Bosch 5" (128 mm) 8-hole extra-soft hook-and-loop backing pad

Why I reached for an extra‑soft pad

Replacing a worn pad can make an old random orbital sander feel new again. That was the case when I swapped in Bosch’s extra‑soft 5‑inch pad on my older Bosch 1295DVS. The stock pad had lost much of its hook-and-loop bite and felt too firm for delicate contours. The extra‑soft pad immediately changed the character of the sander: gentler on edges, more forgiving on profiles, and better suited to final sanding before finish.

What it is and where it fits

This is a 5‑inch, 8‑hole, hook‑and‑loop backing pad designed for Bosch (and compatible) random orbital sanders. The foam layer is notably compliant—softer than a standard “soft” pad—which lets the abrasive conform to gentle curves and irregularities. The 8‑hole pattern matches Bosch’s common disc layout and, when paired with a vac or dust canister, pulls dust through the pad efficiently.

Compatibility matters. The pad is designed for select Bosch 5‑inch models (such as 1295DP, 1295D, 1295DH, 1295DVS, 3107DVS, 3725DVS, 3725DEVS). If your sander is outside that list, check both the mounting screw pattern and the hole layout. Not every 5‑inch, 8‑hole sander uses the same screw spacing or center hub design.

Setup and attachment

Swapping pads is straightforward: remove the old pad’s screws, align the new pad, and snug the screws evenly so the pad sits flat. On my 1295DVS, the fit was direct and the pad centered cleanly. The hook‑and‑loop face has a dense, uniform hook field that grabbed both paper and film-backed discs with authority. I had no “disc creep” or partial peeling, even when feathering edges or sanding overhead.

One small tip: wipe the pad face with a clean rag before mounting each new disc. Fine dust can reduce the hook’s bite, and keeping the surface clean noticeably extends disc life.

Cut quality and control

On flat work, the extra‑soft foam changes the feel of the tool. It takes the harshness out of the cut and greatly reduces the odds of digging a corner into the surface. For final passes on cabinet doors, face frames, and veneered panels, I saw fewer witness marks and a more uniform scratch pattern at P180–P240.

The real win is on contours. On eased edges, radius profiles, and mild s‑curves, the pad keeps the abrasive in contact without forcing me to contort the sander. I used it to bring a Corian sink cutout to a pre‑polish with P320 and P400 discs; the pad conformed nicely around the curve without faceting. The same was true for hardwood chair rails with ogee profiles—the pad tracked the shape rather than flattening it.

The trade‑off is expected: the extra‑soft foam damps cutting pressure. If you’re removing stubborn mill marks or leveling a finish build, this pad is slower than a standard or hard pad. That’s not a flaw; it’s the point. Use it for finesse, not hogging.

Dust collection

With 8‑hole discs aligned correctly, dust collection is solid. On oak and maple at P120–P180, the vac pulled fine dust efficiently, and I had minimal loading. On solid-surface material, the dust is heavier and tends to cake; here, slower speeds and frequent disc cleaning helped. The pad’s hole alignment is true to the Bosch pattern, but your results are only as good as your disc alignment—take the extra second to match the holes.

If you stack an additional foam interface on top of this extra‑soft pad (some folks do for ultra‑delicate work), expect dust collection to drop and the surface to feel spongy. In most cases, this pad already provides enough cushion without another layer.

Vibration and balance

Soft pads can sometimes amplify wobble if the foam isn’t uniform. I checked runout by free‑spinning and touching the pad lightly to a scrap panel—no oscillation beyond the normal orbit of the sander. In use, the sander felt well‑balanced, especially at mid speeds. At maximum speed with coarse grits (P80), the soft foam can feel a touch bouncy on corners; dialing the speed down a notch restores control.

Heat management and longevity

Softer foam pads can be vulnerable to heat and edge abrasion. I tried to abuse this one on purpose—heavy pressure at high speed on P120, long continuous passes on oak—to see how it handled. The advice is the same as with any foam pad:

• Let the abrasive do the work. Excess pressure heats the hooks and the foam.
• Keep the pad moving and use appropriate grits.
• Spin the sander down before setting it pad‑down on the bench.

After several weeks of shop use, including solid-surface work that runs hotter than wood, the foam is still resilient and the hook face is intact. The only visible wear is a slight polishing of the outer edge, typical for a pad that’s seen a lot of edge work.

Precision versus forgiveness

Extra‑soft has a personality. On flat tabletops where dead‑flatness matters—glue-ups you’ve planed and scraped—this pad can “dish” a surface if you linger near the edges. For those tasks, I switch to a firm pad for leveling, then return to the extra‑soft for the final grit or two to refine the scratch pattern and avoid swirl marks.

On delicate veneers, painted moldings, and profiles, the forgiveness outweighs the risk. I also like it for between‑coat sanding on primer and clear finishes: it cuts nibs without “burning through” high spots as quickly.

Hook‑and‑loop performance

Hook quality makes or breaks a pad. The hooks here are aggressive enough to keep discs on during stall‑outs, yet I can peel discs off without tearing paper backers. Heavier film discs (especially in fine grits) seat exceptionally well. If your old pad has weak hook retention, swapping to this pad is one of the easiest ways to restore disc life and cut consistency.

Compatibility check and discs

You’ll get the best results with 8‑hole discs that match Bosch’s pattern. Multi‑hole or different patterns can still work but reduce dust extraction. As for grits and backers, film‑backed abrasives pair well with this pad, especially in finer grits where conformability matters. Paper‑backed discs are fine too; just avoid thin bargain discs that can tear when removed from a grippy hook face.

Before you buy, confirm your sander’s model number against Bosch’s compatibility list or parts diagram. Mounting screw patterns can vary even within a brand’s 5‑inch lineup.

Durability and value

Pads are consumables, but you should expect more than a few projects out of one. The foam density and hook face here strike a good balance between softness and lifespan. If you treat it like a finishing accessory—appropriate speed, light pressure, and aligned discs—it holds up well. If you treat it like a leveling pad with 60‑grit and body weight, you’ll shorten its life quickly.

Price‑wise, it sits in the middle of the pack for OEM pads. Considering it can extend the useful life of an older sander and improve your finish quality on tricky surfaces, it’s money well spent.

Who it’s for and when to use it

• Ideal for: contour sanding, eased and profiled edges, final passes on solid-surface countertops before polishing, between‑coat finish sanding, and any work where avoiding flat spots and swirl marks matters.
• Not ideal for: aggressive stock removal, flattening glued panels, or truing surfaces where a firm or hard pad is the better choice.

If you keep more than one pad on hand, consider this your “finisher.” Pair it with a standard pad for general work and a hard pad for leveling, and you’ll cover almost every sanding scenario.

Recommendation

I recommend the Bosch extra‑soft 5‑inch pad for anyone who does finish sanding on profiles, solid‑surface material, or delicate work where control and surface quality matter more than speed. It installs easily on compatible Bosch sanders, holds discs securely, collects dust effectively with matched 8‑hole abrasives, and meaningfully improves the sander’s finesse. It’s not the right choice for heavy grinding or panel flattening—that’s what a firmer pad is for—but as a finishing companion, it’s a worthwhile upgrade that can breathe new life into an older sander and raise the quality of your final surface.