Bosch sander demystifies dust

Bosch debuted this new 5-inch random-orbit sander at IBS recently, and it's chock full of those proprietary technology names that conflate two words and convince me that it's gonna work real, real good.

The first is called the MicroFilter system. This captures sawdust particles as small as 1/2-micron with 84 percent efficiency—that's pretty efficient for non-vac dust collection.

And to show you just how much dust the sander's sucking up, Bosch has added a translucent dust canister (left).

Rather than having to guess how choked your filter has gotten (which doesn't usually occur to me, at least, until I'm spewing dust from the pad's holes) you can just look inside and and see.

To get it off, you twist it off. It's called the Twist-Off. Get it?

Some other exciting new features:

The HookTight system Velcros the paper to the pad with 35,000 hooks, about twice the normal number. This prevents dust from getting between the paper and pad, and also resists heat.

Heat resistance prolongs the life of the pad, which is the most delicate part of the sander. The longer you can preserve it, Bosch says, you can continue to get great results and avoid a $15 replacement.

Also, the tool's case has a circle of 8 prongs molded into it. The idea is that you place the paper onto the case's template, press the tool down onto the prongs, and your paper is effortlessly, perfectly aligned.

I've written entire articles, commissioned illustrations even, just to show somebody how to line up those holes.

You trying to put me out of a job, Bosch?

More sanding:

How the Sand Devil makes a better block out of old sanding belts.

Why Craftsman's new VibraFree sander won't give you the jitters.

Our gallery of random-orbit sanders.

Black & Decker's new Mouse: The sensitive sander that shares its feelings.

The Festool LS130 Linear Profile sander hugs the curves.

Grip it and rip it: A quick-change paper tip for a palm sander.

The oldest, dirtiest DeWalt sander we ever did see.

And two sanders that get so badly abused, it's a wonder they still work.