UPDATE: Wen is shipping a new planer to me this week. UPDATE 2: New planer has been delivered. Will unbox it this weekend. UPDATE 3: New planer works perfectly. 5 Stars.
hoping you do an updated review on that performance. I was saddened that you weren't able to do it for this video due to factory error because I was thinking of getting that one.
I got the same model, bought it cheap to see if I'd use it enough to buy a fancier one - and don't feel I need the fancier one! It does a great job, lovely finish, can go straight to joinery. Next step: replace the HSS bits with carbide.
What's crazy about this, and why I'm thankful for this video, is as a complete beginner, I would never know that was supposed to be there! I would just assume it was a pain in the ass to use, or I wasn't good at using it! Thanks for sharing!
As someone who's interested in getting into woodworking, I cannot thank you enough for these budget minded tools videos. They are fantastic and the insight you bring to them with your years of experience is invaluable. Thank you so much!
I honestly can recommend ryobi for a lot of tools also. Their trim router is great, brad and pin nailer are wonderful, Only thing Id recommend is getting a good sander from someone like festool. I have the ryobi tracksaw ( i got for 200$ on sale including the track, a 4amp battery charger and thr saw) and had the ts75 festool saw got stolen and for most people the ryobi will work for most things. The festool has luxury features and a deeper cut but ive found it helped me to research what you can use cheaper tools for and what's worth investing in as well as the tools that provide the most ability to serve different purposes.
@@Mourning-Sun exactly!! Other channels are talking about 3,000 dollar table saws.. crazy... Im curious to see which is better wen or ryobi?. Both are more affordable than a 3,000 dollar saw
I have a mix of brands in my shop and can proudly say Wen has worked for me. I started out with the Dewalt table saw and planer but went with the Wen band saw, jointer, and drum sander to complete my shop and have never looked back. Some of the points you raised are valid but they get the job done for someone like me who is a weekend woodworker. I lusted after a jointer for the longest time. Wen made it possible. 😃
Being a single dad with 5 kids I had to quit my job and for the first time in my life at the age of 42 I had to be home for my son who's non verbal due to no day care in my county here in west Virginia so I've been woodworking to make money and with that said I don't have the money to buy the red or the green tools so I've found that Wen products are right with my budget and from my experience they all work and get the job done. Love your videos thanks for taking the time to make your videos. Be safe God bless
Your choice of WEN tools isn’t going to impede your woodworking. I’m a WEN tool owner and I haven’t any regrets. BTW your a good dad taking great care of your son.
Hey man do what you have to do! I recently became a stay at home dad just financially made sense. But man you can get some good quality tools and not spend a bunch of money no matter what others say! I am starting my woodworking as a hobby but FB marketplace has some great stuff for cheap too
My wife is doing woodworking projects in her craft room. We purchased a number of Wen tools for craft room. Its been two year's and they all have worked perfect.
I have a WEN planer (about 2 years old) and it's been great to work with... Of course mine came with all the parts! Another key point about WEN is that they make replacement parts for a lot longer than some other brands, so you should be able to repair them down the road.
Just a bit of friendly advice.First joint 1 edge, next joint 1 face, running the previously jointed edge against the fence of the jointer. After that run it through the table saw with the the jointed face down and the jointed edge against the fence. this gives you two edges that are parallel and square to 1 face.After that run it through the thickness planer flat face down. the result will be 2 parallel faces that are square to the edges. Order of operations my friends.
@@JimRimS4S agree on order of ops being very important but I’d swap operation 1 and 2. Face jointing does not require the edge to reference the fence in order for the face to be properly and consistently flattened across its length (especially since it’s complimentary operation for coplanarity will be on the planer). Edge jointing requires the face referencing the fence for proper and consistent flattening along its length and for square. The face needs to be flat without bowing, cupping, or twisting to provide proper reference, so it must be run first. If the face is twisted, the edge will be twisted. Then, the edge will not be square at the end of the milling process and the pass on the table saw will result in a non-coplanar complimentary edge on the opposite side of the board. But then again, woodworking isn’t machining so what’s a couple thou of non-coplanarity. I don’t think measurements less than 1/32 exist in my woodshop
I recently was setting up dust collection on my planer that was purchased in 2020, and they sent me parts that I had lost free within 2 business days. Great service and 5 machines later, and would still recommend highly.
I have the WEN mini lathe for pen turning and it is AWESOME!! It is dial speed adjusted motor too which is why I went with it. I've had it for 5 years and no issue whatsoever!
I have the same one, and, while I have my issues with some details (those cheap knobs really can get frustrating), it's been fine. That being said, I never recommend that one. The tool post holder is undersized from almost every other lathe on the market, so you're pretty much stuck with the factory tool rests - which aren't very good. Also, the tapers are MT1, while nearly every other lathe is MT2. Meaning that there are some accessories you can't get, and the ones you can will have to be replaced if you want to upgrade later.
I really hope there will be an update review on the planer. Both how the company handled the replacement or repair, if at all, and hopefully seeing it in action. It was the tool I watched the video for, and I too was greatly disappointed in its condition.
I had good experience with my first lathe. The control housing was cracked during shipping/handling and they replaced the whole unit quickly at that time. I am also interested in how the handle his issue, though his taking a great deal longer than I had to deal with
I have the Spiral Cutting Head from Wen, I got it for a great deal, and replaced my old delta planer. This thing cuts like butter, and has taken on some task that bogged down my old delta. I was even able to find Carbide blades that fit the planer too. I swear some finishes from this planer, i feel like I don't need to sand. However I did overtighten and broke a leveling bolt on the feed bed and Wen replaced that no questions asked, they even sent a few spares incase I did it again.
Hey all, I have the WEN bandsaw mentioned in this video. Two important facts if you have one. First, Timberwolf blades will break in this saw. I talked to the folks at Timberwolf and they said their blades don't do well on smaller bandsaw wheels like this one. They recommended Olsen and those have worked beautifully for me. (Still love Timberline on my bigger bandsaw). Second, I replaced the tires with Blue Max Polyurethane tires and it drastically improved the tracking. With these two improvements, it has been a great saw for me. Like others, I've had great luck with the WEN brand.
Excellent customer service does not take over 12 days to response to a customer and still have the issue unsolved after 18 days when the customer is responding with the requested information.
I love all of my Wen tools and they have been great. I have the bigger variable speed drill press, the band saw, the small lathe, the biscuit joiner, an air filtration system, the belt and disc sander, and the variable speed bench grinder. Most of my other tools are Dewalt and Porter-Cable and they fit in nicely in that quality tier. I agree about the knobs on some of their products.
For the router spin down time, the wired Wen is using a brushed AC motor, and the Dewalt is using a Brushless DC Motor (3 phase motor). With Brushless DC Motors, you can use the motor controller as a brake to stop the motor quickly, the same way electric cars use "regenerative braking" to cause the motors to slow down. This is not something that can be easily done with brushed AC motors without expensive electronics, so it take much longer to stop spinning.
It can also be done with an electronic brake, which is a fairly simple, low-tech component. My radial arm saw from the '80s has one, so not exactly cutting-edge tech (pardon the pun).
