How Cheap Is Too Cheap?? || Wen Track Saw CT1065 || Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ค. 2024
- Is it Junk or a Hidden Gem?? Follow along with me and we’ll check out this Super Cheap track saw.
Amazon Affiliate Link:
WEN 6.5 inch Track Saw: amzn.to/3g4xLB3
WEN Track Kit: amzn.to/3EBroiH
WEN Clamp Set: amzn.to/3Vsyw7h
=Power tools are dangerous===Always unplug when adjusting and servicing===Please Work Safe=
#Wen #TrackSaw #ProjectsForAll
00:00 Intro
00:50 Overview/Controls
04:00 Safeties
04:43 Blade Change
06:54 Safeties On Track
08:34 Clamps
09:40 Flex In Tilt Adjustment
10:51 Test Cut
11:15 24 vs 48 Tooth Blade
12:07 Connecting Tracks
14:00 Conclusion - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
I only clicked because the tiny grammatical error in the thumbnail made me laugh... 'So cheap is has to be good!' Try as I might, I could not read that without hearing a shonky seller in a seedy asian flea market in my head, followed by, 'But while at it, no feed saw past mid nite! No reason! Bahaha!'
Thanks for the giggle, nice to know from the comments that it seems to actually be a good tool, so at least you're all good there. Cheers :)
For being the first person to comment on this and especially for the Gremlins reference…I will pin you to the top. Thanks for the comment!
I bought this saw with the powertec tracks, thinking I might upgrade later and still have good tracks.
I’ve had this saw for about a year, and I’ve had no problems with it! This video is a very fair assessment of what you get from wen. And I’d also recommend it to anyone starting out.
It is nice that the track designs overlap between brands allowing less expensive upgrades in saws. Also cool to hear it’s still good after some time. Thanks for the comment!
Same here. Wen saw and powertec tracks. I did buy the fine tooth blade and it made a huge difference in cut quality.
Overall, you have a fair assessment.
I built an entire kitchen from scratch with this saw and I had 0 issues! Keep up the good work!
I’ve used it a lot since this video and still have no complaints. Thanks for watching Rich!
@@ProjectsForAllReviews I would really appreciate a second review of it after you’ve used it for a long time. I’m also curious about track compatibility. Here in Mexico, the Wen track is more expensive than the saw!
Yeah, righto Rich, show me the kitchen and maybe then that means something.
I only use mine at 90 and I packed it with epoxy putty so almost no flex now. For the price, I am very satisfied.
Smart! I might actually do the same with mine. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you for the video and detailed information. I bought this saw and went with the combo on amazon that had the saw, clamps and wen 110" inch tracks. It seems really well made and a bargain. I did not want to dump $600 into something that was equivalent. I absolutely agree with you on the 45 degree cuts. Luckily I only do 90 degree cuts. I highly recommend this tool.
I've had this saw for several months now, and I love it.
Thank you very much for your time making this video. It's more detail than others. Love it!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!
I have had this saw and the 110" track for several years. Last year I bought an extra track to use on shorter cuts that way my long track can stay connected at all times. This saw is excellent. I use it to break down sheet goods mostly. The original blade wasn't bad but I did purchase a higher tooth count blade. More than worth the cost.
The track is so cheap it’s smart to get extra. Separating it’s a little bit of a pain I agree. Thanks for the comment!
How are the bevel cuts do they stay solid and true
@@johnnycorn7225 I have not tried bevel cuts. All of my cuts are square.
I have used my wen track saw to edge joint two 2x10 boards. It did a remarkable job. Took me 4 cuts to get the edges to where I could not get a playing card between them. Now I could do it in three. The glue up was perfect. I could not ask for a better result. I consider it as a great tool for the weekend woodworker.
Thanks for the tip Alex! That would have been a great demo for the video. I’ll remember that for the next one. Either way it’s a really useful, compact tool for the money. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this review. I'm a beginner so cost point is important to me. I'm not building fine furniture so the small amount of flex isn't a deal breaker for me. I appreciate the time you took to give us a good review.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks, I just picked this up and you just confirmed what I thought. So not bad for the price. Good entry level.
Watched a few of your videos and really enjoy them. You hit it on the head each time. Thx. Subscribed.
Welcome to the channel Mike! Thanks for watching!
I appriciate that even though you have just came from a review of the Festool saw that you gave this a fair shake. My takeaway is that this saw is reasonably good if you are doing 90 degree cuts and you replace the blade.
I really like this dirt cheap saw! After the vid I ripped 12 sheets and it did perfect! If it only lasts a couple years and I buy another I’m still way ahead of just about anything else. Even the Ryobi was $400 last I looked and I don’t think that included a track! Thanks for watching!
I have this exact saw and track. I have no complaints other than I had to fumble my way through learning how to use it. Great buy!
