Wen Cordless Track Saw Review and Rebuttal
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- čas přidán 31. 01. 2024
- I have had the corded WEN tracks off for quite a while now. A few months ago I purchased the cordless model After Matt @731 woodworks recommended it. The biggest issue I see with this saw is that it goes out of stock as fast as they get them. I was able to purchase it right when Matt first recommended it. My friend was wanting one and when I went back and looked, they did not have anymore for sale. Every so often, I will see that they do have more in stock. In the manual, it shows it's supposed to come with a dual battery charger. The one I received and the one that Matt received both had a single battery charger. However, one of the good things about WEN is they sell all the parts for their tools at a reasonable price. I was able to purchase a dual battery charger for $29. I did 3D print a couple of battery holders that I designed. I will post them up on printables and put a link below if you want one.
WEN Cordless 6.5-Inch Track Saw, Brushless with Variable Speed, Two 20V Max 4.0 Ah Batteries, and Charger
amzn.to/48P0OPv
WEN 20V Max 2.3-Amp Dual Port Lithium-Ion Battery Charger with USB Ports
amzn.to/3HJwGsQ
Battery Holders
www.printables.com/model/7475...
WEN CT1065 10-Amp 6.5-Inch
amzn.to/3gapRWC
WEN CT1272 12-Amp 7-1/4-Inch
amzn.to/3EIBjDh
Powertec 71387 55" Guide Rail
Best deal 2-Rails and Connectors currently $109
amzn.to/3Vv2rf6
Auto Vacuum Switch
amzn.to/3yFDT9m - Jak na to + styl
Thanks for what I consider to be an honest review from a guy who clearly uses his tools, not just yaks about them. As for Wen I still use a Wen string trimmer I bought new in 1974.
I think WEN is a very underrated tool company. I have been happy with every tool I have got from them. I don't know why I don't buy more of them.
I used my cordless track saw for the first time a couple days ago. All I have to say is WOW. Fantastic. It is almost like how have I done wood working for 30 years without this gem. Best money I have spent in a long time.
I never had even heard of a track saw until a couple of years ago. I was a my daughters house last month and bought her one. Unless you are doing rough framing, a track saw makes a circular saw obsolete.
Great review, appreciate your honesty and insight!!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the thoughtful review based on your thorough use of the saw.
Thanks for watching!
Great review, a big help in my decision process as to which way to go in a track saw purchase. Nice to meet you in person. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, you too!
Excellent video Great work. I have the corded WEN and WEN tracks for a long time love it and will look into battery powered.
Because I use a vacuum when cutting inside I don't see a lot of benefit over the corded saw. It is great when I am outside and don't have the vacuum attached.
I did see 731's video. You did a great job on the rebuttal video. I'm subbed to yours and 731's channel and enjoy both channels content. Thanks for a very good video.
Thanks and welcome
Thanks for you thorough review, it is clear that you have had a lot of experience with these Wen track saws. The main issue that I have with 731 Woodworks is that it is no longer a woodworking channel. It is mostly a tool review/advertisement channel and he makes money by putting out reviews often and quickly . So his tool reviews suffer because of this.
It is challenging, especially if video creation is one's primary source of income. I may be losing money on CZcams overall. However, even as a hobby, I sometimes struggle to strike a balance between reviews and builds. Reviews tend to attract more viewers than builds. Companies are generous in sending out tools. However, once a tool is accepted, creating a review video takes time away from building projects. Matt's success is well-deserved, but I believe he may have had a negative impression of the saw even before opening the box, which could have influenced its performance in the review. Every comment I have received from individuals who have used this saw has been positive, praising its performance. I do not believe it was intentional, but this is a potential consequence of reviewing a tool without prior experience with that tool.
@@ShopRamblings thanks for replying. I understand how he makes his money and I honestly do not dislike his videos/channel. It is what it is. In general most review videos on CZcams are really more advertising than thorough reviews. This is especially true as the channels gain popularity. It's an unfortunate consequence.
I bought the Wen cordless track saw , I love it
Me too!!
Thanks for the review! I have had the corded Wen track saw with Wen tracks for almost a year now and still love it. I saw the 731 video on this and was surprised at his results and comments. Thanks for showing how well the 40V system works!