I work for a commercial metal framing company and we are phasing out our dewalt and Milwaukee abrasive chopsaws for the wen cold cut steel chop saw. The quality is great and they run great. One of the wen blades it came with actually lasted a whole job for us. Probably well over 1000 cuts. And even with the teeth messed up a bit at the end it still made clean fast cuts. We aren’t a fan of supporting Chinese products but the big box brands are made in China too but this one is way better
Yep. Cheaper table top aluminum table saws are essentially a circular saw bolted to the underside of the table. The motors will bog down under any kind of hardwood thicker than 1". The brushes will eventually have to be changed on them which is usually a big hassle. I had a cheap craftsman and had to change the brushes on the motor. It took me a couple of hours just to remove the motor from the top. They have a direct drive motor.
@LutherBuilds my Bosch doesn't "bog down" on 1" anything. At about 1.75 or so it will, which is phenomenal. Just keep in mind we don't always know everything about everything. However, the Bosch is definitely close to or the same decibel rating, so hearing protection is absolutely necessary.
Gosh. I acknowledge, and appreciate, your subtleties. The amount of intentional small little chuckles in your videos is continually refreshing. Your channel and film style is honing- and for me at least- it’s in the right direction.
I have the WEN 8" drill press and their 1x30 belt/disc sander. Both are workhorses in my little shop. I make bird/squirrel feeders that I sell on Etsy and both of those tools are used on every single feeder that I make. I've had the drill press for 3-4 years (bought it for $75 on Amazon) and got the sander last spring. I'm sold on WEN tools. This was a great video demonstrating the value one gets from WEN. Well done.
I found WEN during a massive tool upgrade for my job. I have their Impact Driver, Electric screwdriver, drill bits, and the bag lol. All in all I can't say anything negative about the quality considering how inexpensive they are. The tools I have compliment my Ryobi products because I don't need my WEN tools to do more than what they've been made to do. I like that they're a known brand and aren't trying to be something they clearly are not. I recommend them for anyone who needs budget tools that aren't going to fail you, but if you need something more I suggest Ryobi, Craftsman, or SKIL. Always keep in mind your needs/budget, don't go broke trying to impress tool snobs lol.
I have the Wen digital variable speed drill press. love it. Use 2.5 inch forsner bit no problem. Have the Wen band saw. Works fine. I've got the 6 inch jointer. works fine. Thanks for the reviews.
I bought the bigger Wen track saw and the Powertek tracks for it last year. I've ripped and cut dozens of sheets of plywood and pvc with it at this point and I love it for doing straight cuts. There is a little flex to it that you have to be mindful of when cutting, but as long as you don't torque the saw on the track and you just gently push it down it cuts great. The Powertek tracks are longer too, so 1 track lets you easily cut a 4' piece.
These reviews are real world accurate ... my experience have had for 3 years ... the little band saw will put out the work... have access to 5 band saws medium to massive .. so yeah its good ... little drill press not perfect but gets it done
The whole planer drama was so touching, and also I like the humor and positive attitude, and also honesty. Thank you for the very entertaining video! You have your own unique approach. Please, continue making videos :D
12:47 I love how you made it witness a big boy real planer doing its job for it while catching all the chips to the face. It can get some of its stars back when it shows up with all the standard parts as a bare minimum prerequisite. Great idea for the more budget shop with accessible tools to most people. While vintage is a cool rabbit hole, many people live in tool deserts. Stuff like these might be the best, more affordable options for those people wanting to get into woodworking.
Same. Mine worked perfectly out of the box and has been worked hard since with zero issues. I'm hoping this one gets a second chance once WEN makes it right. Unfortunate that this is the one that makes it out of the factory incomplete.
The motor on my WEN bandsaw died after only a month of use. I called their customer support and they were some of the nicest people i've worked with. They sent me out a new motor the next day. That was something like 5 or 6 years ago and its been fine ever since.
The planer missing the drive system is honestly a surprise, I got one about 5 years ago and it's still going super strong, only issues I've had was self generated cause I missed a piece of metal before sending a board through so now I need new blades. But it still chews right through hardwood no problem.
The planer knives are reversible, if you didn't already know. You just take them out, flip them around, and put them back in. I ran into the same problem a couple of years ago and was just about to order a new set of knives when I noticed in the description that it said they were reversible.
I have a few WEN tools. My planers gear box broke on me less than a year after purchasing. Called customer support and had a new gear box that day. I live local to one of their shops so had the stepdaughter go pick it up for me. Was back in business that afternoon
The WEN Detail Belt Sander is one of my favorite tools - I use it ALL the time with no complaints. It is a bit of an odd ball tool that rarely gets reviewed, but I can't imagine not having it in my shop.
1:20 i made the same mistake when i first got my drill press. the knob isn't supposed to be unscrewed, it's just an adjustable tension for how hard that clip keeps it closed
I have a WEN rotary tool kit I bought over 5 years ago instead of getting a Dremel. The WEN kit was $20 & the Dremel (bare tool, no accessories) was over $70. It's done everything I've asked of it, never failed me.
I have several WEN tools. Never had an issue with any of them. I have the drill press. the lathe, belt / disc sander, spindle sander, 8in jointer . dust collector , air filtration, cordless track saw. Love them.
I started with many WEN tools. They are not good tools, but for the money, they are great. They seem to hold up, it's the accuracy that you have to work for.
There are places where you can cheap out easily as a manufacturer without changing functionality. There are places where you can cheap out and hurt function. If you have a good knob chances are corners weren't cut elsewhere (like say a feeding mechanism were to be omitted)
The thing about the lesser expensive power tools is, right out of the box, the tool may be fine, but over the long haul or under constant usage, how durable is the tool and how well does the tool stay in alignment. Maybe a follow-up video on the durability of these tools after they've been used for while.
@@armus550b This is probably true. but this is also for someone who is either getting started or cant afford the bigger and better. Something is always better than nothing. If at the time of crapping out, either the person will hopefully be able to upgrade because they found they use it a lot more, or they can replace it with the new model. Otherwise, if you can afford better.....get better.
Great cross section of tools! I bought the WEN 10" Miter for a barn board siding project at my in-laws house so I didn't want to take the one out of my shop every time I did work over there. I have it mounted t a Harbor Freight portable miter stand and it's an awesome combo and nice and light to move around. Only change I did was install a quality CMT blade. I also have the WEN jointer that has served me well.
I have had a WEN hand planer for about 2-3 years. Don't use it constantly, but never had any complaints about it. It does well enough for basic smoothing.
I had a Wen track saw for years before moving to Festool. It's a great piece of gear. If you consider the saw without the tracks it should be a 5* all the way, especially because you can use it on Festool tracks without issue ;)
I can tell you, as some have stated, customs service is awesome, and the quality per dollar is Ludacris. As a huge bonus, if you live in the Chicago area, they sell refurbished stuff at the warehouse for a huge discount. It's fantastic!!
The track saw is great from Wen. I picked up two tracks from Powertech which does not have the soft foam bottoms. One of my favorite tools to pull out now.
I have the 12" planer as well. AMAZING product. I also have the bench grinder / sander. It is AMAZING. Been looking at the Bosch plunge router but at $249 and seeing David's review of the Wen, I am DEFINITELY going to get it. Thanks so much.
Your Sawstop is much more quiet because it’s belt driven vs almost every new contractor saw which is direct drive. The saw running by itself is louder than running something through it.
It's also the motor type. The sawstop has an induction motor, and the little jobsite saws have universal motors. Universal motors have brushes and like to "scream" even under zero load.
