Is WEN a Good Brand?

When searching for power tools and woodworking tools, you’re bound to come across the WEN brand. They’re one of the top brands we find when searching for planers and nailers, but the company also makes a huge range of other power tools.

We’ve researched dozens of tools, but the WEN brand caught our eye. Some say their tools are just as well-made as other major players in the industry. We explored the brand and their tools to see if they live up to the hype in our WEN tools review.

WEN Tools Review

Who Makes WEN Tools?

WEN tools are made by WEN, which is headquartered in Elgin, Illinois. The company has been creating and distributing power tools for decades.

WEN Tools History

WEN was founded in 1951 by Nick Anton and was a pioneer in the power tool industry. The company’s research and development team played a significant role in the development of many common power tools we use today, including:

The chainsaw.
The electric jigsaw.
The electric soldering gun.
Knife and wet wheel sharpeners.
The electric engraver.

Today, WEN produces a wide range of tools, including hand tools, drill pressers, generators, bench grinders, miter saws, nailers and air compressors.

Since its founding, WEN has sold more than 50 million consumer units.

Where are WEN Tools Made?

WEN tools are made in China, but parts and stocks are in Illinois and California. There are claims that Wen’s tools are made in the same factories as other well-known power tool brands and have similar designs/quality.

Tool Range

WEN designs and distributes a wide range of tools, including:

Drills and Drill Presses

Variable speed drill presses.
Drill presses with lasers.
Floor-standing drill presses.
Cordless and corded drills.
Cordless screwdrivers.

Nailers

Flooring nailers.
Framing nailers.
Roofing nailers.
Straight finish nailers.
Head framing nailers.
Narrow crown staplers.
Pneumatic brad bailers and staplers.

Saws

Band saws – benchtop and stand.
Table saws.
Miter saws.
Circular saws.
Scroll saws.
Compact circular saws.
Wet tile saws.
Sidewinder circular saws.
Jig saws.
Reciprocating saws.

Sanders

Drum sanders.
Oscillating spindle sanders.
Benchtop disc sanders.
Drywall sanders.
Belt sanders.
Polishers.
File sanders.
Sheet sanders.
Detailing palm sanders.

Planers & Jointers

Benchtop thickness planers.
Electric hand planers.
Benchtop jointers.

Bench Grinders

Variable torque wet/dry, water-cooled sharpeners.
Two-direction wet/dry, water-cooled sharpeners.
Bench grinders (slow speed and variable speed).

Compressors

Portable vertical air compressors (oil- and oil-free).
Portable horizontal air compressors (oil- and oil-free).
Pancake air compressors (oil-free).

Lathes

Mini benchtop lathes.
Benchtop wood lathes.
Cast iron wood lathes.
Benchtop metal lathes.

Rotary Tools

Corded and cordless rotary tools.
Rotary tool accessories.

Chainsaws and Pole Saws

Cordless and brushless chainsaws.
Cordless and brushless pole saws.
Electric pole saws.
Telescoping pole saws.
Electric chainsaws.

Log Splitters

Gas-powered log splitters.
Electric log splitters.

Plate Compactors

Compaction force plate compactors.
Jumping jack tamping rammers.

Pressure Washers

Gas-powered, CARB-compliant pressure washers.
Electric power washers.

Snow Blowers

Electric snow throwers.
Gas-powered, self-propelled snow blowers.

WEN’s Tools Quality: Are WEN Tools Any Good?

When it comes to power tools, quality is of the utmost importance. Should you invest your hard-earned money into WEN’s tools?

Although WEN’s tools are made in China and many people claim their tools are just rebranded versions of other tools, their quality is great.

WEN’s tools are highly rated by users, especially homeowners and DIYers. But it really depends on your use for the tool. If you’re a professional contractor, woodworker or serious enthusiast who uses your tools all day, every day, WEN’s tools may not live up to your quality standards.

WEN provides affordable power tools for everyday users, so their focus is not professionals.

In our opinion, that’s what really makes WEN stand out from the crowd. They design tools for the everyday homeowner or DIY user who needs an affordable tool.

Sure, an expensive planar from DeWalt may last a lifetime, but if you’re only using a planar a few times a year, do you need to invest in a professional-grade tool like this? Probably not. That’s where WEN comes in. Are these the highest quality tools you can buy? No. But they’re still great quality and will give you many years of use with proper care. They’re reliable enough to get you through most projects with ease.

Consumer Reviews

When evaluating any tool brand, it’s important to check consumer reviews. Reviews left by real users will give you important insight into the tool’s:

Quality.
Ease of use.
Performance.
Quirks.
Problems.

Although WEN isn’t on the same quality level as Makita or DeWalt, their reviews are outstanding.

We did some digging to look at consumer reviews on their power tools, air compressors, sanders, and other accessories. What we found was nearly all WEN tools had ratings of four stars or higher. Some tools had thousands of positive reviews.

Most users agree that WEN tools are an economical and reliable choice for homeowners and DIYers. An overwhelming majority of users would recommend the WEN brand, and many have had their tools for years.

Of course, most users also agree that these tools aren’t designed for professional use. But if you’re a professional contractor or woodworker, you probably aren’t looking at tools at this low of a price point.

