Bosch RO Sander Purchase, 2.2 vs 3.3 Amps, 5" or 6"

[Dewayne Reding]

I am going to purchase a Bosch RO sander. Several models I am looking at are the 1295 DVSK, and the 3727DEVS. The 1295 has a 2.2A motor and a 5" pad, the 3727 has a 3.3A with a 6" pad. The price is about double for the 3727 model. There are other models with the larger motor and take the smaller 5" disk, but appear to be older models.

I guess the questons are is a 2.2A motor sufficient for a RO sander? Does the 6" offer any meaningful advantage in practice? I forgot to check if the 1295 is lighter, but I am guessing they are similar in weight.

[glenn bradley]

If you need a workhorse to remove volumes of material, get a 6" with two handles. The 1295 has taken some bad press about brushes prematurely wearing or the units flat out failing. It does however have the smoothest pattern I have ever used and speeds finishing time significantly. Others have had issues so I hesitate to recommend but my 1295 has been run long and hard (within it's designed purpose) without incident. I may grab another one just because it has been so sweet. YMMV.

[Don Bullock]

I just got a refund from Bosch for my 1295DVSK. It failed on me twice in the six months I had it with very little use in that time period. Yes, it's a nice sander and does what's it is designed to do, but I couldn't count on it to be reliable. I ended up buying a Festool RO 125 sander from Bob.

[JayStPeter]

Different brand, but I moved from a 5" to 6" ROS. I think 6" is the way to go unless you do lots of small stuff. It makes things quicker, more so than you would think. I like anything that makes sanding quicker ;)

Jay

[Chuck Burns]

I've got a 1296 DVSK and it does a great job and hasn't failed. I'm actually thinking off buying another one so I can leave pads on and switch grits quicker. OTOH hand I too am considering a 6". I' looking at the Bosch 1250 DEVS which is a 6.5 amp 6"; but at 243.00 I'm getting close to Festool territory................. Another 1295 at 59-69.00 might not be a bad idea! And I won't start down that slippery Festool slope!