I have a direct drive Bosch and its also quiet. A belt doesnt make things quieter... why would it? It just adds another sound source. The motor type is what matters.
A contractor saw is belt driven with a cast iron top, next best thing after a cabinet saw. The direct drive saws are what are known as job site saws. The noise is due to the brushed motor as opposed to the much quieter induction moter used on higher quality machines.
I own so many Wen tools, I'm guessing more than 50 plus, including all the big shop tools, (too many to count) and because of the price point and great quality I was able to equip my shop completely without going bankrupt. Wen has been golden in customer service for me. I could not be happier with my Wen tools...(Just sayin) ;-)
About the drill press, that's not actually a bad thing, it means you have a good spring, and what's better: the tension is adjustable so you can back it down to personal preference. Love the video! Thanks for sharing!
I hate that they are not responding in a timely manner I did not have this issue with them when I bought my ban saw from Wen Good luck with the repairs.
I just bought the 13" spiral Wen planer. Love it. I also have a Wen drill press with variable speed and no belt changes needed. Well worth the extra money
Quick Tip on the track saw, because the base is 100% plastic, it can flex laterally during cuts, but the solution to that is easy: Don't lean or push on it sideways while cutting. I've been getting perfect cuts with mine. Love it!
Priced out all the tools with harbor freight equivalents. Tried to stick to Bauer and Hercules, but a few tools haven't been updated yet so had to go with the Chicago brands. Most of the tools are at least equivalent in specs with the following differences: the palm sander is 1.2 amps, the miter saw is dual bevel, the planer is tri-blade and only 12.5", and I don't think the table saw has an extension. Also, HF doesn't have a track saw or jointer, so priced those with current Wen prices. With current deals, total comes out to $2220.31, so pretty spot on!
I am really excited for this series. I am looking forward to how these tools feel after a good couple projects compared to your master set up at home. I am curious about the email you originally sent about the planner. Even though you bought these with your own money and did your own review on them, would you or did you tell them that you were doing a video? By the sounds of it you did not tell them and I appreciate that as that may have expedited their response.
In the case of the Wen bandsaw, it is mind blowing to me that you would recommend it. To me it seems like you have a very hard time getting it square (you even comment on how flimsy the rotary base is) and it even looks totally wonky on video, can't imagine how it would be irl. I know it's tricky to weigh the pros and cons when you take the price into consideration, but this seems like a machine that you'll be wrestling with the entire time, can't imagine giving it 4 stars!
I didn't see this in the comments so far (there are many, so perhaps I missed one or two)- but the adjustment handles can be pulled out to change the orientation. Pull it out, rotate by usually 45 or 60 degrees, and pop it back in. This is fairly standard on this type handle over many different manufacturers. Otherwise, great video, and thanks for your opinions and suggestions to improve these tools
Track is the same as makita tracks. I have had no problem with it moving when I had the track fully supported. Curious to know if you have problems with it in the future
I started my business 5 years ago with the wen 10" bandsaw and 4"x36"stationary belt sander. They are still running strong, but im in the market for upgrades. Definitely worth it if you're a hobbyist who is considering a business. I later added the air filter and bandfile, they're fine.
I bought the Wen 4-3/8" hand planer when my Dewalt 20 volt hand planer burnt up from dust clogged around the actual motor. The dewalt was bad for the shavings port to clog way too fast. I had to stick something inside it to drag the shavings out and it was a pain. the Wen planer has a flip lever to change it from left or right side shaving direction. When it clogged just flip it from left to right once or twice and it clears itself. The Wen rarely clogs unlike the Dewalt. I used this tool in a long hard commercial job and it rocked. This tool is a beast and I only gave $58.55 total. I cleaned up a ton of rough cut 8 x 8 post and the Wen planer had plenty of power to take a lot of meat off in 1 swipe. you can't go wrong with the Wen hand planer
32:15 The reason that saw is louder is because it has an entirely different motor. The larger induction motors will absolutely run quieter than the smaller motors found in contractor saws.
I used Wen tools at a friend's home shop, they were good for home use on small projects. As a side note I have a Wen soldering gun that my pop bought over 60 years ago and it is still working well!
I have the same band saw and use it all the time as I make custom pens, and have never had a problem with it. I just bought Wen cordless biscuit cutter and used it yesterday and it works great. Only thing I noticed is it has more power than the Freud I had forever. Just make sure you hang on while cutting.
you know what's funny was, I said in my head AS YOU WERE SAYING IT "I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller" XD I love your music references, I know it's your music background and that we're about the same age, but your music references are ALWAYS 5-star! I'm glad you had the issue with the planar and got to test how the company responds. I really like that bandsaw, I need one and I think I might pick one up. I also think that when you review tools like this, you really do it from the same perspective I would, and I like that too. Last thing I'll say is, and this is the point you missed, Obviously Wen knows that you're a woodworker if you're buying all these tools, so they just want you to make your own damn knobs XD
Thank you for this video! I’m a contractor who enjoys wood working on the side and it’s easy to get discouraged about tool prices. (I’m also raising a young g family so hobbies are not financial priorities by any means). Would you consider doing a Wen upgrade video where you show us how you upgrade the things you don’t like? ie: track saw grip, miter saw dust collection, etc
I have the 13" spiral cutter head planer and it has been phenomenal. I also opted for the stand that has extension arms to support longer workpieces. The resulting workpiece surface finish is top notch. Bladed cutter heads seemed like a lot of hassle to install and set, so I've always wanted a spiral head. When I saw the price of this machine, I couldn't believe it and had to have it. Turned out to be a great decision for my business.
I think it coming faulty is actually a good thing considering you're reviewing their products. Customer service is a major part of buying into a brand and being able to see how they interact with customers. How they resolve large problems like the planner missing a major component is a big thing to check out. I hope we get to see a follow up with the process of you getting either parts from wen or a warranty replacement.
I've got the Wen miter saw and variable-speed benchtop drill press. Not one complaint, best quality I've ever had on both tools. After watching your video I'll be seriously looking at swapping out a 15-year old delta planer for the Wen with spiral cutters. I might even splurge for the sander. Thank you for a great and VERY helpful video
Dave, Thanks for the update on the replacement/missing part and good to know Wen sent you a full replacement machine even though that took 4 plus weeks. I just started to watch your channel and with your setting up a budget shop, (just like a majority of us have) your reviews are just what the novice woodworker is looking for....straight, no bulls#$% approach is appreciated and also thank you for the link to get 10% off. As one of the comments below mention, I would also like to hear your review of this as I plan on purchasing pretty much everything that you bought (minus the table saw) for my own small shop.
I have several Wen tools … and a few of them I received broken or missing parts… yeah you could debate productivity or poor product control… but kudos to Wen’s warranty… they have replaced or sent the replacement parts without question in just a few days… in my opinion that’s why I keep buying Wen products…! Not all companies are like that!
I have the 8" and 10" WEN drill press, the WEN 8 in. x 12 in. lathe, and the bench top band saw. I'm thoroughly impressed with them. I was worried about precision but all of them did well in that department. Would totally recommend if you're looking for a budget brand.
