I just had my Bosch 3725 ROS die on me. This sander is at least 22 years old, and I was expecting it to die some years ago. I had actually purchased a backup (a PC 390) probably 10-12 years ago and it has not even been used except t make sure it worked. I went ahead and ordered a replacement Bosch (the new models are called a GEX 33, or something like that) since I liked the 3725 design so well.

Only 22. 

It hurts when a good tool dies

I don't believe the new models are the same quality no matter who makes it.  Tool names trade owners too often.  I try not to Use my sanders so they should last me awhile.

Looking forward to your review of the new one in about 20 years or so.

1 hour ago, HandyDan said:

I don't believe the new models are the same quality no matter who makes it.  Tool names trade owners too often.  I try not to Use my sanders so they should last me awhile.

 Yeah, I agree. Even if the company hasn't changed hands a lot of stuff still seems to have suffered from some cost engineering. In this case, even though I'm a hobbyist that sander has seen a lot of use. Once I bought it I had 2 belt sanders and 3 sheet sanders that never got used again. The ROS did everything.

Edited December 10, 20223 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

I’ve heard stories about how long jewelers use their buffs. Down to a nub. 
 

My sander has needed a 100% replacement for about eight years. I’d like to hav three, so I can lay out 80/120/220 with only swapping in the vac hose. 

The lower of quality/durability in tools is a consequence of inflation and the desire of manufactures to keep the cost of their offering down in the same price range.   When material costs and making the parts for a tool starts to get too expensive other materials/processes are looked at to take their place.  When the original designers/engineers have retired the reason for the way the original tools were made and why the materials used are chosen gets lost/forgotten.   Attempts to lower manufacturing costs leads to the lower reliability we see now. 

 

One example: I have a fairly old a12v air compressor that I've used to keep  my vehicle tires at the right pressure.  Noisy.  Troublesome to get plugged in and dragged around to each tire.  I've been seduced by new battery powered "smart" air compressors. Bought one which worked fine and the features seemed useful the first year.  Now the battery, which can be recharge by a wall wart or 12DC from a car plug, has started wearing out.  Only apparently powerful enough to pump one tire from 23 to 38lbs before needing to be recharged again.  Originally it would pump up 4 tires easily before needing a recharge.  No source for a replacement battery can I locate so far.    While the battery can be recharged in about an hour from the 12v jack in my car, the pump itself can't be run directly off that jack.  Grrr!

4D

Just for the record, my sander came back to life. When it croaked, I spent several hours trouble shooting where the power disappeared, and concluded (incorrectly I suppose) the VS dial failed (they aren't available anymore). Then yesterday while i was waiting for some varnish to cure for a second coat, I took the entire sander apart down to the bare bones...and still couldn't find anything other than no current through the speed dial. So I put it back together and tried once more; it spun right up. So while I would like to say my genius brought it back, it's more likely that it has an intermittent problem and will quit again; probably in the middle of something. So I didn't cancel my order for the replacement.

1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

it's more likely that it has an intermittent problem

 

May have been a bad connection somewhere and you jogged it back.

Sometimes a good slap is all it takes. Just ask Will Smith.

On 12/10/2022 at 2:36 PM, HandyDan said:

I don't believe the new models are the same quality no matter who makes it.  Tool names trade owners too often.  I try not to Use my sanders so they should last me awhile.

I was at the local repair shop this morning.   They bleed red (Milwaukee), and have recently gone way into it.   The showroom is only about 20'x20' but is wall to wall red.  Even have some cases out on the front of the building.  One of the guys said, that it was a shame they aren't made in America any more (they are owned by TTI who makes Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ryobi, Hart, was well as Hoover and a bunch of other brands).

 

On the positive side, they said they sold $30,000 of tools at their Black Friday event.

I wanted to revisit this and show something. My replacement sander arrived and in every way looks like the old one...except for one thing. The new Bosch pads must have 3 dozen holes of various sizes in them.  I had read something in the tool's description that they now have "multi use hole patterns" (or something like that) and didn't think too much of it since I have a good stash of 8 hole paper from the old one. This pad does have 8 holes that line up with the older disks, and a gazillion other ones that must line up with something (maybe even the Festool 9 hole layout). In any case, here's a look at the new pad. I'm looking forward to trying it with Cubitron. In my earlier post about Cubitron, I found the dust was clogging the 8 hole loop pad on my old sander, so I replaced it. It did better with the new pad but still had some dust buildup around the pad holes in the hooks. I'm willing to bet this pad works really well with Cubitron.