I got this track saw about a year and a half ago, and it’s been great! I only cut at 90 deg and never noticed any flex. Like others, I went with a nicer set of tracks. My cuts have been straight and clean, even with the stock blade. I had struggled for years with a cheap circular saw and edge guides for breaking down plywood sheets, and this is night and day better.
I agree! I ripped about 12 sheets of that OSB after the vid and it went quick and painless. Thanks for watching and Happy New Year!
What tracks did you get?
Thanks for a great review. I like that you nit-picked but didn't beat a dead horse. I think that separates an opinion (which also means something) from a review which is what I was hoping for. Thanks again for both, keep killing it.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this review! I dont know how long this has been around, but this is the first time I have heard of it. I am impressed. As soon as the Christmas bills are paid, I want to get one. It appears to be much safer and better than a circular saw against a straight-edge. (Especially as I have never really trusted circular saws.)
Hopefuly one of these will soon share my shop with my Wen air filter and Wen bandsaw.
Thanks for watching!
Love mine. For the price I couldn't be happier. The kickback paw was the first thing I got rid of. Doing a scribe cut then full plunge gives a decent cut with the supplied blade but I do plan to upgrade it.
I removed that kickback cam just to try it out. Glides smooth as butter without if but I decided I could live with the performance with it on. I work with power tools a lot and have learned to accept some concessions due to safety. The fine tooth Diablo blade really makes this saw amazing though. Thanks for watching!
Interesting to see that WEN actually makes good products! I was gonna buy their bandsaw for my beginner projects but the Home Depot sold out and so I had to go with Ryobi
Great review. I, too, own this track saw and for the money I have been very pleased. I agree with your assessment 100%. Thank you for you time!
Thanks for watching Joseph!
Great review. For us DIYers that are using a track saw maybe a couple of times a month, this seems to be quite adequate. This will be my next tool purchase. Thanks for the information.
Thanks Bill. I agree if I didn’t have the table saw I’d definitely grab DeWALT or Makita but it just doesn’t make sense for me to spend that extra money. Cordless would be nice though. We’ll get more track saws in for review eventually.
I used this saw for almost 200 sheets of 1/2 CDX so far and it works great. No complaints at all. Great cheap saw.
Thanks for watching!
Nice breakdown on the details of this saw. I own it and think it was worth the money, understanding it's limitations better. I was not aware of the base plate flex, but I think that can be overcome with some careful use and or reinforcement.
The base plate on my 6.5 inch was solid, seemed to be made or powder coated aluminum....the depth of cut trolls were sticky from the start then after 3 cuts stuck the blade in the fully down position.
@@Phil_Scott I don't think it is the plate itself that flexes. I also don't think it is a big deal if a person is aware of the issue. I continue to get very good results with mine.
I've owned this saw for a few years now. It works very well with a makita track. I'm glad I didnt go festool only because it does what I need it to do and I can replace it 6 times for the price of a festool.
I agree the price difference is ridiculous! Im still using the saw in the vid and still have nothing bad to say about it. I do wish I'd bought the 7-1/4 version just because of blade selection. Otherwise it's been awesome! Thanks for watching!
I bought one of these along with 8 feet of track for about $200 several years ago. I think the one I bought might be a little better built than this one, but they are very similar. The track was two pieces and line up perfectly straight when connected. Works great for rough cutting large sheet goods, which is what I bought it for, so I'm happy. One thing I did different was I bought the Dewalt clamps because some people complained about the Wen clamps.
Im still using this one and I'm still very impressed for the $185 I paid for the full kit. We have the new 20v x2 cordless Wen in the shop now and should have a vid within a month or so. Ive used it once so far and Its possibly another cheap winner. Thanks for watching!
Your observation about it not flexing when you’re pushing forward is spot on. I’ve been using mine for about a year now, and I am absolutely thrilled with its performance. I did a couple videos on this as well, but yours is very well done. I did remove the anti-kickback device because I’ve never owned a saw that had one or needed one. I understand the desire to not remove a safety feature, but the saw ships with a tag attached to that knob telling you how it could be removed, so I suspect it’s there is more of a CYA for WEN. Again, great video and you’ve earned a sub. Scott
Thank you Scott! Saw rides smooth as butter without the kickback cam installed for sure. Im looking forward to picking up the 7-1/4 version to see if there's any significant difference. You have a great channel and I'll check out your vids on the Wen. Thanks for the comment!
@@ProjectsForAllReviews They did make a couple subtle improvements in the 7 1/4 inch saw, but I find myself reaching for the 6 1/2 far more often. It’s not that much smaller, but it is smaller.
So it cuts the beavels Right
@@johnnycorn7225 Correct.
@@MyGrowthRings I can't wait to use it on my next day off woohoo
Great review, thanks. I have the 7-1/4 version and have been pretty happy with it. I did disable the kickback and haven't had an issue. If I were a professional, I would probably upgrade to something better but for a "hobbyist", this one is more than adequate.
Thanks for watching! We’ll get to the 7-1/4 version soon!