I got a Wen lathe for Christmas in 2022 and I’ve loved it for a beginner lathe. With more experience, I’d recommend one with adjustable speeds instead of having to move the belt over and over again, but it works fine. This Christmas I got the Wen biscuit jointer. I’ll get use out of it when I’m done with college
Thanks for the review. I realize you can’t cover everything but I still have some unanswered questions: 1) resawing on the band saw - can it even a little? 2) can either router be fitted with a bushing ie template guide? 3) face planning especially on knotty grain - does it tear out, bog down or just slide smooth like spreading butter 4) dust collection on sander and jointer, good or future lung disease 5) how much time required to change to/from sanding belt to spindle - easy or pain. 6) does the table saw have a long enough blade mount to accommodate a dado set. Are the miter slots parallel to the blade? Any blade run out ie wobble? (Actually I don’t care, but only because I have a big cabinet saw, but I certainly would care if I was looking for another saw or recommending to a friend.) 7) how difficult is the big router to use in a router table: ie accessibility of the switch, convince and precision of depth adjustment. Thx
1) I am curious about the same thing too. 2) As far as I know, all routers can be mounted with aftermarket bushing kits. I think those are universal. 4) Dust collection is done best in 3 ways. 1st take it outside & plane on a breezy day. 2nd is to connect up to a dust collector, mine is a shopvac. 3rd, do both!😂😂😂😂 6) As far as I know, all tablesaws are able to accommodate dads blade kits. Pretty inherent to the tool itself. Hope my knowledge helps
I bought most of these same tools. I got into woodworking by making Pinewood Derby cars for my kids in Cub Scouts. Now I have workshop events for scouting families using these tools. The hidden gems with Wen are the following: 1) The users manuals have hilarious stuff in them, which encourages people to actually read them. "With a friend or trusted foe..."😂 2) Funny stickers to place in areas you want users to notice.
FYI, your complaint that the drill press handle flys back because there’s too much spring tension is false. The spring tension is adjustable. Just loosen the cover on the left side of the drill press and you can set it to whatever you like, literally down to free moving with no return at all.
Hopefully there's another video about the planer. One of the things I look for when buying anything expensive is how helpful and responsive the company is to any issues. So if they help him get a new one in a timely manner without any hassle, that would be a definite bonus for the company
The drill press seems to be almost identical to the Central Machinery model from harbor freight that I have. It's been very good for my limited use in the 2 years I've had it.
I have 2 portable Wen gas generators, a Wen drill press, and I got a Wen belt sander last Christmas. All my Wen stuff has been amazingly good, especially for the price.
Bought a Wen track saw kit for about $220 around black Friday, it's worked perfectly and has made great 90deg cuts. It's not Festool, but for 1/3 the price I'm more than satisfied.
I will buy WEN from now on. Last year i purchased an oscillating sander it was delivered and as soon as i used it it thru the belt and stopped going up and down. I put the belt back on thinking maybe it was jarred during shipping but the belt kept coming off. I contacted WEN and sent them some pictures of the issue, and talked with the rep on the phone. WEN sent me a brand new sander and told me to keep the old one for parts. Amazing company and customer satisfaction!! WEN won me over for life.
I hemmed and hawed over a drill press, but eventually bought the WEN 12" variable speed last summer. It has been absolutely fantastic! That single speed spiral planer is next on my wish list!
My first WEN tool was/is my Electric Hand Planer. Love that thing. This year I bought their Electric Impact Wrench, and their Oscillating Multi tool. I also bought their Portable Miter Saw stand. The quality for the price is surprising, but welcomed.
I have the 8in drill press. No complaints, it has worked well for me, and it has almost no run-out on the spindle. I know it's limits and I work with them. I also have the oscillating spindle sander and I rarely use it. I have the disc/belt sander and I use that all the time. Very useful, except the paper on the disc is adhesive and hard to change out. I will be modifying it to take velcro paper, like in the Newbie Woodworker's video.
As a semi-retired person who has got into woodworking and doing fun projects plus DIY around the house, Wen has become a big part of my shop. I have probably 10 plus power tools now from Wen. I am now looking to replace a cheap miter saw that I have had for over 10 years. I have pretty much decided on the Wen. There other tools have not let me down. My last Wen purchase was the 13-inch Planer. My wife graciously let me take over most of the Garage. So, space is limited. Their products can be space saving.
Thank you for the video. I have the WEN 4214T 5-Amp Drill Press. No complaints at all. The throw is a little short, but I mostly make pens and it fits my needs.
I've bought two Wen tools so far: The 4x21 belt sander and the dust filtration unit. The dust filter has been a solid piece of kit so far. No issues. The sander, however... No matter what I tried, I could not get the belt to stay on track. It either slid off or cut into the plastic frame. I look forward to the long-term reviews of this equipment.
I have the WEN planer spiral head. glad to see you got a new one and gave it 5 star. i LOVE mine. Hobbyist here but I do alot, and WEN is taking over my shop.
UPDATE: Wen is shipping a new planer to me this week.
UPDATE 2: New planer has been delivered. Will unbox it this weekend.
UPDATE 3: New planer works perfectly. 5 Stars.
hoping you do an updated review on that performance. I was saddened that you weren't able to do it for this video due to factory error because I was thinking of getting that one.
I got the same model, bought it cheap to see if I'd use it enough to buy a fancier one - and don't feel I need the fancier one! It does a great job, lovely finish, can go straight to joinery. Next step: replace the HSS bits with carbide.
What's crazy about this, and why I'm thankful for this video, is as a complete beginner, I would never know that was supposed to be there! I would just assume it was a pain in the ass to use, or I wasn't good at using it! Thanks for sharing!
I have a few Wen tools in my shop, I blew up the guide bearings on my portable bandsaw and out of warranty they still sent me parts for no cost
I hope you revisit the planer when you get the new one
i have numerous Wen tools, and none have failed me. ive had them for years, and im STILL blown away at the quality to price ratio.
same! I've also had GREAT luck with Poppco as well; they're at least as good as Milwaukee.
I had the wen planer, that was a piece of junk so i sold it for a loss. Other wen tools I've owned have been decent or good.
Same, love em'
Agreed, have their 7500 watt inverter generator
@@brucehansen7949 which one? I got the spiral head planer 3 years ago and it's been excellent.
As someone who's interested in getting into woodworking, I cannot thank you enough for these budget minded tools videos. They are fantastic and the insight you bring to them with your years of experience is invaluable. Thank you so much!
Most of my tools are wen, love there tools.
I honestly can recommend ryobi for a lot of tools also. Their trim router is great, brad and pin nailer are wonderful, Only thing Id recommend is getting a good sander from someone like festool. I have the ryobi tracksaw ( i got for 200$ on sale including the track, a 4amp battery charger and thr saw) and had the ts75 festool saw got stolen and for most people the ryobi will work for most things. The festool has luxury features and a deeper cut but ive found it helped me to research what you can use cheaper tools for and what's worth investing in as well as the tools that provide the most ability to serve different purposes.
Honestly, except my table saw, all my tools are something I got on Craig's List for cheap or Wen. I love my Wen tools, no complaints with any of them.
@@Mourning-Sun exactly!! Other channels are talking about 3,000 dollar table saws.. crazy... Im curious to see which is better wen or ryobi?. Both are more affordable than a 3,000 dollar saw
I have a mix of brands in my shop and can proudly say Wen has worked for me. I started out with the Dewalt table saw and planer but went with the Wen band saw, jointer, and drum sander to complete my shop and have never looked back. Some of the points you raised are valid but they get the job done for someone like me who is a weekend woodworker. I lusted after a jointer for the longest time. Wen made it possible. 😃
A jointer is the last thing I desperately Need! Thanks for the input..