Top 3 WEN Power Tools Review

As mentioned earlier, the company offers a wide range of power tools, but some are more popular than others. If you’re looking to expand your tool collection, we’re going to share three of the top WEN power tools.

1. WEN 4208 8 in. 5-Speed Drill Press

The WEN 4208 is compact yet powerful. It won’t take up much space on your workbench, but it still has the power to drill a 1/2″ hole through metal, plastic, wood and more.

A beveling function, heavy-duty design and locking depth adjustment make this drill press a great addition to any home workshop.

Features:

1/2-inch keyed chuck w/onboard key storage
Spindle travels up to 2-inch
Locking depth adjustment
Worktable bevels up to 45 degrees left and right
8-inch swing and 2-inch stroke

Specifications:

Motor: 1/3 HP induction motor.
5 speed options: 740 RPM, 1110 RPM, 1530 RPM, 2100 RPM and 3140 RPM.
Worktable height: 6-1/2″ x 6-1/2″.
Base: Cast iron.

The chuck accepts drill bits up to 1/2″ to accommodate a variety of DIY projects, and there’s also onboard key storage to ensure it’s always there when you need it. This model has an 8” swing and a 2” stroke for easy use.

The locking depth adjustment allows you to limit spindle travel for accurate, reliable drilling. The helpful gauge makes it easy to set your depth adjustment. To create angled holes, the worktable bevels 45 degrees left or right. Included slots allow for mounting vises and clamps.

We like that this tool has a cast iron base for true stability. The heavy-duty base prevents walking and wobbling during use.

The 1/3 HP induction motor delivers a smooth and balanced performance even when you’re using this drill press at high speeds.

Speaking of speed, the 4208 drill press has five speeds to choose from: 740, 1110, 1530, 2100 or 3140 RPM. It’s easy to adjust the speed to your needs, and having a wide variety allows you to work on a wide range of projects.

The only real complaint is that the chuck can be fickle at times. Some users complain that the chuck wobbles or falls off easily. But this is a common problem with drill presses, but WEN stands behind their products and will send replacement drills if you experience this problem.

2. WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer

WEN’s electric hand planer smooths away imperfections, splinters, misshapen edges and chips in your wood projects. Just like its name suggests, this is a compact hand planer, but it can still tackle tough jobs with ease.

Features:

16 adjustable cutting depths: 0 –1/8 inches
Can make rabbets up to 7/10 inch
Rabetting guide
Two HSS reversible blades
Includes a power planer, parallel fence bracket, and kickstand
Reversible dust chute

Specifications:

Motor: 6 amp; 120V; 60 Hz
Speed: 34,000 cuts per minute
Weight: 6 lbs.
Base: Cast iron

The 6-amp motor delivers 34,000 cuts per minute to ensure boards are smooth and properly aligned. WEN also makes it easy to square and fit boards, with a cutting depth of 1/8” and width of 3-1/4.” The 16 positive stops allow you to increase from 0 to 1/8” in 1/128” increments.

The shoe has a V-shaped groove for chamfering, which makes it easy to flatten board corners.

For added protection, WEN includes a built-in kickstand to prevent accidental blade-to-workpiece contact. There’s also a reversible dust chute that allows you to change the direction of the sawdust from left to right. WEN includes a dust bag that easily attaches to either side of the planer.

The dust bag fills pretty quickly, so be prepared to empty it often. Ideally, you should have a shop vac to make your life easier.

The biggest complaint with this planer is the noise. That’s a big problem with most planers. You’re smoothing and grinding wood, so you can’t expect the tool to be whisper-quiet. Get a good set of earplugs, and this shouldn’t be a problem.

3. WEN 3410 Air Filtration System

If you spend a lot of time in your workshop, it’s crucial to make sure that you’re breathing in clean air. Dust, debris, fuel emissions, and other pollutants can make your shop’s air hazardous to breathe.

WEN’s 3140 air filtration system helps keep your shop’s air clean by offering a three-speed operation and two filters to remove harmful particles from the air.

Features:

Circulates air in a 400 square foot space up to 7.5 times per hour
Three-speed operation: 300, 350 or 500 cubic feet per minute
Programmable timer
1-micron filter and one 5-micron pre-filter
Includes a remote control and installation hooks
Time delay feature

Specifications

Weight: 21 lbs.
Dimensions: 17” x 20.5” x 10”
Motor: 1/6 HP

WEN’s air filtration system is whisper-quiet, producing just 50-60 dB of noise. It also comes with a convenient remote control that works from up to 26 feet away. The remote makes it easy to switch between the three speeds: 300, 350 and 500 cubic feet per minute.

But what about the most important feature: the filters? WEN’s system uses a 5-micron outer filter to eliminate large dust particles, while the 1-micron filter eliminates the rest. Together, these two filters remove 99% of airborne particles and leave behind fresh, clean air.

A programmable timer allows you to run the system for a designated period of time (1, 2 or 4-hour time periods) before it shuts off automatically. The timer function is convenient for times when you may want to filter the air after you leave your shop, but don’t want to have to go back to turn the unit off.

We like that this filtration system is lightweight, so it’s easy to install. WEN includes four mounting hooks and wood screws for simple hanging. If you don’t want to hang the unit, you can use the onboard carrying handle to move it around and position it wherever you please.