Good review. I wish I had watched your video before I purchased. As you said, it needs the clamps to secure the track. Thankfully, I was doing a test cut when the track slid. The countertop reno will have to wait til the clamps arrive. The 56 tooth Wen blade I bought to cut laminate countertops, cuts very smooth and no chip outs.
I'm a beginner woodworker, and have been wanting a budget friendly track saw. After watching this video, I am strongly considering the product you tested. Thanks!
Check out the Grizzly too, it’s in the same price range. We’ll get one soon to review. Thanks for watching!
I bought this WEN saw with the WEN tracks. Ended up returning the WEN tracks and replacing them with the longer POWERTEC tracks. I don't make my living with this tool. I am very happy with its performance.
I’ve used this track saw a whole bunch since this video. The only thing I can say bad about the WEN tracks is after the first use they no longer stick to a surface at all. I use the end clamps and it works great. The Festool track i reviewed the week before stuck like glue despite being covered in dust. Plan on buying the Powertec soon for a comparison. Thanks for the comment!
I've had great luck with Wen tools. I have the sander and the planer. I would not be afraid to buy this tool!
Great video. My buddy just bought this saw and wants me to come over and help him figure it out. After your video I’m sure I got it. 😉👍🏻 $100 is crazy nice. Would be awesome if corporate greed went away. Looks like this saw is a good start to that. 👍🏻
We’ve got the 20v x2 Wen track saw in the shop now. Looks promising too for $180. Also the $950 Milwaukee. Thanks for watching
Mike, Thanks so much for your comprehensive video! I would buy this and might wind up doing that because I need to lay a floor this spring. I just bought one of Wen's least expensive drill presses this past year from Walmart (90 day exchange privilege ) and it put Harbor Freight's comparable drill presses to shame for a paltry $200. Wen's included warranty and the ability to get replacement parts is a big plus over Harbor Freight tools. I am getting more of an interest in Wen tools. I just used my drill press today with Forstner bits and it exceeded my expectations.
I’ve gotten a bunch of comments saying the drill press is good. We’ll have to get it in to review eventually. Thanks for watching!
@@ProjectsForAllReviews - Hey Mike! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts in the video! The drill press is a little noisy but other than that, for $200 its a lot of drill press for the money. I got mine from Walmart online to take advantage of the 90 return policy just in case. Hands down, the warranty is great and I love it. I'm glad I didn't get another one from Harbor Freight. Of the three drill presses I owned, this is the best.
First time viewer. Great review thanks!
Thank you Doug!
I bought the saw and track together. First set of track was not straight. Wen handled the return and exchange without a problem. While waiting I bought the Powertec tracks. These were straight, better packaged and slightly longer allowing easier starting for cuts on 4 foot wide sheet goods. The setup has worked well for 90 degree cuts and breaking down of larger material. Hard to beat for the occasional user at the price. Better is better if you can afford it.
Eventually we’ll get the 7-1/4 WEN to test and I figured we’d do the powertec track at the same time. I got lucky and the WEN track was spot on. Overall I’ve been very happy with my under $200 track saw purchase. Thanks for watching!
Excellent review. 👍 Thanks
Thanks for watching!
I’ve had a Wen track saw about 5 years now. Have used Festool and to be honest for the average wood working don’t waste your money on a Festool unless you got it to waste.
The Festool was pretty sweet! But for my money there are better options. Good to hear the Wen has lasted you 5 years! Thanks for watching!
I bought this saw and track to try and do 22" water fall mitered corners on a 72" dresser. I would need a huge table or radial arm saw for a cross cut that long... While when I got it I too was concerned because the 45 deg setting can flex UP but thankfully it is true pressing down, so it just took just a bit of extra skill to make sure to press down during the full cut... BUT it WORKED PERFECT! I was cutting $160 10' walnut MFD.Ply so yea I did tests cuts but not that much tweaking necessary. So for a $200 set up with track and clamps and I have a way to do long cross cuts and miters... Lastly the anti kick back knob is a nightmare many take it off and yea a short piece of track 24-36" would be very handy as well as the 2- 55"
Cool to hear you got some fine wood working out of this cheap saw! Shame there’s no pics in the comments I’d love to see the dresser. Thanks for watching!
Nice job!! I was just looking at that today!!
Thanks James!
I have found this track saw (on a PowerTec rail) performs great. I have cut primarily 3/4 inch plywood. The saw I have has not bogged down on any of my cuts. I'm going to buy Diablo 40T finishing blade and change out the stock Wen blade. No real complaints about the Wen blade but I know Diablo is the standard and the Diablo blade is only $19 or so on Amazon. Amazing track saw for the money!
I almost bought the PowerTec rails but figured might as well keep it all Wen for the sake of the review. I’ll be buying that same blade too. The festool review had a new 48t festool blade and it made a world of difference. Thanks for the comment!
