Over on social media and online forums, there’s an image of new Bosch cordless sanders that has been circulating for a couple of days. Get it?!
These look to be the Bosch GEX 12V-125 and GEX 18V-125 cordless sanders that we started seeing referenced in Bosch parts listings and on Bosch DE’s user forum back in September.
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Have you see these tools before? I have been trying to learn more about them without much success.
I could not trace the source of the image, other than finding it in several places online and with the same details:
- Pneumatic sander-style geometry
- Brushless motor
- 125mm sanding disc
- Variable speed
- 12V and 18V battery systems
At this time, until we learn more, it is possible that these are renderings and not representative of actual products. But, seeing as how we were clued in about their existence 2 months ago, I would guess that they’re real and forthcoming.
If these are newly released Bosch cordless sanders, sign me up! The image of the Bosch 18V cordless sander shows it to have a very low profile geometry that is far different than other cordless sanders on the market today.
Here’s Bosch’s existing 18V cordless finish sander. While fairly compact, and smaller in size than most brands’ 18V-class 5″ random orbit sander, the image of the new Bosch 18V circular sander shows off a more ergonomic grip geometry and huge departure from modern trends.
Here is the Dewalt DCS210 cordless sander, with brushless motor, 5″ sanding pad, and dust bag. The difference in form factor is apparent.
That’s why Bosch’s sander is so interesting – it features a form factor that we don’t typically see with other brands’ cordless sanders.
While the Bosch GEX 18V-125 and GEX 12V-125 sanders aren’t as compact, they could be more comfortable or controllable. It’s great to have more options!
Here is the image again, which shows the Bosch 18V cordless sander paired with a CORE18V compact 4Ah battery.
The Bosch 12V sander is also particularly interesting, as you won’t find cordless sanders in most brands’ 12V-class cordless power tool systems. The benefit here is that you have a much smaller tool and a narrower handle grip.
It’s unclear as to what impact a 12V-class motor and power source will have on speed or performance specs, but the sander looks to have the same 5″/125mm sanding pad as the 18V model.
Both sanders look to have built-in dust ports, variable speed dials, and a separate and easily accessible on/off power button.
The Bosch 12V sander has a built-in LED battery fuel gauge.
What’s also interesting here is that the Bosch 12V cordless sander is shown paired with a compact Li-ion battery, rather than a larger and higher capacity battery pack. This helps to make it appear particularly compact and even ergonomic. A lower capacity battery on a tool like this would force a compromise in runtime – at the least – and it’s likely for the 12V sander to deliver a slower material removal rate as well.
As mentioned, all we’re going by is an image found on social media and a Bosch user forum. These could be concepts – and if so they look to be very accurate and enticing. Or, like many Bosch cordless power tools, they could simply have only been announced for international markets thus far.
As usual, there is no indication as to if or when these new Bosch cordless power tools might be launched here. We have reached out to Bosch USA, asking about North America availability, and are waiting to hear back.
Please let us know if you find any additional details about these tools!
Sources: @ToolFreakz | @Ohio Power Tool | Bosch Professional DE Forum
Thank you to Cody for the tip!
MoogleMan3
Holy Crap! I am all over that 12v version if/when it releases!
Frank D
Bosch finally bringing more 12v tools to NA??
Exciting!! They should offer EVERY 12v tool they make.
MoogleMan3
For real! I had to invest in milwaukee’s M12 system for some of the tools I wanted in 12V like the rotary tool and small cutoff tool.
Chris
Bosch has both of those tools I believe 🤔
MoogleMan3
They do, but not in the USA.
DHCrocks
you can get them from amazon UK and Germany. I’ve bought a couple of Bosch 12V tools from there. Got the 12v circular saw (which is awesome BTW, so compact and perfect for cutting sheet goods and small trim and the rotary tool (dremel).
Stuart
There’s no indication of this yet.
I’m still trying to work out which country this was announced in or is launching in first.
Tom D
I’m finding no other images than the one at the top of the post – which makes me smell “fan made render based on a part number in a list somewhere”.
Kinda fun to find a tool with no info yet!
Stuart
In my 12 years of writing up new tools, I have never seen an image – rendering or photo – this sophisticated that was not part of an official new tool launch.
It definitely looks to be taken from an official Bosch source, I just cannot find that source yet. This tends to happen with tools announced on international sites – small language differences and that Bosch has many different portals each with different tool launch timetables, can hide new tools unless you know *exactly* what to search for.
If this is a “fan rendering,” Bosch needs to hire that designer ASAP.
Tom D
What is interesting to me is the apparent “impossibility” of the position (I’d assume they’d tip over backwards if real) – which really seems like a product image (though then they often have a “simulated image” disclaimer or others).
