Wen Band Saw Thoughts

[Robert Amato]

What do you guys think of this Wen 2 speed bandsaw?
Looking to stay in this price range and have had good experiences with Wen products.
I've looked at the portaband options but I'm liking the looks of this better. Price is better as well seeing as how it comes with stand. Portaband I would be buying the SWAG stand which would put it near the $400 range. What are your thoughts or experiences?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-3-5...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CL3aydzhpN0CFY_awAodKa8Nmg

 

[stephanfowler]

I have one, it's not terrible but I wish I had sprung for a bit higher quality ymmv.

the tracking is sketchy due to the quality of the pivot being a bit sloppy - luckily I have machine tools and can make a new better one.

 

[Robert Amato]

I have one, it's not terrible but I wish I had sprung for a bit higher quality ymmv.

the tracking is sketchy due to the quality of the pivot being a bit sloppy - luckily I have machine tools and can make a new better one.

Thanks, good to know

 

[Robert Amato]

I have one, it's not terrible but I wish I had sprung for a bit higher quality ymmv.

the tracking is sketchy due to the quality of the pivot being a bit sloppy - luckily I have machine tools and can make a new better one.

Any thoughts on what you would get if you got another?

 

[stephanfowler]

Any thoughts on what you would get if you got another?

I would have spent the extra on a Jet I think, my brother has one and it has always performed beautifully

 

[Joshua Fisher]

First of all what are you planning on cutting with the saw? I ask because I see you mentioned a portaband so I’m guessing you are wanting to use it for cutting metal as well as scale material, if that is the case the wen saw will not work for you. The saw does not run slow enough to cut steel.

 

[Randy3000]

I went the portaband route. I think the swag tables are way overpriced, though i have heard nothing but good about them. I built this setup at no cost (other than the saw). I unscrewed the unnecessary hook off the saw and screwed it to a 2x3, made some brackets out of angle, made a simple electric box, and that was it. The bottom clamp turned out to be unnecessary, so i just leave it off (i wind the string around the trigger and around the lower block and that ties the saw at the bottom and holds it stable). If i want a portaband again, all i do is swap out tables, undo one clamp, unwind string holding the trigger down, and take the saw off the holder. I polycrylic'd the plywood table.

A bandsaw is not a precision piece of equipment, it dont have to be fancy to do the job.

 

[Drew Riley]

If you’re mainly looking to cut metal, I’d look for a used horizontal/vertical band saw. Some even come with a table, though those are easy enough to make if not. I found a used wellsaw for $250 just down the road from me a few years back. I use that thing constantly. I also have a vertically mounted porta-band that I have about $50 or $60 put into. Between the two saws, I cut just about anything and everything imagineable.

 

[Robert Amato]

First of all what are you planning on cutting with the saw? I ask because I see you mentioned a portaband so I’m guessing you are wanting to use it for cutting metal as well as scale material, if that is the case the wen saw will not work for you. The saw does not run slow enough to cut steel.

I actually figured that out a bit ago, I so yeah that's off the table. I will be using almost solely for metal and scale materials. Open to any suggestions around the $400 or less range

 

[Robert Amato]

If you’re mainly looking to cut metal, I’d look for a used horizontal/vertical band saw. Some even come with a table, though those are easy enough to make if not. I found a used wellsaw for $250 just down the road from me a few years back. I use that thing constantly. I also have a vertically mounted porta-bad that I honk I have about $50 or $60 put into. Between the two saws, I cut just about anything and everything imagineable.

I have been looking into a few of the horizontal/vertical models now, looks like one of those or a portaband setup might be the way to go.

 

[Joshua Fisher]

Harbor freight makes a horizontal/vertical metal bandsaw that actually looks pretty nice for about 260. I’ve been thinking about getting that one myself for cutting metal.

 

[Drew Riley]

Harbor freight makes a horizontal/vertical metal bandsaw that actually looks pretty nice for about 260. I’ve been thinking about getting that one myself for cutting metal.

A lot of knife makers have that saw, and out of the box, it's plenty decent. I don't think it comes with a table (CORRECTION: IT DOES), but again, those aren't hard to make.
Not sure where OP lives, but around here I see quite a few horizontal bandsaws go up for sale. Most are $400 or less, and occasionally you'll see a really nice machine for what the price of a new HF horizontal goes for.

Speaking of HarborFreight, the porta-band gets decent reviews as well, though, again, for what it goes for new, you could probably find a decent used Milwaukee or Dewalt.