Being a single dad with 5 kids I had to quit my job and for the first time in my life at the age of 42 I had to be home for my son who's non verbal due to no day care in my county here in west Virginia so I've been woodworking to make money and with that said I don't have the money to buy the red or the green tools so I've found that Wen products are right with my budget and from my experience they all work and get the job done. Love your videos thanks for taking the time to make your videos. Be safe God bless
There is no shame in making a sound business decision! I wish you all the best, your kids will learn a lot from you I am sure! 👍
Your choice of WEN tools isn’t going to impede your woodworking. I’m a WEN tool owner and I haven’t any regrets. BTW your a good dad taking great care of your son.
Plot twist: you’ll learn more about yourself from your children than they necessarily learn from you.
@@danervin2530 you are so right sir. I’ve learned so much and I’m truly blessed
Hey man do what you have to do! I recently became a stay at home dad just financially made sense. But man you can get some good quality tools and not spend a bunch of money no matter what others say! I am starting my woodworking as a hobby but FB marketplace has some great stuff for cheap too
My wife is doing woodworking projects in her craft room. We purchased a number of Wen tools for craft room. Its been two year's and they all have worked perfect.
I have a WEN planer (about 2 years old) and it's been great to work with... Of course mine came with all the parts! Another key point about WEN is that they make replacement parts for a lot longer than some other brands, so you should be able to repair them down the road.
Agreed the two speed version is well worth the money for a broad spectrum of soft and hard woods. Great bang for your buck especially for beginners.
Just a bit of friendly advice.First joint 1 edge, next joint 1 face, running the previously jointed edge against the fence of the jointer. After that run it through the table saw with the the jointed face down and the jointed edge against the fence. this gives you two edges that are parallel and square to 1 face.After that run it through the thickness planer flat face down. the result will be 2 parallel faces that are square to the edges. Order of operations my friends.
@@JimRimS4S agree on order of ops being very important but I’d swap operation 1 and 2. Face jointing does not require the edge to reference the fence in order for the face to be properly and consistently flattened across its length (especially since it’s complimentary operation for coplanarity will be on the planer). Edge jointing requires the face referencing the fence for proper and consistent flattening along its length and for square. The face needs to be flat without bowing, cupping, or twisting to provide proper reference, so it must be run first. If the face is twisted, the edge will be twisted. Then, the edge will not be square at the end of the milling process and the pass on the table saw will result in a non-coplanar complimentary edge on the opposite side of the board.
But then again, woodworking isn’t machining so what’s a couple thou of non-coplanarity. I don’t think measurements less than 1/32 exist in my woodshop
Agree face then edge
I recently was setting up dust collection on my planer that was purchased in 2020, and they sent me parts that I had lost free within 2 business days. Great service and 5 machines later, and would still recommend highly.
I have the WEN mini lathe for pen turning and it is AWESOME!! It is dial speed adjusted motor too which is why I went with it. I've had it for 5 years and no issue whatsoever!
I have the same one, and, while I have my issues with some details (those cheap knobs really can get frustrating), it's been fine. That being said, I never recommend that one. The tool post holder is undersized from almost every other lathe on the market, so you're pretty much stuck with the factory tool rests - which aren't very good. Also, the tapers are MT1, while nearly every other lathe is MT2. Meaning that there are some accessories you can't get, and the ones you can will have to be replaced if you want to upgrade later.
I really hope there will be an update review on the planer. Both how the company handled the replacement or repair, if at all, and hopefully seeing it in action.
It was the tool I watched the video for, and I too was greatly disappointed in its condition.
I had good experience with my first lathe. The control housing was cracked during shipping/handling and they replaced the whole unit quickly at that time. I am also interested in how the handle his issue, though his taking a great deal longer than I had to deal with
I have the Spiral Cutting Head from Wen, I got it for a great deal, and replaced my old delta planer. This thing cuts like butter, and has taken on some task that bogged down my old delta.
I was even able to find Carbide blades that fit the planer too. I swear some finishes from this planer, i feel like I don't need to sand. However I did overtighten and broke a leveling bolt on the feed bed and Wen replaced that no questions asked, they even sent a few spares incase I did it again.
lol. My sentiments exactly
EDIT: ignore, I'm an idiot. It's a local company.
Removed post that has nothing to do with anything.
@@eric_has_no_idea wen is from Illinois...it's an American company
Hey all, I have the WEN bandsaw mentioned in this video. Two important facts if you have one. First, Timberwolf blades will break in this saw. I talked to the folks at Timberwolf and they said their blades don't do well on smaller bandsaw wheels like this one. They recommended Olsen and those have worked beautifully for me. (Still love Timberline on my bigger bandsaw). Second, I replaced the tires with Blue Max Polyurethane tires and it drastically improved the tracking. With these two improvements, it has been a great saw for me. Like others, I've had great luck with the WEN brand.
WEN actually has *excellent* customer service. They will 100% fix this problem.
Excellent customer service does not take over 12 days to response to a customer and still have the issue unsolved after 18 days when the customer is responding with the requested information.
I love all of my Wen tools and they have been great. I have the bigger variable speed drill press, the band saw, the small lathe, the biscuit joiner, an air filtration system, the belt and disc sander, and the variable speed bench grinder. Most of my other tools are Dewalt and Porter-Cable and they fit in nicely in that quality tier. I agree about the knobs on some of their products.
For the router spin down time, the wired Wen is using a brushed AC motor, and the Dewalt is using a Brushless DC Motor (3 phase motor). With Brushless DC Motors, you can use the motor controller as a brake to stop the motor quickly, the same way electric cars use "regenerative braking" to cause the motors to slow down. This is not something that can be easily done with brushed AC motors without expensive electronics, so it take much longer to stop spinning.
It can also be done with an electronic brake, which is a fairly simple, low-tech component. My radial arm saw from the '80s has one, so not exactly cutting-edge tech (pardon the pun).
@@petergamache5368yeah, on a brushed motor you just short the 2 motor wires and it acts like a brake.
I work for a commercial metal framing company and we are phasing out our dewalt and Milwaukee abrasive chopsaws for the wen cold cut steel chop saw. The quality is great and they run great. One of the wen blades it came with actually lasted a whole job for us. Probably well over 1000 cuts. And even with the teeth messed up a bit at the end it still made clean fast cuts. We aren’t a fan of supporting Chinese products but the big box brands are made in China too but this one is way better
The reason the wen table saw is loud is because it runs a universal motor through a loud gearbox.
The sawstop uses an induction motor with belts.
Yep. Cheaper table top aluminum table saws are essentially a circular saw bolted to the underside of the table. The motors will bog down under any kind of hardwood thicker than 1". The brushes will eventually have to be changed on them which is usually a big hassle. I had a cheap craftsman and had to change the brushes on the motor. It took me a couple of hours just to remove the motor from the top. They have a direct drive motor.
I would spring for a bigger and beefier 240v PSC motor cabinet saw.
@LutherBuilds my Bosch doesn't "bog down" on 1" anything. At about 1.75 or so it will, which is phenomenal. Just keep in mind we don't always know everything about everything.
However, the Bosch is definitely close to or the same decibel rating, so hearing protection is absolutely necessary.