If you have a preconceived notion, you can make it happen. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the depth stop by making several comments about it. The paint job was not flawless, he could not reach it with his finger, and it lacked detent. Unsurprisingly, it failed. When filming, one can make a tool appear good or bad. I believe that when conducting a review, one should strive to be impartial.
@@ShopRamblings
Exactly!!
Congratulations on your 10k subscribers. I really enjoyed your review of this WEN cordless track saw. I'm looking to purchase a "budget friendly" track saw, and I had pretty much settled on the WEN cordless. Then I saw Matt's review yesterday, which made me have second thoughts. But after seeing your rebuttal review today, clarifying and correcting many of his comments, I'm back "on track" with WEN. I really enjoy your channel. Thank you again for sharing.
I don't moderate my comments. You can read every comment that has been posted by others about this saw. Everyone has been positive so far. I thought at least a few people would say I was wrong and that Matt was right, but so far, I haven't had a single one. The corded model is great for inside the shop because you're going to have a dust collection hose connected anyway. Sometimes I'll break full sheets down outside before I bring them into the shop, and that's when the cordless model really shines because I don't use dust collection outside. 🛠️✨
I have the same saw and love it. I cut 2” hard maple with and got a good square cut.
Yeah... it is not the saw. The saw cuts great.
I appreciate a tool review from an actual user of tools. Although I like 731Woodworks, I feel that he has abandoned his original channel concept and concentrates too much on "tool testing" from companies who supply the tools for him to test. Keep doing what you're doing. Providing honest use and reviews of tools!
I would prefer to create only project videos. However, the CZcams algorithm tends to favor review videos, resulting in significantly higher viewership. Recently, there was a discussion in Matt's Facebook group where he expressed his frustration regarding this issue. As someone who relies on CZcams for a living, I can understand why his channel's content has shifted. Similarly, my channel has undergone changes as well. While it is unethical to promote a subpar tool positively solely for financial gain, it is equally wrong to disparage a quality product just to capitalize on sensationalist keywords like "brutal review" for the sake of views.
Most of Matt’s videos he discloses whether he bought the tool or if it was sent to him. I would say the majority he paid for out of pocket.
Also he has addressed the issue already where project videos don’t perform as well as tool reviews
Very well done review. I saw Matt’s review as well. I use the corded Wen track saw and I’m an old retired cabinet maker. Drew at Wittworks did track saw reviews and his take was he liked the Wen 40volt for the power and value. He felt it was more powerful than the corded. I put a thin kerf blade on mine and it cuts so much more easier now
If you have a preconceived notion before opening the box you will made a video showing it. If you use the tool because you need it you will quickly figure out if it is good or not. When Ryobi sent out their track saw to the big channels they were all saying how good it was. I bought one and seen how poorly it was designed. Drew was the only person at the time that had the same opinion. As an old retired cabinet maker at what skill level do you think a person should be to know not to rip 2" walnut with a fine tooth blade?
Excellent review I saw Matt’s too and agree with you. Looks to be a very good value. I had decided to buy the Kreg track saw but now I’m rethinking.
WEN Tools refers to this saw as a 20V tool on its website.
Yes, it is indeed part of their 20v Max product line. However, the manual does specify that it operates at 40v. This is the reason why it requires two batteries to function.
Same, same and same. Well done.
Thanks
Great review, and to be completely transparent, I have both saws and see NONE of the issues 731 showed. I will say that on thick lumber if you're trying to push through the cut you can cause the saw and any saw for that matter to defect. But if you're allowing the blade to do its job, then you're not going to have the issues. I do run the 5.0 AH batteries on my saw, and for $30.00 I did buy the dual station charger. Anyhow great review of a really good tool!
Most individuals utilize the saw for plywood. It is shipped with a fine tool blade. If you wish to rip thick hardwood, it is advisable to attach a rip blade. The depth stop slipped because he was applying excessive force. It was evident that there was light visible at the top and bottom of his cut. The saw is not designed to make round cuts. If you intend to create a brutal review, it would be more appropriate to make a brutally honest review.
Just ordered corded version with their track plus 2 clamps. Will use it to break down sheeting mostly. I wondered about the dual battery using only one. Makes sense that would cause issues.
It is like the Makita 36volt. It connects the batteries inside the tool to double the voltage.
