on, but I am looking forward to it now.
Overall Pros:
- Solid build
- Vibration control works and works well
- Runs well, performs well
- On the heavy side, but I count this as an advantage because it denotes superior build and helps with work
- Did not mention before, but not very loud at all
- Comes with vacuum adapter, hex wrench and you can take it from a six inch to a five inch disc
Overall Cons:
- On the expensive side but you get what you pay for
- A little on the dusty side (again though I think this is more due to my choice of discs with the added pad as the disc alone should allow more dust to be collected versus less.
Overall Recommendation:
If the cost does not cause you heartburn (and even if it does) I strongly recommend this ROS. I have heard great things about the Festool sanders, but was not willing to drop $600 for a sander, and based on what I have heard, for a third of the price, this delivers much if not all of the functionality. To my mind, look no further, this is one great piece of equipment.
| Manufacturer | Bosch |
|---|---|
| Part Number | ROS65VC-6 |
| Item Weight | 5.3 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 15 x 7.9 x 6.6 inches |
| Item model number | ROS65VC-6 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 6" Sanding Pad |
| Color | Blue |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Amperage Capacity | 6 Amps |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number of Handles | 1 |
| Special Features | variable-speed |
| Included Components | SANDER RNDM ORBT REAR-HNDL 6IN |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