@@LutherBuilds brushes are cheap and easy to replace. And you should replace them regularly for damn near infinite tool life.
Gosh. I acknowledge, and appreciate, your subtleties. The amount of intentional small little chuckles in your videos is continually refreshing. Your channel and film style is honing- and for me at least- it’s in the right direction.
The torsion spring tension can be adjusted on all (most) drill presses.
I have the WEN 8" drill press and their 1x30 belt/disc sander. Both are workhorses in my little shop. I make bird/squirrel feeders that I sell on Etsy and both of those tools are used on every single feeder that I make. I've had the drill press for 3-4 years (bought it for $75 on Amazon) and got the sander last spring. I'm sold on WEN tools. This was a great video demonstrating the value one gets from WEN. Well done.
My favorite part of this video is when you had the Wen planer eating the Dewalt sawdust #735 dominance
That gave me a good laugh! 😂
I thought it was a great visual pun for the "collecting dust" idiom. Slight tickling of the brain😁
12:53 id stick the dewalt under my Belsaw and cover it in chips or if i had the money a woodmaster made in the usa
I had a 12.5 wen planer 3 years ago and it was a very heavy piece of scrap metal, I give it a 1 star review it had so many issues with it
Golden shower for the Wen 😂
I found WEN during a massive tool upgrade for my job. I have their Impact Driver, Electric screwdriver, drill bits, and the bag lol. All in all I can't say anything negative about the quality considering how inexpensive they are. The tools I have compliment my Ryobi products because I don't need my WEN tools to do more than what they've been made to do. I like that they're a known brand and aren't trying to be something they clearly are not. I recommend them for anyone who needs budget tools that aren't going to fail you, but if you need something more I suggest Ryobi, Craftsman, or SKIL. Always keep in mind your needs/budget, don't go broke trying to impress tool snobs lol.
The springback on the drill press is adjustable. Loosen the spring 1/2 turn and see what gives …
I have the Wen digital variable speed drill press. love it. Use 2.5 inch forsner bit no problem.
Have the Wen band saw. Works fine.
I've got the 6 inch jointer. works fine.
Thanks for the reviews.
I bought the bigger Wen track saw and the Powertek tracks for it last year. I've ripped and cut dozens of sheets of plywood and pvc with it at this point and I love it for doing straight cuts. There is a little flex to it that you have to be mindful of when cutting, but as long as you don't torque the saw on the track and you just gently push it down it cuts great. The Powertek tracks are longer too, so 1 track lets you easily cut a 4' piece.
Where is the track saw review? Did I miss it? Watched the whole video and never saw it?
Found it lol
These reviews are real world accurate ... my experience have had for 3 years ... the little band saw will put out the work... have access to 5 band saws medium to massive .. so yeah its good ... little drill press not perfect but gets it done
The whole planer drama was so touching, and also I like the humor and positive attitude, and also honesty. Thank you for the very entertaining video! You have your own unique approach. Please, continue making videos :D
12:47 I love how you made it witness a big boy real planer doing its job for it while catching all the chips to the face.
It can get some of its stars back when it shows up with all the standard parts as a bare minimum prerequisite.
Great idea for the more budget shop with accessible tools to most people. While vintage is a cool rabbit hole, many people live in tool deserts. Stuff like these might be the best, more affordable options for those people wanting to get into woodworking.
I have the Wen spiral head planer. It greatly outperforms my Delta planer. It was perfect out of the box.
Same. Mine worked perfectly out of the box and has been worked hard since with zero issues. I'm hoping this one gets a second chance once WEN makes it right. Unfortunate that this is the one that makes it out of the factory incomplete.
actually it`s better to have happened here and not with a newbie who may not of known what to look for or do with it@@jessejohnson85
Same here. I have the exact Wen spiral cutter planer, and it has been awesome.
The motor on my WEN bandsaw died after only a month of use. I called their customer support and they were some of the nicest people i've worked with. They sent me out a new motor the next day. That was something like 5 or 6 years ago and its been fine ever since.
The planer missing the drive system is honestly a surprise, I got one about 5 years ago and it's still going super strong, only issues I've had was self generated cause I missed a piece of metal before sending a board through so now I need new blades. But it still chews right through hardwood no problem.
The planer knives are reversible, if you didn't already know. You just take them out, flip them around, and put them back in. I ran into the same problem a couple of years ago and was just about to order a new set of knives when I noticed in the description that it said they were reversible.
I have a few WEN tools. My planers gear box broke on me less than a year after purchasing. Called customer support and had a new gear box that day. I live local to one of their shops so had the stepdaughter go pick it up for me. Was back in business that afternoon
The WEN Detail Belt Sander is one of my favorite tools - I use it ALL the time with no complaints. It is a bit of an odd ball tool that rarely gets reviewed, but I can't imagine not having it in my shop.
1:20 i made the same mistake when i first got my drill press. the knob isn't supposed to be unscrewed, it's just an adjustable tension for how hard that clip keeps it closed
This is a five star video, Dave. Hope Wen resolves your planer issue soon!
4.5 stars because there is no REM :) ;)
ahhh.. what the hell, 5 stars it had some Skee-Lo :D
But he scratched his knuckles
Four stars. Hated the knobs.
Mr. Ashley, 4.5 stars… scratched knuckle. 🩸🤭
I have a WEN rotary tool kit I bought over 5 years ago instead of getting a Dremel. The WEN kit was $20 & the Dremel (bare tool, no accessories) was over $70.
It's done everything I've asked of it, never failed me.
I have several WEN tools. Never had an issue with any of them. I have the drill press. the lathe, belt / disc sander, spindle sander, 8in jointer . dust collector , air filtration, cordless track saw. Love them.
… and the status of your **** plastic knobs and levers? 🤔
I started with many WEN tools. They are not good tools, but for the money, they are great. They seem to hold up, it's the accuracy that you have to work for.
Daniel: "do you have a knob obsession?" Lol
There are places where you can cheap out easily as a manufacturer without changing functionality. There are places where you can cheap out and hurt function. If you have a good knob chances are corners weren't cut elsewhere (like say a feeding mechanism were to be omitted)
The thing about the lesser expensive power tools is, right out of the box, the tool may be fine, but over the long haul or under constant usage, how durable is the tool and how well does the tool stay in alignment. Maybe a follow-up video on the durability of these tools after they've been used for while.
@@armus550b This is probably true. but this is also for someone who is either getting started or cant afford the bigger and better. Something is always better than nothing. If at the time of crapping out, either the person will hopefully be able to upgrade because they found they use it a lot more, or they can replace it with the new model. Otherwise, if you can afford better.....get better.
Great cross section of tools! I bought the WEN 10" Miter for a barn board siding project at my in-laws house so I didn't want to take the one out of my shop every time I did work over there. I have it mounted t a Harbor Freight portable miter stand and it's an awesome combo and nice and light to move around. Only change I did was install a quality CMT blade. I also have the WEN jointer that has served me well.
I have had a WEN hand planer for about 2-3 years. Don't use it constantly, but never had any complaints about it. It does well enough for basic smoothing.
I had a Wen track saw for years before moving to Festool. It's a great piece of gear. If you consider the saw without the tracks it should be a 5* all the way, especially because you can use it on Festool tracks without issue ;)
I can tell you, as some have stated, customs service is awesome, and the quality per dollar is Ludacris.