I can say that I have the WEN drillpress and again - for the cost, it does what it is supposed to do.
I purchased the 7.25 version to cut hardie siding.
The 7.25 - 5/8 diamond blades are way less expensive than the 165-20 diamond blades.
I wanted the dust extraction for the concrete dust and didn't want to use my "expensive" track saw on the concrete board.
Even after doing 2 houses of Hardie board, the saw performs fine. It has been added to my normal woodworking arsenal and continues to perform well. This saw is really 90%+ of the green one, and I use it on a pro level.
I did spray paint most of the obnoxious orange adjustment knobs Kermit the frog green just to annoy people.
If it goes up in smoke tomorrow, I feel it owes me nothing.
Never occurred to me to use a cheap track saw for hardie backer. Although track saws weren’t a popular thing back when I was doing remodeling. Thanks for the tip!
Good review, thanks
Thanks for watching!
Great review I am a fellow biker that loves wood working and I appreciate you honest review. I will be buying this track saw setup
Thanks
Thanks Jim glad I helped. I forget to pull that bike out half the time. Leaf blower handles the sawdust. Thanks for watching!
@@ProjectsForAllReviews I live in Chicago too and i use a DeWalt leaf blower on my bikes too lol. I ordered the saw I am waiting for the blue truck to deliver it today!
Nice Jim! Let us know what you think about it
I have the 7 1/4 saw and believe it to be slightly better as mine doesn’t have as much play and it has better visibility for plunge depth and bevel angles. If I were trying to replace a table saw I would get the festool. If you have a nice table saw this is great for breaking down sheet goods. I got 4, 55 inch powertec tracks and cut one at 35” this way I have 110” for 4x8 plywood, 75” for 5x5 Baltic birch , 55” and 35” for cross cuts.
I agree and Im looking forward to checking out the Powertec tracks. The Wen tracks not bad at all but doesn't stick well to material after getting covered in sawdust from the first use. Thanks for watching!
I bought the 7 1\4 WEN It's a great saw.
I was considering the Ryobi until I saw this saw. Yes, its is cheap compared to the higher end saws (both price and quality, as is the Ryobi), but since I only need it to break down sheet goods in the garage before I can get them to the basement and table saw, I think it may be perfect. I have no need for any cut other than 90 degree vertical and no more than 3/4" deep. Right now I'm using a metal straight edge and my 6-1/2" cordless... a royal pain to setup and clamp for each and every cut. Being a corded saw is not a deal breaker for me compared to the Ryobi. The fact that is also has a two piece 100" track is super handy... total cost being less than $200.
I’m very happy with mine. Although for those 8ft cuts cordless would be nice! We’ll get around to all the cordless models hopefully soon. Thanks for watching!
Any tips for cutting 4x8 plexi sheets (1/8") with this? I have a 6.5 blade for plastic
Great review definitely will be on my shopping list. Only need one occasionally so this would a good investment.
I’m thinking the same thing Billy. It’s nice to have it when you need it but why spend DeWALT or Festool money for an occasional use tool. Better to spend the $ on cordless power tools or something I use all the time. Thanks for the comment!!
Great Review as always so Thanks, I have had that Track saw for the last 4 years is been great I used it with the PowerTec tracks, and no complaints, in my opinion, is you are happy with a corded TrackSaw this is the choice Price/Values can not get better, I did purchase months ago the Makita ONLY because is Cordless happy with that Unit too. Thanks
Thank you!! I agree the price to value with this is through the roof. I thought about getting the PowerTec tracks but I figured for the review I’d keep it all wen. Might do a track comparison one of these days. Thanks for watching!
I also have this saw with the power tech track, works great for the home diy. I have the wen power hand planner again for diy is a good buy.
I have a vid on the hand planer also and was please with it also. Especially for $40. Thanks for watching!
Excellent review
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching Robert!
The WEN was terrific for my uses. I never noticed the flex my guess is it doesn't apply to the straight cuts I made for speaker cabs with HDF. Changed the blade before I ever used it.
What blade did you swap the stock blade with?
I feel if you change the blade, it will cut better. My wife got me the Wen CT1065, the two piece track and clamps for Christmas. Can’t wait to use it. I have tw Wen bench sanders and plan on getting the 12” variable speed drill press. This is a great complete review.
I have a fine tooth Diablo blade in it now. Works of difference. Thanks for watching!
@@ProjectsForAllReviews All I can find on Amazon is for 5/8" arbor size. Would you mind referencing the part number for that blade? Please.
I’m on my third one. First two arbors were impossible to remove. Even after soaking with several bolt loosening products. third one was DOA. Always try and remove the blade when you get a new saw. Sometimes the arbor is over torqued.
That’s crazy bad luck. I still use both this and now the cordless ones and haven’t had any trouble with either. We’ll be reviewing the Ryobi saw soon. Thanks for watching!