 

[Joshua Fisher]

A lot of knife makers have that saw, and out of the box, it's plenty decent. I don't think it comes with a table, but again, those aren't hard to make.

Actually I believe it does come with a table for vertical use, it’s listed in the parts list of what comes with the saw unless I’m missreading something.

 

[Drew Riley]

Actually I believe it does come with a table for vertical use, it’s listed in the parts list of what comes with the saw unless I’m missreading something.

So it does. Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think the older models always came with one, and many of the used saws I see popping up from time to time seem to not have one with them. There's definitely one listed in the latest user manual though.

If OP has a HF nearby, that's certainly something to look into. They have coupons all the time up to 25% off, though the bandsaws may be excluded. I'm not sure. It also looks like WEN offers basically the exact same saw with their colors and labels attached, for about $300 on Amazon (which is probably just factoring in shipping costs). Looks like Home Depot prices it at $265, and if I'm not mistaken, they ship free between stores for pickup.
If you're looking for best bang for the buck, new in the box, I'd say that's pretty tough to beat for a metal saw with any real capacity. I kow I use my horizontal bandsaw more for non-knife related projects than anything these days, and couldn't see NOT having one anymore.

If you do go that route, toss the blade that comes with it in the garbage and get a decent blade from Morse or Starrett. Should run you about $20 to $40 give or take, depending on what you go with. Follow proper break in procedure for your blades as well. It DOES make a difference.

 

[Robert Amato]

So it does. Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think the older models always came with one, and many of the used saws I see popping up from time to time seem to not have one with them. There's definitely one listed in the latest user manual though.

If OP has a HF nearby, that's certainly something to look into. They have coupons all the time up to 25% off, though the bandsaws may be excluded. I'm not sure. It also looks like WEN offers basically the exact same saw with their colors and labels attached, for about $300 on Amazon (which is probably just factoring in shipping costs). Looks like Home Depot prices it at $265, and if I'm not mistaken, they ship free between stores for pickup.
If you're looking for best bang for the buck, new in the box, I'd say that's pretty tough to beat for a metal saw with any real capacity. I kow I use my horizontal bandsaw more for non-knife related projects than anything these days, and couldn't see NOT having one anymore.

If you do go that route, toss the blade that comes with it in the garbage and get a decent blade from Morse or Starrett. Should run you about $20 to $40 give or take, depending on what you go with. Follow proper break in procedure for your blades as well. It DOES make a difference.

Thanks, the Wen looks like what I’m going to be going with. They have it in stock at my local Home Depot. I will also look into the blades you suggested as well.

 

[Drew Riley]

Another quick note: Blade TPI... Ideally, you want to have 3-4 teeth in the material at any given time, so if you cut a lot of thin material, get a blade with the highest TPI you can find (for metal blades, 24 TPI is the highest you'll likely find, though 18 TPI is most common in general)

If you're planning on cutting larger stock ever, I like to have a low TPI on hand as well.

Lenox also makes some really good blades, BTW.

 

[Robert Amato]

Another quick note: Blade TPI... Ideally, you want to have 3-4 teeth in the material at any given time, so if you cut a lot of thin material, get a blade with the highest TPI you can find (for metal blades, 24 TPI is the highest you'll likely find, though 18 TPI is most common in general)

If you're planning on cutting larger stock ever, I like to have a low TPI on hand as well.

Lenox also makes some really good blades, BTW.

Thanks good information! I’m new to this so all this information is very helpful. I will mostly be cutting 3/16”-1/4”, and sometimes moving up to the 5/16”-3/8” range.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I would be looking at Jet, or Grizzly depending on budget. Then get a small horizontal/vertical metal cutting saw & a 14" wood cutting saw.

 

[Busto]

Thanks good information! I’m new to this so all this information is very helpful. I will mostly be cutting 3/16”-1/4”, and sometimes moving up to the 5/16”-3/8” range.

This 2 speed saw is for cutting WOOD....You will ruin the blade in 20 seconds cutting STEEL...Wood cutting cutting saws run high speed like this one 1500 -2200 fpm a Steel cutting saw runs 80-300 fpm VERY VERY VERY SLOW!!!!

 

[Drew Riley]

He’s looking at the WEN horizontal metal cutting bandsaw now.

This 2 speed saw is for cutting WOOD....You will ruin the blade in 20 seconds cutting STEEL...Wood cutting cutting saws run high speed like this one 1500 -2200 fpm a Steel cutting saw runs 80-300 fpm VERY VERY VERY SLOW!!!!