Bosch Home and Garden Random Orbit Sander PEX 220 A (220 W, in carton packaging)

Product Information

It doesn’t have variable speed but the RROS18-0 runs at an impressive 20,000 orbits/min, can last for up to 50 minutes on a single charge and runs quietly. Despite being more compact and lighter than its predecessor (10% according to Ryobi), it is a little heavier than some rivals.

The maximum speed isn’t overly impressive but performance is good enough for the vast majority of DIY tasks and there’s a built-in dust bag which does a good job. This sander also works nice and quietly. The main gripe here is with the grip, which gets in the way of accessing the battery compartment a little bit.The best orbital sanders come with a range of speeds that provide you with more control for your sanding jobs. VH1022, VH1035, and VH1635 (by means of VX120 adapter included with those hoses), VAC005 and VAC006 and most other 35 mm and 22 mm vacuum hoses Finally, make sure you’re aware of what size of sanding sheet/pad the sander takes. Most are standard shapes and sizes so it shouldn’t be difficult to find new sheets/pads once the included ones (if there are any) are used up. Ryobi’s new cordless random orbital sander is an excellent value choice, especially if you already have other products from the ONE+ range, as you can share the battery. Plus, there’s a long three-year warranty. Worx handily supplies the sander in a hard plastic carry case if you buy it with a battery and you get a decent amount of sanding sheets included, too. On the downside, the dust bag is small and doesn’t offer very good suction.

READ NEXT: Keep all your gear in one place with the best toolboxes What else should I look out for?Orbital sanders can be cordless (better for safety and convenience) or corded (better for constant power). The all-important part of an orbital sander is the grip, and you can tell Bosch have thought hard about ergonomics here. This Bosch sander is nice to hold, and the rubberised overmoulding is in all the right places for grip and vibration dampening. The best thing about this orbital sander is the grip. The rubber overmoulding has been cleverly designed to fit your hand and reduce vibration as much as possible. This is a vital feature that turns an ordinary orbital sander into one of the best I’ve had a chance to test out. Most modern sanders use a hook and loop system, where the sanding sheet attaches to the pad like Velcro. It’s nice and easy but isn’t always as secure as a traditional clamp system, so if you’re concerned about accidents, consider a traditional model.

You might also want to consider whether you already have a battery that might fit a cordless sander. Many brands have interchangeable systems so a battery from your drill might work in a sander if they’re part of the same ecosystem. This is partly why sanders are available to buy without batteries (in other words, body only). How much do I need to spend? The 220 Watt motor isn’t quite as meaty as the Makita, but it still spins the 125 mm sanding pad up to 24,000 opm. Not bad for an orbital sander that’s less than half the price. It is a single-speed power sander though, which might put some off, but it’s a good all-round speed for sanding. At 1.2 kg, it competes with the best random orbit sanders on the list and takes the standard hook-and-loop sanding pads you can find just about anywhere. The controls are well-positioned on the top of the orbital sander. There are just two soft buttons that control the three variable speeds and power off. It’s not got quite the sanding speeds compared to some cordless sanders though. However, 7,000, 9,500 and 11,000 opm are ideal for most sanding jobs. Partly as there’s no need for a battery, the PEX 220 A is very light, meaning you can use it for a long time and at awkward angles without fatigue. The dust box is easy to empty but the clip system holding it to the sander is on the loose side. Best power-to-size ratio in Bosch´s 18 V category - with brushless motor and impact drilling function Find out moreThe weight isn’t enough to factor too much and importantly, the battery doesn’t impede when gripping the sander. The active dust extraction is very good – aided by a skirt around the sanding pad – but you can attach this sander to a vacuum hose, too. ROS20VS 5 In. Palm Random Orbit Sander/Polisher, (1) 5 In. Sanding Disc, (1) RS034 5 In. Soft Sanding Pad, (1) 2609170071 Dampening Ring, (1) 2609199179 Microfilter Dust Canister, (1) VAC002 Vacuum Hose Adapter, (1) Carrying Case The hand placement on a random orbital sander is for more than just grip though. The best random orbit sanders have a soft grip that reduces the vibrations that travel up your arm and tire you out, especially when you’re sanding acres of timber or plastics. In steps the orbital sander. As it sounds, instead of moving in a predictable way that can lead to scratch marks, the path of the sanding pad is randomised with an offset cam that creates ellipses as well as standard rotations. Sounds complicated, but it’s basically a wobbly head that means you don’t get those irritating tiny looping scratches common to detail sanders. Get a Grip Alongside standard orbital sanders, which is what the vast majority of electric sanders for DIY are, you can also buy what are known as random orbital sanders.

The GET 75-150 Professional is Bosch’s 150-mm corded active-driven random orbit sander with outstanding tool control and handling. It is designed with a perfectly ergonomic palm rest and a handle with a gripping circumference of only 18 cm for best tool control. Thanks to its multi-hole sanding pad, all sanding sheets irrespective of the hole pattern can be conveniently fitted and the dust extraction is significantly increased. It features an extremely powerful 750 W motor and direct driven pad rotation that deliver a up to 45% higher removal rate. Equipment & Application Power-wise, the sanding head spins at a fixed speed of 22,000 opm. It’s a decent, fast rate but for the price, you don’t get the luxury of variable speed control. Without a battery installed, the weight is kept down to just 1.1 kg and the little dust bag doesn’t get in the way and appears to do its job. Not only is the DBO180Z lightweight, but it also has three speed settings to cycle through by hitting the power button repeatedly. This makes it very versatile and a good option for beginners who can start at the slowest speed while learning. Whether you’re a professional builder or a weekend DIYer, the name Makita is hard to miss. The Japanese tool masters have created a huge range of high-quality, innovative products, and the DBO180Z random orbital sander is a welcome addition to the brand. VH1022, VH1035 and VH1635 (by means of VX120 adapter included with those hoses), VAC005 and VAC006 hoses, and most other 22 mm and 35 mm hosesIf you don’t need features like variable speed then the PEX 220 A is a good choice. Slap a sanding sheet on with the Velcro-style system, plug it in and away you go. The toggle switch will keep you going as long as you need and there’s plenty of power available. A standalone dust collection system will help to keep the dust out of the air and away from your lungs and won’t fill up and need changing every ten minutes. The little dust extraction bags are great when there’s no alternative, but for the best results, you should invest in a shop vac if you can afford it. Hook and Loop Pads for Easy Disc Change