I've never been able to torque mine enough to worry about that tilt flex in regular use, and I use it for cutting down panels to rough size for final refinement on more accurate tools. In that, it's $100 of absolute excellence. No one's making furniture final cuts with a track saw; not even the famous black-n-green one. :)
Not making final cuts? Check out Peter Millard, who made custom furniture for years- and always made final cuts with a track-saw. Not at all uncommon. What woodworking tool would be more accurate? IT9 can be achieved with practice...
I break down my solid wood and sheet goods direct to measurement with my Festool track saws every day. I used to rough cut, but soon came to the realization that the cut quality and accuracy were so good, there was no need to cut it twice. For this reason, I now am the proud owner of 3 Festool track saws, and do both fine woodworking and finish carpentry (stairways, trim, cabinetry, etc) with them. That being said, I can see a place in the industry for $100 track saw, and am considering purchasing one myself.
@@AlAmantea Totally agree that track-saws have the capability. But I am interested in your comment about being a 'proud owner' of 3 Festool track-saws. Could you describe where this pride comes from? I know this is a divergence from the topic, but I am struck by the attachment many have for a particular brand, and would love to know the reasoning behind it. Is it that you have three that brings pride, the brand (you went to the trouble of naming it), or just the track-saw ownership? I hope you will help me explore this phenomena. It may have been just a turn of phrase on your part, but there must be some underlying motivation. I can understand having pride in something created, but not in objects bought- is it invested in the 'wise choice', being able to afford a premium product, or something else? I would be grateful if you could clarify.
@@TensquaremetreworkshopTensquaremetreworkshop It was a simple turn of the phrase, yes, however, after pondering you question for a minute, I agree there was an underlying motivation for it.
I think the pride in ownership of these tools comes from their capabilities and usefulness. It has nothing to do with the name or the fact they are a premium product.
It comes from my ability in using them to provide my clients with a better end product, at a faster pace, with greater accuracy, and maintain a cleaner site while improving my creations. The pride stems from what they allow me to accomplish, not in the tool itself. Gaining the flexibility of using track saws both in the shop and on site makes my work easier, faster, and infinitely more productive than others in my area that do not have them. I feel this gives me an edge over the competition. I hope this makes more sense to you!
@@AlAmantea well answered , im proud my Milwaukee cordless can boar a hole 3" through concrete 12'' thick faster than you can run out a cord , i also get a kick out of how modern tools make a joke out of jobs that took me days, 35 years ago, i guess bad pride does come into it because i do think they make me superior ... i save money and buy nice things, and wipe em down and blow em out ... my addiction to tools in these last4 years has paid off as they ALLL cost more
For bigger things with less precision, my cheap wen gear works. It’s a fantastic brand for just buying something for cheap for a project where you need a specific tool. I have their scroll saw, which the little blower thing is garbage, and their drill press, which wobbles a little more than it probably should, and both are honestly workable in most situations i’ve used them for. It’s not built to last, but they’re perfect for rarely used tools and they work!
I agree! Just chopped up 12 sheets for the garage walls with this thing and it ran flawlessly. Got the WEN spindle sander this week. Should drop Monday! Thanks for watching!
I have their 12in drill press. After replacing the chuck and arbor it works amazingly well.
We’ll get to that drill press eventually! Thanks for watching!
I've had one of these for almost two years and it's survived light use. It arrived damaged from Home Depot, so they gave me $50 off ... making it a Cdn$90 track saw. I use the Wen blade only on wood that I don't like, and I have an upscale blade for wood that I do like. The thing is as cheap as cheap can get, and it seemed to be set up for precision 89 degree cuts from the factory ... but it can be configured for very precise cuts on a good track (I use it on a Makita track). I'm a big fan.
Thanks for watching!
Great review! I have other Wen tools, and I’ve been satisfied with them, so I will seriously consider getting this along with my other HarborFreight junk. Lol. Seriously, though, great review, keep up the good work. By the way, you are a dead ringer for Christopher Walken impressions. 😜
First time for Christopher Walken! I can hear it! Last time it was Ray Romano 😂 Thanks for watching!
Really good review and info. Thank you. Have you used any of the Makita plunge saws? I hear good things about them. For the money, I might just go for the Wen now and hopefully the price will come down on the other brands after there is more competition. At that point I can decide if I want to upgrade. Lastly, have you tried the Wen 7-1/4" version of this saw? How about the Evolution brand? It appears to have more power and easier to read graduations/markings. Thanks again for your effort in educating us.
Sorry Gil I wish I could be more help but I have yet to review any of the saws you mention. There will definitely be more track saw reviews coming but not in the immediate future. Thanks for the comment!
Hi Mike, very good review again, precise, factual, exactly what I like. My feedback : Festool, Mafell, Milwaukee are targeted to contractors. These brands have the reliability and the service organization that professionals expects. Prices are high, but if you have to count on this kind of tool to run your business on a daily basis, price does not matter that much.
