Bosch 1250DEVS Random Orbital Sander

Tool: 1250DEVS Random Orbital Sander Buy Now

Manufacturer: Bosch

MSRP: $250

My wife and I purchased our first home just over a year ago – a spectacular farmhouse that has been cared for by generations of responsible owners. We were not particularly excited, however,  about 30-year-old carpet, and the moment we got the keys to the house we started to tear it out.

Enter the Bosch 1250DEVS. I buried the cost of this sander in the many bills that came in the first month (a fact that I have not revealed until this very moment…sorry, hon!) Ahead of me was touching up 1,500 square feet of painted pine flooring (before we painted them again), stair treads that needed attention, decking that needed taming, plaster walls that had developed cracks, and I even used it for some drywall work. I put this sander through many torture tests and could not be happier about the investment.

The banner feature of the this sander is its dual-mode capability. The random orbit function is what you’d expect, though the added real estate of the 6″ disk is significantly faster than a 5″ ROS. Now my favorite part – the eccentric orbit (a feature often found on more expensive tools). With the right touch, this powerful mode can waste away the hardest of lumber very quickly. I have since used this sander to treat a massive red oak slab and various pine shop projects since the home improvement sprint of last year. And I’ve found that the eccentric mode saves loads of time. There is a second handle that can screw into either side of the grinder that you absolutely need for the eccentric mode.

The Bosch features soft start at variable speed settings. The dust collection is incredible – Bosch claims 96 percent dust capture through the channels in the pad. I heartily recommend this sander if your random orbit just isn’t cutting it.

— David Lyell