There’s nothing wrong with telling it how it is or having an opinion. And just because most CZcamsrs are using festool doesn’t mean we have to if you find a tool for a great price and it does the work that you want it to that’s a win. I’ve always enjoyed your no bullshit review love what you do and dig your channel keep doing what your doing it’s great content
Comments like these are the reason why I create videos. It is challenging because it requires time away from my primary work, but the positive feedback I receive is far more fulfilling than my actual job. Perhaps one day, I can follow in Matt's footsteps and pursue this as a full-time career.
I have the corded Wen tracksaw. Bought it through the orange store. Won't make that mistake again, but the saw works great. Wish I'd gotten the 110" track, the 100" is just too short. Frankly, I have no idea why they offer the shorter track. Otherwise, I'm perfectly satisfied.
I wish I could get the 116" one piece track but everyone charges as much for shipping as the track cost.
Good video. To be fair, Matt demonstrated that the saw cannot not run with 1 battery, so he actually wasn't running it under-powered on a single battery.
I agree with you on the kickback issue. His contention regarding riving knives being necessary on track saws is simply incorrect, and I posted a comment saying as much on his video. My Makita doesn't have one, and I've never had any issue with any kickback. The Makita is a wonderful tool.
Grats on 10K subscribers! 👍
This is the same as the Makita XPS02ZU. They claim it's 36 volts, but all these cordless tools use the same 18650 cells. The difference between 18-volt and 20-volt tools is just marketing. It won't run with just one battery. He tried it with only the top battery and only the bottom battery, but the circuit protector blocked it. It shows he doesn't know much about the tool he's showing to his half a million subscribers. Many of them will believe him and keep spreading these misconceptions.
@@ShopRamblings Yes, I understand how cells work. Each cell is 6 volts and the number of cells determines the total voltage of the battery be it 12, 18, 24, or 36. Any claim that any companies make that they are 20V tools is a lie. IMO, it's not just marketing. At best it's false advertising, and at worst it's fraud. When tools use multiple batteries the false claim becomes significantly exaggerated. Any tool that claims to be 40V is actually 36V, but the claim misleads the uninformed that it is a more powerful tool.
I'm also aware that a 36 volt tool will not run on 18 volts. Matt seemed to be under the impression that it was an 18 (20) volt tool, and that the dual batteries are intended to increase run time. He got that wrong. I don't disagree with you on that point either.
However, at @6:30 in your video you said, "I don't know if some of the problems Matt may have had was because he only put one battery in, and was trying to operate this way under voltage."
To be fair to him that didn't happen. As we agree that a 36/40 volt tool won't run on 18/20 volts it actually isn't even possible for him to have done that. The only time he had one battery in was when he was demonstrating that it wouldn't run on 1, and had to have 2 to work. All the problems he had with the saw occurred with both installed.
Matt obviously got a few things wrong in his review, but running it under voltage wasn't one of them.
I own the WEN CT1272 7-1/4" corded track saw. It came out after your 6-1/2" corded saw, upgraded substantially from that. The 1272 appears to be identical to the new cordless 6-1/2" version in design, excepting only the blade size and its greater power & cutting depth. My 1272 is an excellent, sturdy saw that I believe is the sweet spot for less expensive track saws ($280 right now on Amazon cp. to $260 for the cordless saw w/ batteries & 1 charger). My experience with it is as satisfactory as is yours with the others, and I also questioned Matt's findings. I keep suggesting he review the 1272. I respect his work too, but have to agree with your more objective and longer user experience.
I have given some thought to purchasing the 7 1/4-inch saw. If my memory serves me correctly, it has a standard-sized arbor. I seldom require the ability to make long, straight cuts that exceed two inches in depth. Should the need arise for another saw, I will likely opt for the 7 1/4-inch model.
@@ShopRamblings It does. And it's depth of cut is only 3/8" more. But it it has a stronger 12 amp motor. One can also cover or plug the hole in the guard to reduce flying sawdust on any track saw.
I might print a plug for it, but it really isn't that bad.
This is really helpful, thank you. I'm only really seeing the CT1274 available, any idea about the difference, maybe just a revision on the CT1272?
@@stevefifield1207 My apologies. I apparently own the WEN **CT1274** corded 7-1/4" track saw! Repeated slaps from a fish &/or wet noodle commencing.