As a huge bonus, if you live in the Chicago area, they sell refurbished stuff at the warehouse for a huge discount. It's fantastic!!
The track saw is great from Wen. I picked up two tracks from Powertech which does not have the soft foam bottoms. One of my favorite tools to pull out now.
That Skee-Lo drop got you a new subscriber!
I have the 12" planer and I have no complaints, it was worth the price, I also have a floor model bandsaw and again it is fine
I have the 12" planer as well. AMAZING product. I also have the bench grinder / sander. It is AMAZING. Been looking at the Bosch plunge router but at $249 and seeing David's review of the Wen, I am DEFINITELY going to get it. Thanks so much.
One thing to note about the band saw, It can use thicker blades than the other saws in its price range. I've been quite happy with mine.
Your Sawstop is much more quiet because it’s belt driven vs almost every new contractor saw which is direct drive. The saw running by itself is louder than running something through it.
Thank you for that explanation.
It's also the motor type. The sawstop has an induction motor, and the little jobsite saws have universal motors. Universal motors have brushes and like to "scream" even under zero load.
I have a direct drive Bosch and its also quiet. A belt doesnt make things quieter... why would it? It just adds another sound source.
The motor type is what matters.
A contractor saw is belt driven with a cast iron top, next best thing after a cabinet saw. The direct drive saws are what are known as job site saws. The noise is due to the brushed motor as opposed to the much quieter induction moter used on higher quality machines.
I own so many Wen tools, I'm guessing more than 50 plus, including all the big shop tools, (too many to count) and because of the price point and great quality I was able to equip my shop completely without going bankrupt. Wen has been golden in customer service for me. I could not be happier with my Wen tools...(Just sayin) ;-)
I have a few WEN tools. Love them all!
About the drill press, that's not actually a bad thing, it means you have a good spring, and what's better: the tension is adjustable so you can back it down to personal preference. Love the video! Thanks for sharing!
I hate that they are not responding in a timely manner
I did not have this issue with them when I bought my ban saw from Wen
Good luck with the repairs.
My Wen Planer has not failed me yet! I’ve had it for over a year and you’re 100% correct. The build quality shocked the hell out of me lol
Your defensive stance when you turned on the bandsaw 🤣
Safety squint engaged! 😂
I just bought the 13" spiral Wen planer. Love it. I also have a Wen drill press with variable speed and no belt changes needed. Well worth the extra money
I was wondering WEN this video was happening
😅😅😅😅😅😅
Quick Tip on the track saw, because the base is 100% plastic, it can flex laterally during cuts, but the solution to that is easy: Don't lean or push on it sideways while cutting. I've been getting perfect cuts with mine. Love it!
Next up is the Wen dust collector (7.4amp) please!
Recently got the Wen jigsaw and I was impressed. cuts great, variable speed, 4 blade settings, has a laser and a light
You can probably adjust the spring-back on the drill press handle.
Priced out all the tools with harbor freight equivalents. Tried to stick to Bauer and Hercules, but a few tools haven't been updated yet so had to go with the Chicago brands. Most of the tools are at least equivalent in specs with the following differences: the palm sander is 1.2 amps, the miter saw is dual bevel, the planer is tri-blade and only 12.5", and I don't think the table saw has an extension. Also, HF doesn't have a track saw or jointer, so priced those with current Wen prices. With current deals, total comes out to $2220.31, so pretty spot on!
dang! That's some great research. Thanks!
I am really excited for this series. I am looking forward to how these tools feel after a good couple projects compared to your master set up at home.
I am curious about the email you originally sent about the planner. Even though you bought these with your own money and did your own review on them, would you or did you tell them that you were doing a video? By the sounds of it you did not tell them and I appreciate that as that may have expedited their response.
I did not tell them I'm making a video. As far as I know they don't know who I am or what I do.
Wen planer is a champ, takes a lickin and keeps on tickin, two years now, no issues. Just keep the floor waxed and it's all good.
In the case of the Wen bandsaw, it is mind blowing to me that you would recommend it. To me it seems like you have a very hard time getting it square (you even comment on how flimsy the rotary base is) and it even looks totally wonky on video, can't imagine how it would be irl. I know it's tricky to weigh the pros and cons when you take the price into consideration, but this seems like a machine that you'll be wrestling with the entire time, can't imagine giving it 4 stars!
I didn't see this in the comments so far (there are many, so perhaps I missed one or two)- but the adjustment handles can be pulled out to change the orientation. Pull it out, rotate by usually 45 or 60 degrees, and pop it back in. This is fairly standard on this type handle over many different manufacturers.
Otherwise, great video, and thanks for your opinions and suggestions to improve these tools
I've done this a couple of times. Here's a playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLhqK_8dnaIW0-iGlP8FltSY9jAjizqw44.html
Every one of them was fun and informative. Thank you!
Track is the same as makita tracks. I have had no problem with it moving when I had the track fully supported. Curious to know if you have problems with it in the future
Glue a couple of pieces of sanding paper under the track....gripzzzz😉
I like this idea! @@Peter_Enis
I started my business 5 years ago with the wen 10" bandsaw and 4"x36"stationary belt sander. They are still running strong, but im in the market for upgrades. Definitely worth it if you're a hobbyist who is considering a business. I later added the air filter and bandfile, they're fine.
Honestly, I only own a couple WEN tools, and no issues with them. I also have had the air filter for almost a decade, no issues with that either.
I've owned and daily used the WEN 8" drill press and 1x30" belt sander since 2018. Both have served me well without a single issue.
I bought the Wen 4-3/8" hand planer when my Dewalt 20 volt hand planer burnt up from dust clogged around the actual motor. The dewalt was bad for the shavings port to clog way too fast. I had to stick something inside it to drag the shavings out and it was a pain. the Wen planer has a flip lever to change it from left or right side shaving direction. When it clogged just flip it from left to right once or twice and it clears itself. The Wen rarely clogs unlike the Dewalt. I used this tool in a long hard commercial job and it rocked. This tool is a beast and I only gave $58.55 total. I cleaned up a ton of rough cut 8 x 8 post and the Wen planer had plenty of power to take a lot of meat off in 1 swipe. you can't go wrong with the Wen hand planer
32:15 The reason that saw is louder is because it has an entirely different motor. The larger induction motors will absolutely run quieter than the smaller motors found in contractor saws.
I used Wen tools at a friend's home shop, they were good for home use on small projects. As a side note I have a Wen soldering gun that my pop bought over 60 years ago and it is still working well!
I have the same band saw and use it all the time as I make custom pens, and have never had a problem with it. I just bought Wen cordless biscuit cutter and used it yesterday and it works great. Only thing I noticed is it has more power than the Freud I had forever. Just make sure you hang on while cutting.
you know what's funny was, I said in my head AS YOU WERE SAYING IT "I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller" XD I love your music references, I know it's your music background and that we're about the same age, but your music references are ALWAYS 5-star! I'm glad you had the issue with the planar and got to test how the company responds. I really like that bandsaw, I need one and I think I might pick one up. I also think that when you review tools like this, you really do it from the same perspective I would, and I like that too.