Does Bosch have an equivalent of Milwaukee’s reveal show?
Tom D
Now that I look closer it looks like the same kind of product images like you see here: https://www.bosch-professional.com/de/de/products/gex-34-150-0601372800
John
That 12V version is the sexiest tool I’ve seen in quite a while.
fred
Hopefully it will not be too wimpy. I like their 12V router and 12V planer – but only (not unexpected) for very light-duty tasks
josh Morris
Guh no bag or vac port
Joatman
If you look closer you can see the dust bag and port. Its on the back side, hidden, due to the angle.
Tom D
I can’t even imagine an EU company releasing something without a dust collection option.
John
Dust port is blatantly obvious.
res51cue
Hopefully this is a start of Bosch’s efforts on giving the NA market some more love. I feel they shot themselves in the foot over the past few years as the Big 3 expanded their cordless lineup and it’s going to be difficult making existing owners invest into a new battery ecosystem. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they’re at least willing to give it a shot.
King duck
Those look very comfortable to use
Joatman
The 12v is on my list even though I have 4 palm sanders already and use them a lot. The 18v looks to be tail heavy. In order to offset the weight in the back it seems you would need to apply a downward force to the pad just to keep the weight distributed. Excessive force on these, as we all know, just doesn’t work with palm sanders. However, that’s just based on the appearance of it. It could turn out to be the most comfortable sander yet. But that 12v is going to be awesome.
Tom D
You know I wonder if a sander would be perfect for a “remote battery” – like a short cable to the battery box that would be mountable on your arm or other hand or maybe even on your back.
This could allow the actual piecework machine to be as small as a corded without having to run the cord all the way to a plug.
Tom D
Now that I think of it you could end up with a hilarious jacket with various battery connections all over it – and plugs at the end of each arm for different types of equipment. A veritable robomech.
Koko The Talking Ape
I was just going to say, I wonder about the balance on that 18v. For RO sanders to be R, the weight has to be more or less balanced over the pad. Or that’s what I thought. Maybe Bosch knows something different.
Aaron
I came up in a shop where we had pneumatic RO sanders and have never been able to be happy with the level of nimbleness and control I get from electric or cordless RO. This 12v will be on the short list of reasons for me to be sad about m12.
John
Mirka Ceros (no longer made) was the closest form factor to a pneumatic RO sander. I’ve had one for 8 years. While the separate transformer box can be a hassle, it made the sander small and nimble. Still the best sander I own (out of 10 or so I have).
fred
In our cabinet shop we felt that we were stuck with pneumatics. We could not find even corded tools that were up to continuous duty like the Dotco, Cleco and Hutchkins sanders we had. We had not tried any of the Mirka/Ceros line – but their advertising always seemed appealing.
At home my old Porter Cable (PC) sanders are the closest thing I have to production tools. I suspect that the chain-drive PC “locomotive” belt sander that I have will way outlive me. PC was the first out with a RO sander – and I still sometimes use their 7336 which was based on an angle grinder design – but prefer a more modern corded Bosch RO sander for most tasks.
fred
While on the topic of sanders – Festool has announced a new Edge Sanding Guide AH-ES-ETS/ETSC Coming December 2020. I’m guessing the price will up to Festool standards.
PETE
Are bosch guys the biggest fan boys? Knowing that they make some awesome tools but don’t release them to the NA market. Not swapping brands and just waiting and waiting, even going without, just to stick with your brand?
fred
For my personal use – my LiIon cordless started with the Makita LXT 18V lineup – because early-on they just had more variety than Dewalt and Milwaukee. Then I added Milwaukke M12 – because they looked like (still do) they were going lead the pack in that 12V class. More recently I added some Makita CXT 12V tools for my wife – based on novelty and her liking their ergonomics. I’ve also bought a few Ryobi tools based on price/performance/expected usage. I find the limited Bosch presence in the NA market curious – have bought a few of their 12V tools (router, planer, driver).
Overall for home use – I find it hard to understand being such a fanboy of any brand as to exclude thinking about another. When I partnered in several businesses – we tried to limit the mix-and-match of cordless tools so that we could standardize on battery platforms – and buy batteries in bulk when we could. It was not an issue of being Fanboys. Even then – in the GC/Remodeling business we had both Makita and Milwaukee 18V , in the Plumbing business Milwaukee M12 and M18, Milwaukee and Bosch 12V for our Cabinet business installers – and hardly any cordless tools for production work or in the Pipe/Metal fabrication business.
Perk
As someone who invested in the Bosch 12v line, don’t hold your breath waiting on them here in the US.