This Wen saw is clearly targeted to DIY'ers and it's a great option for someone who wants to have fun in his workshop garage on a budget. Some remarks :
the quality of your cut depends a lot of the quality of your blade : a high quality Festool ( manufactured by Leitz ), or CMT, or FREUD blade will always give much better cuts than a chinese blade even on that cheap saw.
Funny thing : this saw is very similar to Erbauer ERB690CSW plunge saw that retails for £180 ( approximately 221 bucks ) in UK and Triton TTS1400 that retails €256 ( appr. 279 bucks ) in France : I guess all saws including the Wen comes out from the same factory in China . Are there more plastic parts on the Wen that justifies a lower price ? Maybe.
I agree with everything you said! Another person commented about the Erbauer and I hunted it down online. Looks exactly the same to me and must be a very common practice. I’ve found about 5 clones of Wens belt/spindle sander. Thanks as always for the comment!
Wen products are the best kept secret in the DIY world. I have a reasonably successful wood working business for over seven years. I have, and I use on a almost daily basis, a Wen Drill Press, Bandsaw, Spindle sander, brad nailer, plunge router, mini lathe, lathe chucks, scroll saw and I have had absolutely no problems with any of my tools
Thanks for the comment Tony! Glad to hear everything’s held up!
Good review. Not every one can afford/justify an expensive track saw. The pluses outweigh the negatives. Yep, this saw will be my next purchase,
Thank you! Check out Wens larger version also. It takes a more common 7-1/4 blade with a 5/8 arbor. Last I looked it was about $50 more. We’ll get it for review soon!
IIRC, Diablo (?) makes a ~36 or 42 tooth blade that works for this. Also, the anti-kickback cam gets smoother with use. Give it a bit.
I have a diablo fine cut. Prob 42 tooth but haven’t installed yet.
I have the original Wen track saw which has a metal base and I have the larger wen with the plastic base I have both because I have one on my MFT station at home and the larger saw which has a stronger motor I use on job sites. Both saws do a very good job and I use the big saw pretty much every day for the last year and a half. The smaller saw which has the same blade size as the model you demonstrated here I have owned 6 years, with heavy use. I have the old tracks and I could use them without the clamps (they stick fine) but I bought the Makita tracks for job site. The Makita track are better in that to cut 8 ft ply I only need the 2 pieces but the Wen track I needed 4 pieces. The Festool TS 55 is very nice ( friend has it) but 2 things kept me from investing in the Festool, the price and it was not $800 worth of better performance.
Thanks for letting us know they’ve held up to some hard use! Thanks for watching!
I have this saw and it works flawlessly but I hate the anti-kickback feature as it gets in the way. I upgraded to the power-tech tracks and clamps. The power-tech tracks align better and grip better than the Wen. I used to sell Festool trac-saws, and I’m not going to compare them head to head, but I’m happy with my Wen, especially since I can afford it and I can’t afford a new Festool.
I have only ever used Festool and Wen tracks. The biggest difference I noted was the Wen does not stick at all after the first use. They sell replacement strips for the bottom for most good quality tracks. I may just replace it and see. Thanks for watching!
Which powertech track did you get? I’m wanting get one from Hd.
Question I need a track saw for ripping sheets of up to 3/4” 11 ply birch. With a better blade will it do the job? I’m going to clean up the edges anyway on a table saw? Got a ton of cabinets to make.
I haven’t tried it but with a high quality blade I doubt you’ll have any trouble. Let us know if you do. Thanks for watching!
Just got this as a birthday gift from my wife and kids. I'm excited to use it. There was a dent at the end of one of the pieces of track on the groove the saw rides in. How important is that last 2 inches of track? Thanks for a great video.
If the saw doesn’t slide though it I would exchange it. The Wen track is a little shorter than I’d like it to be already. Good luck with the new saw! Thanks for watching!
I've bought two of these. The first one I screweed up trying to get the plunge releast button to let go!! Real PITA!! Managed to break it-tried to disassemble the saw to repair/ throw out whatever(???) that blasted switch button. Fiannaly said theheck with it and ordered another one. Got this one to work although I still have some difficulty operating that same swithch. Maybe the fact that I have some arthritis in my hand (I'm 88 years old!) might have something to do with it. Overall I'm pleased with the saw and the operation. Sorry that I had to buy 2 of the darned things!!
Hello Claude! I used that saw all day Sunday and last couple nights! Chopped up some sheets for the garage walls. The more I use it the more I like it! Makes me happy to hear at 88 years young your still banging around in the shop. Thanks for watching!
@@ProjectsForAllReviews Getting older by the day but not a damned thing I can do about except complain!! Of course, complaining is the go-to thing for us old people!! Haave a great day!
I bought this a couple of years ago. It’s nice to finally see an in depth review and I can say you are right on the money about this saw. I’ve only used it a few times and got the results that I wanted. I have disabled the kick back and the lift tabs. I probably should enable the anti kick back. It’s a really cheap saw but it does some cool stuff. Good enough for me. Thanks for reviewing.