Last thing I'll say is, and this is the point you missed, Obviously Wen knows that you're a woodworker if you're buying all these tools, so they just want you to make your own damn knobs XD
Thank you for this video! I’m a contractor who enjoys wood working on the side and it’s easy to get discouraged about tool prices. (I’m also raising a young g family so hobbies are not financial priorities by any means). Would you consider doing a Wen upgrade video where you show us how you upgrade the things you don’t like? ie: track saw grip, miter saw dust collection, etc
I have the 13" spiral cutter head planer and it has been phenomenal. I also opted for the stand that has extension arms to support longer workpieces. The resulting workpiece surface finish is top notch. Bladed cutter heads seemed like a lot of hassle to install and set, so I've always wanted a spiral head. When I saw the price of this machine, I couldn't believe it and had to have it. Turned out to be a great decision for my business.
I think it coming faulty is actually a good thing considering you're reviewing their products. Customer service is a major part of buying into a brand and being able to see how they interact with customers. How they resolve large problems like the planner missing a major component is a big thing to check out. I hope we get to see a follow up with the process of you getting either parts from wen or a warranty replacement.
Read the top comment. Wen has sent him a new one.
I've got the Wen miter saw and variable-speed benchtop drill press. Not one complaint, best quality I've ever had on both tools. After watching your video I'll be seriously looking at swapping out a 15-year old delta planer for the Wen with spiral cutters. I might even splurge for the sander. Thank you for a great and VERY helpful video
Dave, Thanks for the update on the replacement/missing part and good to know Wen sent you a full replacement machine even though that took 4 plus weeks. I just started to watch your channel and with your setting up a budget shop, (just like a majority of us have) your reviews are just what the novice woodworker is looking for....straight, no bulls#$% approach is appreciated and also thank you for the link to get 10% off. As one of the comments below mention, I would also like to hear your review of this as I plan on purchasing pretty much everything that you bought (minus the table saw) for my own small shop.
I have several Wen tools … and a few of them I received broken or missing parts… yeah you could debate productivity or poor product control… but kudos to Wen’s warranty… they have replaced or sent the replacement parts without question in just a few days… in my opinion that’s why I keep buying Wen products…! Not all companies are like that!
Same with my WEN drill press.
I have the 8" and 10" WEN drill press, the WEN 8 in. x 12 in. lathe, and the bench top band saw. I'm thoroughly impressed with them. I was worried about precision but all of them did well in that department. Would totally recommend if you're looking for a budget brand.
I got a Wen lathe for Christmas in 2022 and I’ve loved it for a beginner lathe. With more experience, I’d recommend one with adjustable speeds instead of having to move the belt over and over again, but it works fine. This Christmas I got the Wen biscuit jointer. I’ll get use out of it when I’m done with college
Thanks for the review. I realize you can’t cover everything but I still have some unanswered questions:
1) resawing on the band saw - can it even a little?
2) can either router be fitted with a bushing ie template guide?
3) face planning especially on knotty grain - does it tear out, bog down or just slide smooth like spreading butter
4) dust collection on sander and jointer, good or future lung disease
5) how much time required to change to/from sanding belt to spindle - easy or pain.
6) does the table saw have a long enough blade mount to accommodate a dado set. Are the miter slots parallel to the blade? Any blade run out ie wobble? (Actually I don’t care, but only because I have a big cabinet saw, but I certainly would care if I was looking for another saw or recommending to a friend.)
7) how difficult is the big router to use in a router table: ie accessibility of the switch, convince and precision of depth adjustment.
Thx
1) I am curious about the same thing too.
2) As far as I know, all routers can be mounted with aftermarket bushing kits. I think those are universal.
4) Dust collection is done best in 3 ways. 1st take it outside & plane on a breezy day. 2nd is to connect up to a dust collector, mine is a shopvac. 3rd, do both!😂😂😂😂
6) As far as I know, all tablesaws are able to accommodate dads blade kits. Pretty inherent to the tool itself.
Hope my knowledge helps
I bought most of these same tools. I got into woodworking by making Pinewood Derby cars for my kids in Cub Scouts. Now I have workshop events for scouting families using these tools. The hidden gems with Wen are the following:
1) The users manuals have hilarious stuff in them, which encourages people to actually read them. "With a friend or trusted foe..."😂
2) Funny stickers to place in areas you want users to notice.
FYI, your complaint that the drill press handle flys back because there’s too much spring tension is false. The spring tension is adjustable. Just loosen the cover on the left side of the drill press and you can set it to whatever you like, literally down to free moving with no return at all.
Hopefully there's another video about the planer. One of the things I look for when buying anything expensive is how helpful and responsive the company is to any issues. So if they help him get a new one in a timely manner without any hassle, that would be a definite bonus for the company
The drill press seems to be almost identical to the Central Machinery model from harbor freight that I have. It's been very good for my limited use in the 2 years I've had it.
half my shop is wen and love each one of them. solid value.
I have 2 portable Wen gas generators, a Wen drill press, and I got a Wen belt sander last Christmas. All my Wen stuff has been amazingly good, especially for the price.
Bought a Wen track saw kit for about $220 around black Friday, it's worked perfectly and has made great 90deg cuts. It's not Festool, but for 1/3 the price I'm more than satisfied.
I will buy WEN from now on. Last year i purchased an oscillating sander it was delivered and as soon as i used it it thru the belt and stopped going up and down. I put the belt back on thinking maybe it was jarred during shipping but the belt kept coming off. I contacted WEN and sent them some pictures of the issue, and talked with the rep on the phone. WEN sent me a brand new sander and told me to keep the old one for parts. Amazing company and customer satisfaction!! WEN won me over for life.
That's real customer service .
ive been saying for years now about how good wen tools are. glad to see someone who knows about woodworking feels the same . love the channel
I hemmed and hawed over a drill press, but eventually bought the WEN 12" variable speed last summer. It has been absolutely fantastic! That single speed spiral planer is next on my wish list!
My first WEN tool was/is my Electric Hand Planer. Love that thing. This year I bought their Electric Impact Wrench, and their Oscillating Multi tool. I also bought their Portable Miter Saw stand. The quality for the price is surprising, but welcomed.
I have the 8in drill press. No complaints, it has worked well for me, and it has almost no run-out on the spindle. I know it's limits and I work with them. I also have the oscillating spindle sander and I rarely use it. I have the disc/belt sander and I use that all the time. Very useful, except the paper on the disc is adhesive and hard to change out. I will be modifying it to take velcro paper, like in the Newbie Woodworker's video.
As a semi-retired person who has got into woodworking and doing fun projects plus DIY around the house, Wen has become a big part of my shop. I have probably 10 plus power tools now from Wen. I am now looking to replace a cheap miter saw that I have had for over 10 years. I have pretty much decided on the Wen. There other tools have not let me down. My last Wen purchase was the 13-inch Planer. My wife graciously let me take over most of the Garage. So, space is limited. Their products can be space saving.
Thank you for the video. I have the WEN 4214T 5-Amp Drill Press. No complaints at all. The throw is a little short, but I mostly make pens and it fits my needs.
I've bought two Wen tools so far: The 4x21 belt sander and the dust filtration unit. The dust filter has been a solid piece of kit so far. No issues. The sander, however... No matter what I tried, I could not get the belt to stay on track. It either slid off or cut into the plastic frame.
I look forward to the long-term reviews of this equipment.
I have the WEN planer spiral head. glad to see you got a new one and gave it 5 star. i LOVE mine. Hobbyist here but I do alot, and WEN is taking over my shop.