Bosch’s sander, model 1295DVS, reminds me of a midsized car that’s well built but doesn’t quite have all the power you want. I thought it sanded less aggressively than my older Bosch random-orbit sander that has virtually the same amperage. Still, however, the 2.2-amp motor did an adequate job sanding mill marks out of oak and cleaning up veneer plywood.

The 1295DVS is a variable-speed sander that operates from 7,000 to 12,000 rpm. Model 1295D is identical, except it runs at a single speed: 12,000 rpm. The sander can reach into the corners of cabinets and other tight places. And because it’s lightweight, there’s less fatigue on the user.

This model comes equipped with a new and unique pleated microfilter. When the filter was clean, the 1295DVS did a great job of collecting dust. But once the surface of the filter became saturated with dust, the dust-collection effectiveness of the sander was quickly reduced.

The manual suggests cleaning this filter often, but I found the process to be annoying, especially when faced with sanding a lot of wood as I often do. If you’re really concerned about dust, consider the vacuum-hose accessory.

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