Great video
Very in depth and really helped me
Since there’s no directions included thank you.
Glad the video helped Larry! Thanks for watching!
Is there any way to ensure a cut is, for example, square to a know good edge?
Thank you for the honest review. With the way the clamps work, and the fact it sort of needs the clamps, does that make cutting wood on the ground much harder?
Hello and thank you! Yes if you plan to cut on a piece of pink board or something thin on the ground I would recommend getting the Power Tec tracks as they stick much better without clamps. Check out the cordless Wen vid to see those tracks. Thanks for watching!
th-cam.com/video/mfdjnqtiZKI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2AgmO4mbIVcS6mMI
@@ProjectsForAllReviews thank you
I removed that safety cam and gluides so much smoother you won’t regret it
Just got the whole set up, clamps, 110" wen track and saw for 200 out the door on Amazon...I'll prolly upgrade the track to power tech...but man for that price it's a no brainier...
Good review, fair. Yeah, for $100 and maybe another $30??? for a nicer blade totally not bad. I would use the thing for breaking down sheet goods at 90 degrees only. So - it might be worth it. Wrestling large pieces of plywood, OSB, and particle board on my Unisaw is not fun. Or, too safe sometimes. Better to break it down a bit oversize then clean up the edges on the table saw.
Maybe in time, Wen will even improve the flex problem.
I personally would probably not use either the anti-kickback cam/paul
or the anti-lift feature. Thanks for the review. I was not aware of this track saw
before.
I agree I’ve never loved cutting big sheets on my table saw. Even though it’s a contractor size. Thanks for watching!
After watching many reviews of saws and tracks I went with the Powertec track and tool only Wen saw. Immediately put a 60t Diablo blade on it. Works great but don't use it that much. Work space is cluttered because of a giant Unisaw and my degraded organization skills.
Im sure the Diablo blade would make this dirt cheap saw awesome. I usually go Diablo also. Don't feel bad about the organizational skills. There's a reason I almost never show you guys the other side of my shop! Having five table saws out there doesn't help either! Thanks for watching!
Well I think I will, it’s £109 over here (Amazon) I am a low user so I guess it’ll be fine. If it was battery than as I am fully Ryobi I would wait and save a bit for that as not going to have two battery types around!
Enjoyed your video and your review was unbiased which is so great to see. First time viewer; are you reviews only/mainly? I have subscribed and liked so let’s see where you take me!
Bob
England
Hello Bob! Welcome! I do mostly reviews with a some tutorials and demos thrown in when I can. Next week is the little Skil 15a table saw. Looks to be a good one. Thanks for watching!
So inexpensive! And it does a great deal for the price! Will strongly consider this machine to help me build a shed!
Definitely a good choice for building a shed for the house! Thanks for the comment Young!
I made my own track saw system. Alum. track with sacrificial bottom. Made a sled that screws to my skil saw. But it doesn't break down and is a bit cumbersome. Would like a system that breaks down and packs away.
This saw lives in the packout you see in most of my vids. it is fairly compact and easy to stow. Nothing wrong with a cheap homemade tool if it works though. Thanks for watching!
Never had a need for one of these, but I see a ton of people using them. Hate festool, because of the price, and the attitude of most people that own the stuff, and like that wen makes so many products (I have some of them myself), however, if accuracy is desired, then you get what you pay for. Definitely a weekend hobbyist tool, and not a jobsite tool.
The only aspect about this saw that would keep me from bringing it to a jobsite is the track which doesn’t stick to material well. Could fix that with a better track or by replacing the sticky foam on the bottom with better quality stuff. The saw itself isn’t bad. Can’t speak to its longevity though. Thanks for watching!
Great review and vid! Just throw on a diablo blade and you got a baby festool :D
Right on! Thanks for watching!
13:38...does the two halves not aligning cause the blade to kiss the edge of the track after the transition? Does it cause the cut to be less accurate, as the cutting edge is offset?
No the blade won’t touch the track and I got the tracks to align very straight on the second attempt. I’m actually very impressed with this cheap set up. There are many better quality tracks out there as many ppl have commented. Thanks for watching!
Looks like a tool for the money. Bit too much plastic for me. Good video.
Take off the kickback and get tracks from powertek awesome system. Its not the best out there but for anyone starting out it's fantastic till you have to do fine bevel cuts.
good review but I would love to see you make project!
Thank you! That’s a good idea and how this channel got started. I’d like to work some projects back into the channel eventually. Thanks for the comment!
Great video! Is this the WEN CT9502 track? If you have to clamp it to the work piece, how do you clamp it if the track is longer than the piece you are cutting? Do you just clamp it on one side?
Yes CT9502. The clamps slide in a rail on the bottom and technically you could slide them both to the middle until they are touching. You could clamp the 55 inch track to a 12 inch board and cross cut. Hope that makes sense. Thanks for watching!
