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Anyone have anything good or bad to say about a Bosch PEX 125 AE random orbital sander? There is a used one locally for sale and wondering if it is worth getting or better to save up for a better or new one. Haven't been able to find much about them from the internet. Says it is made in Switzerland. Has the vacuum attachments, takes 125mm diameter discs and appears to be variable speed.
Attachment 507501
It's green. Save up for a blue one.
I've got one of the Bosch GEX 150, and like it quite a lot. Not as good as a Festool/Mirka, but much friendlier price point, and it's a pretty good unit to use. I use it with abranet mesh abrasives, and find that it does everything I ask of it, and has very good dust extraction when connected to a suitable extractor.
BOSCH GEX 40-150 Professional Random Orbital Sander
I don't know anything about the Bosch you have pictured but I find that sanders with the high centre of gravity and small disc diameter tiring to use and restrictive by how you have to hold them. If you are only doing a small amount of sanding it will probably be okay. I have an earlier one of the Bosch 150's that rogerwilco linked to but I actually went out and brought one of these Dewalt units which is quite short and easier to hold on the top of the motor or around its belly which makes sanding for longer periods of time more comfortable.
Having said that, if the Bosch PEX 125 is what is within your budget then what I have said won't help you. As you say, there aren't many reviews online for them. The condition of the velcro pad needs to be checked as when they get worn they don't hold the disc very well and they fly off, but that goes for any used sander.
Interesting information about the high centre of gravity. I haven't used one and hadn't thought about that, I had wondered why all the newer models appeared to move away from the two handles approach. I've made them very low offer that would make it worth getting to try out otherwise I'll keep looking. Thanks again and have a wonderful day.
Made in Sweden. I'd grab it for that reason alone. Will be better built than all but the top of the line gear out there now.
Thanks again for your replies, didn't get it in the end. Owner decided to keep it, kept telling me it was the expensive tradesmen's model not the DIY version but wasn't willing to let me see it. I'll keep looking. I've just picked up a bargain on a grinder with the Trition type random orbital sander attachment, will be interesting to see how that goes.
I have one of these that I was given 20+ years ago. It is not the variable speed model but it works fine for my limited domestic sanding needs.
You definitely need the front handle as mine was very tiring to use until I bought the front handle.
It has good dust extraction when used with a vacuum cleaner-type dust extractor.
I have both fine sanded furniture for staining & polyurethaning and also cleaned up outside weatherboard for painting with mine - just seems to keep on going.
The early Bosch Green "made is Switzerland" stuff were good quality power tools often just the internals of the Blue Professional range with a green casing.
If it's cheap enough!
I have blue and green bosch. Some of the green is very good, other items just ok. I don't have any recent but none that I have has been garbage.
My beef is spares. Getting a new trigger switch for my blue drill is stupidly expensive, more than a new GOOD drill.
The ergonomics of a tool you use for long periods is important. There is a world of difference between an hour's sanding and drilling a hole in 30 seconds.
If I had my time again I'd stick with the better makita tools. 2c