Peter
At least the quarter sheet is real.
https://www.bosch-professional.com/de/de/products/gss-18v-10-06019D0200
Stuart
Yes – I posted about it 5 years ago.
https://toolguyd.com/bosch-cordless-finish-sander/
But, I don’t believe it ever came out here.
Patrick
Seems like that first and last sentence could be copied and pasted on a lot of Bosch tool ‘release’ posts.
Peter
Oops, should have paid more attention.
Old news I see.
Mopar4wd
I love the 12V still trying to decide on a 12v system (sometimes shopping takes to long when you only want not need something) and that would push me towards Bosch.
Nathan
not sure how I feel about the 12V but I do like that 18 V.
I’d have to hold that and play with it to determine if I really liked it that much though.
meanwhile the bosch sander I do own I do love quite alot.
Peter
Love the 18v – I can think of many uses. PLUS, the 18v should be great with the new smaller, 4ah Core18 batteries. I use then exclusively now.
OK, you are not going a battery sander to use to refinish a 1000bf of 100 year old oak trim, but for other trim jobs that require SOME sanding, it would be perfect. I recently replaced a few feet of 120 year old CVG fir flooring. Either of the sanders would have been perfect to knock down edges on the new boards.
I will to tell my in-laws in the UK to watch out for them – the UK always gets more Bosch tools than the US.
A-A-Ron
Bosch’s power tool division is the biggest tease for US customers. Their overall quality, longevity, and durability is arguably the most consistent of any brand, but their innovation and odd reliance on old brushed models means their progression comes in spurts before vanishing into thin air for far longer extended periods of time compared to the Big Three. Still, their stuff is so well-made that you don’t want to give up on them since there might be something worth checking out down the line.
JoeM
No, I’ve seen this ad on Instagram nearly every day the past month. Under Sponsored Posts from “Bosch_NA”… So… With the location filters in place… I think these are coming to Canada at the very least, all of North America more likely.
I don’t find them as inspiring as some of the rest of you do. Aside from Dremel, I’m not much into Bosch outside of blades for cutting tools. So… to be totally honest… These were neither on my radar, nor surprising to me. I thought they were either a new model of an older design, or a shortcut design to replace a different design that was already popular with Bosch users in North America. I hadn’t considered Bosch had these in EU, and were bringing them to the NA market.
I just… Really hope they don’t do to these what they did to so many of their other Bosch tools… Rebrand them Dremel and try to abuse the Dremel brand recognition to sneak them into the DIY market. The Dremel Go, that new crappy Flashlight, I’m CONVINCED the entire MultiMax and SawMax/UltraSaw lines, even that stupid TRIO were all once Bosch tools in the EU before landing a Dremel name. Dremel took the critical hit when the first editions bombed, and it’s only something like… 6? 8 Generations of tools in on these lines, the Dremel editions are finally just slightly under-par with the Fein Multimaster, ACTUAL Bosch Starlock, and Milwaukee/DeWALT OT corded and cordless tools? There’s a Makita, Rigid, and Ryobi editions too, right? I don’t follow EVERY tool line, so I don’t know them all. I just know Bosch treats its Dremel brand like Garbage, when it was the leader in innovation until Bosch bought them for their patents. Now Dremel Rotary Tools are more powerful, and have more attachments, sure, but still… Bosch treats Dremel like a throw-away gimmick brand now. And I’m a Dremel USER, so I take deep offense to that.
Sorry… Ramble filter on, Stuart… Go to town there… But ultimately I have seen these Bosch Sanders advertised on Instagram here in Canada, and wasn’t aware this was, at all, exciting. I’m sorry if I should’ve reported in.
PeterR
PLEASE DO NOT blame Bosch GmbH in Germany for the faults and stupid importation decisions of Bosch Power Tool Corporation USA. Bosch USA has its own marketing and importation division. Bosch USA decides what Bosch tools it wants to bring into NA for reasons that only German engineers might understand after drinking much pilsner. [I have drank with them] Bosch GmbH makes a hell of a lot of other tools that Bosch USA “chooses” not to bring in to NA. Even the South African Bosch tool group brings in twice the number of tools to Africa. Even the Philippines!
Working with German and Swiss manufacturers, I saw first hand that German marketing believes Americans want it simple, want it NOW and are “confused” by too many choices. And, I hazard the guess that in monstrous sized area of US and CA, its “easier” to stock and service a fraction of what Bosch GmbH sells in the EU.
Connor Mcilwain
Posted on Bosch professional released in the uk
12v Sander – https://www.bosch-professional.com/gb/en/products/gex-12v-125-0601372100
18v Sander – https://www.bosch-professional.com/gb/en/products/gex-18v-125-0601372200