@@ProjectsForAllReviews thanks!
You should definitely try out the Grizzly Pro Track Saw. At just about $20 USD more than the Wen, it's so much better!
My Shop is very much split between Wen and Grizzly.
Track Saw is the Grizzly T33300X
That track saw is on my very short list! I also just discovered Wen makes a 20v track saw. I’m split between the two for next vid but it’ll probably be the Grizzly. Thanks for watching!
Well I don't use power tools commercially but I do buy Wen products. I bought their planer , 12 miter saw although I do also have a Hitachi 10" from before they changed their name. I also have their router. table belt sander and small drill press. Wen is not Earth shattering but the price is right for home renovations. Most all of my hand battery operated tools are Porter Cable, I have had these 6 years going and beat the heck out of them and they keep going. Side nugget, most of the battery operated equipment being sold today including Porter Cable / Dewalt is made by Black and Decker. My guess is the individual companies spec out their needs with B&D hence the quality differences between a Dewalt table saw and a Skil. Chevy Impala and the Cadillac XTS, same just different specs. Wen is a different program but it works.
I’m still very happy with my cheap Wen tools. I have a pile of stuff waiting for review but the Wen 20vX2 track saw came in last week and it looks pretty cool. We’ll get to it soon! Thanks for watching!
In Europe it is found under the brand "MAC ALLISTER"
It is very good near the house.
I found the brand on the UKs eBay site. Looks good! Maybe next time I’m in Italy I’ll bring back something to review. Thanks for watching!
This is successful because DIYers watching TH-cam exist. WEN realized that there's not much extra needed to create this vs a regular circ saw. Everyone else is in the trades and will buy a $350 Makita or maybe a Festool if their hourly rate supports that kind of fancy solution.
Pretty dope for the craft people out there. This bad boy wouldn’t survive me… I would hurt it hahahaha
Great video. Can I use a 7-1/4" blade?
They make a 7-1/4 version of this saw it’s about $150. I’ll get it for review eventually. Thanks for watching!
I'd be interested to know if it lasts, though note positive comments from others. That plastic baseplate won't stand any rough use?
I was using a straight edge (a long level) clamps and a skillsaw 20 years ago as a "tracksaw"... Still works today... Not sure why I need that. ????
So did I. I do find the track saw is a little easier to set up and faster if your doing ALOT of cuts. Other than that I have no compelling argument for spend money on a track saw. They sure are popular nowadays though. Thanks for watching!
I see Wen has a cordless version of that saw $185 on their website. Have you had your hands on one? Will you be doing a review?
Yep have one in the shop. I’ve used it a few times and so far it’s pretty good. Should see a vid within a month. Thanks for the comment!
I like wen products....I bought the 6.5" wen track saw.... the blade depth controls were sticky from the start,.... after 3 cuts it was getting a lot worse, next try the blade jammed in the down position those orange plastic blade depth of cut controls located at the top of the saw next to handle seemed flimsy to me,
I am offshore so the cost to return it is more than the cost of the saw....I use the track though for a straight edge to guide my circular saws. would I pay $700 or so for some other brand of track saw....no... but I would use the 100 inches of wide straight edge that you can clamp down easily ... for breaking down sheets of plywood.
Looks like a damn good tool for the money.
That about sums it up! Thanks for watching!
Great review, as always! I'm honestly surprised WEN even bothered with the bevel adjustments considering the flex. I'm sure there are times and use cases for that feature for professional carpenters, but I'd also think that any professional would want to go with a pro grade tool since it's a tax write-off anyways. $100 for a track saw without the bevel adjustments and less/no flex would be an immediate buy for me. Only thing I would've liked to see is how the dust collection performed on this one. I'm sure the festool is nearly flawless, but definitely curious about how the WEN does. Regardless, love your stuff and keep up the great work! Was considering the corded Makita, but have seen mixed reviews about their tracks. For $100, it's definitely worth the experiment to see if it's good enough for my purposes.
Hello RB! This definitely isn’t a pro tool but for $100 it could benefit even the most causal user for safely ripping 8ft sheets. After the review I cut up 12 sheets and it was flawless, couldn’t be happier for the money spent. Can’t see myself using the bevel function on this saw so make little difference to me. I will make a point to test the dust collection on future vids but it does channel lot of dust out the port so I suspect is isn’t bad. Thanks for the comment and for watching!
This is great for beginner carpenters and DIYers, put a good diablo blade in there and she'll be good for a while.
You should test it on harder walnut and thicker 2” walnut. Then we will know really how good it is
I agree that would be more telling but I can’t see most folks using this cheap saw to cut walnut boards or any very expensive material for that matter. To me this is an OSB/ plywood tool. A new, expensive blade and a table saw would be a better fit if I had 2” walnut, IMO. Next track saw vid we’ll get at least some 3/4 plywood. Thanks for watching!