He used both batteries. He definitely said there is no way to actually run it with only one battery. Other than that, after watching this im absolutely buying this
Yes, he said he tried with the upper battery and tried with the lower battery. It won't work without both. You can see all the comments on this video. Every person that was use this saw seems to love it.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have never owned a track saw but would find it very useful for various projects. I want a corded saw so that I don’t have to worry about battery cost and charging, and I do all my work from my garage anyway. I’m between the when 12 amp and the Makita corded saw. Wen is $150 for the saw and makita is $400. I’d probably get the power tech 110” rails for either saw so that’s a wash. My question is, I know the makita is a higher quality saw, but is it worth the extra $250?? I saw Matt’s review and got nervous because I don’t want a track saw that doesn’t cut square, but seems like you have had a better experience with that? Thanks for any advice you can give!
Great video do you know the link for the power tec track saw. Thanks
I added links from my review video to the comment section. I hope one of them is what you are looking for.
Great review, and as someone that watched Matt's review, I don't think you did any disservice to him at all!
I am curious, beyond it being cordless, and the ergonomics of the handle, do you feel like the cordless version is a definitive upgrade over the corded one? I have been thinking about getting the WEN, but really do not want to add another battery platform to the 5 different ones I have already... LOL but if it is a substantially better saw, or if the freedom of no cord is just that much better, I would look into it.
In my personal opinion, the corded model performs similarly. The primary advantage of this model is its cordless feature. When working in my shop, I connect a vacuum hose, making the difference negligible. However, the cordless feature proves particularly beneficial when I use the tool outdoors. #cordlesspower #DIYprojects #workshoplife
Great review. You’ll get no hating from me. I don’t own a WEN track saw and probably won’t. When I bought my saw, WEN didn’t have theirs out yet. I bought the Makita on a screaming black Friday sale. In my comments on 731, I disagreed with Matt about the batteries and the riving knife. My Makita is similar in that sense and like you, I haven’t had any issues with kickback.
I think the WEN is modeled after the Makita. I would like to get one to compare them.
Hmm, as of Feb 1st, 2024 @10:45pm there are 16 views recorded on the video but there are 106 dislikes, how is that even possible?
I anticipated receiving criticism, and while it doesn't personally affect me, I'm concerned it may limit CZcams's ability to share the info with a wider audience. Many viewers rely on accurate information to make informed decisions, and I fear misinformation may prevent them from accessing valuable knowledge. 🌐 #InformationAccuracy #SharingKnowledge #CZcamsCommunity
@@ShopRamblings This is so unfair to you. It looks like someone is sabotaging your video with hundreds of dislikes, which shouldn't be possible with the amount of cumulative views I see.
But then again, I am basing that view on the info I see on my page and not what you would see in your analytics dashboard.
It is all good. I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion. That is why I do not moderate the comments. It is amusing that there is not a single negative comment. My channel has over a 98% like rate. Matt has a large following. I am certain he would not approve of this behavior. I sleep well knowing I always make a point to say this is my opinion and never say anyone else is wrong. I simply state that I disagree, but that seems to be too much for some.
Those statistics are unreliable at best, particularly the "dislike(s)" which are only visible if you install a 3rd party plugin and it 'guesses' what the dislike ratio is based off input from the users of the plugin. Views themselves aren't instantly updated. There are videos on this too.
Their website states its a 20v saw so maybe just a safety feature.
It is in their 20v Max line. The manual said it runs on 40v.
To be honest the last thing I'm worried about with a track saw is kick back it needs to bind to kick and the track stops that, I know of no one that has had kick back...the problem I heard with this saw is it's no good for anything other then plywood...however you seemed to prove otherwise...
I have never tried to cut anything that it couldn't.
If the person you're talking used one battery... YES... definitely would change your cutting.
I dont know the reviewer your talking about but I am surprised that this unit worked with one battery?!?!?
It didn't work with one battery. He was disappointed it didn't work with one.
I have used the cordless Wen almost every day in my shop for the last 6 months and I am getting the same results as this Video. I spent approx $200 for saw, extra blade, batteries and the 110" track. Most of my wood working friends have the Festool and spent almost $900 to basically get the same results I am getting. I guess its a matter of opinion, but most agree That I made a good choice. I guess they have the bragging rights though LOL.
I am not saying the more expensive tools are not nicer. I am just saying when you deliver the finished product to the client they can't tell the difference in between if you used the WEN or a more expensive saw. If you can afford, and want a fancier tool that is great. I just felt compelled to make this video after seeing him see this saw wouldn't cut thick material. I have had many people comment that they do and 100% of them same the saw does a great job.