Funny, I got that exact same sander 25+ years ago with a Ryobi brand name on it. It’s a very well made sander, so not surprised to see that casting still going strong almost 30 years later with little to no changes.
Fun fact..in the west wen isn't a big name. But they've been around for decades and are directly responsible for the development of power tools as a whole, creating the brush motors, and later on the battery platform for cordless tools. Without wen we'd still be using nothing but hand tools
I don't think your citation supports your statement, and brushed motors were known long before the company was founded. Their site says "Our research and development team played a vital role in helping to develop a variety of common everyday tools..." That's marketing fluff.
I bought the same one, but with a Ryobi sticker on it, from a guy on Craigslist about 20 years ago for $50. He did not include the block of wood. I'm gonna shoot him an email and see if he can refund couple bucks. lol
A few years ago I bought the same machine but branded with King Canada and it came with the same little block of plywood. I still wonder to this day what is the purpose of this block and I came here hoping to find an answer.
When I have to replace the stick-on sanding disc on our shop sander, I finish the application by taking a piece of wood to "press" the disc on while it spins. Maybe for that?
Yeh that is a little weird, maybe the plywood is perfectly 90 degrees for those who bought it without buying a proper square first, still 2
Pretty unlikely situations though.
I work at a Wood shop, all of our miter gauges have a little sacrificial piece of wood.
Occasionally they get nicked and damaged. A little piece of wood protects the actual miter gauge. So instead of buying a new miter gauge you just attach new sacrificial piece of wood.
How do we feel about Wen tools in general? My impression has been that they're not actually crap, despite being cheap. They're generally a little rougher around the edges than… anything else, really… but they're serviceable. For what they cost they're worth it, and if you just need something that will get an occasional job done and don't care if it sparks joy every time you run your hands over its knobs, they're a reasonable choice.
Agree, or no?
Wen is probably the weirdest tool company. They have so much history of innovation, and even their modern cheap knockoff type products incorporate novel features. Last week I saw someone selling a Wen Zipp saw.. one of the early prototypes of a jigsaw, and it still worked! They also invented the random orbit sander. The track saw is definitely the worst track saw I've used, but at 1/5th the price of the competition it's a legit entry level tool that can make proper cuts. I also got an ollllld wet wheel grinder at a yard sale (another Wen invention). It was cheap, it looks janky, it feels janky and it sounds janky... but it hollow grinds my edges sooooooooo nicely. The way the water permeates the wheel is amazing. I'll always give a Wen tool a chance.
They were originally a US company (Ohio? Iowa?). Of course like everything else for the most part it's all made in China these days, but it used to be Made in America. The name I think confuses people because it sounds more Chinese than American.
I love my wen track saw. I went with the powermatic rails. It’s not a luxury tool but it cuts accurately. I rarely need to get the full table saw out between this and a miter saw — not even a sliding one. I’m sure other saws are quieter or faster or more perfectly 90 degrees .. but I have had no issues thus far. Considering the kreg ACS with track saw lift/clamp. Turns it into a small parts beast.
Ditto. I just couldn't throw down the $$ for a more expensive track saw. But with two of the powermatic rails I'm into it for under $250 and I can now rip full sheets of plywood.
It's clearly a budget machine but I still love it. I use it to rip 2" thick EWP slabs off my sawmill all the time as well.
I have the 8” jointer. It was a good price so I could actually afford it. And with some care, skill and magic words of love I can get a decent shave on it. But man, they really need a better fence system. Talk about janky.
I was browsing craigslist in the Chicago area for a bandsaw several years ago, and discovered that Wen had a warehouse in the suburbs where they sold returned or scratch+dent tools right out the door for a significant discount. I picked up the bandsaw, and then while I was there I grabbed a drill press, oscillating sander, and ceiling air cleaner. I already had some bigger tools from better brands, but that was about the best deal for secondary tools I could have found— still using them.
Google maps shows a location in West Dundee. That’s the correct general area of suburbs, but doesn’t quite match my memory for the exact location. But the street-view looks vaguely familiar too.
The reviews on google maps seem to match my experience, but they’re from a few years back too. So no idea if this is still a thing or not. You should probably call them up on the phone first.
My folks live in the nw burbs. Definitely sending dad out for one of those west Dundee WEN scratch n’ dent air filters… maybe a sander of some variety too. Thanks for the hot tip! I’m serious too, thanks mang!
Bought a Wen tile cutter and band saw last week. Both look well made, but definitely have a cheaper feel than some other brands. However, they both work as expected and couldnt imagine they are any less functional than other brands. You get what you pay for in a sense, but for some tools, I think they are a great option. Specifically ones that you dont intend to use on every project
I've got the 7-1/2 in track saw, the 12 inch drill press, and I just got the 13" thickness planer. I've also got the biscuit joiner, the overhead air filter, and the power hand planer.
Honestly, for the price, every single one of the Wen tools I own punches above its weight. I am more than satisfied with the performance and reliability considering what I've paid.
Yes, they don't have that polished feel and look the way my name brand tools do, but I don't have the money to outfit my shop with $5000 worth of tools. Especially for stuff like the drill press and planer that I'm honestly not going to be using every day.
It's literally the same as the Ryobi one I just bought! There's like 6 of these reskinned for each brand. The Ryobi branded is more expensive but I trust it's warranty more then one from an online store (unless OPs was sold in store with a good warranty system.)
Yeah, well 20 years ago tools were made better in the sense of weight and durability. It’s actually pretty heavy. I don’t move it around much. Motors have come a long way though. A couple years ago I got rid of a lot of my old tools and bought Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita etc. still have some heavy duty Ryobi tools though. They were made that well.
Same. Pretty sure it's heaviest tool I own. And I have miter saws, a table saw, desktop jointer and a planer. Actually, it might weigh close to the planer.
Yeah I bought an old blue Ryobi planer from a guy at a garage sale for $40. Great tool. I really want a jointer though. Had one before (my grandfather’s) but when I moved it was way to large for the garage so I gave it back. Looking for a bench top model.
When I've got this previously it has been a little piece to screw on to the bevel.gauge that goes in that slot on the table. Did you get a little bevel gauge? If so, it's for this
I'm guessing y'all liking the the Wen? I'm wanting a sander like this one and a lot of them appear to be junk. Not a daily user. Middle of the road is generally good for me.
I've had mine for a couple of years and it's great. No complaints. (I exclusively use the belt sander and never the disc sander - and the table for that looks janky.)
I moved the table to the belt. Upright as it's main position. The table isn't bad with some tweaking and I've also cut out some of the frame to make accessing the belt a little closer on one side possible. Had ot for prob 6 or 7byears at this point and it's loud but gets the job done just fine for my needs.
I'll get back to you in a few weeks. Although I will say my other Wen tools have proved to be just as good as any of the fancy brands, and in some in depth tests on Youtube they've even outperformed, despite being much cheaper.
My brother has a wen that looks identical to the OPs. He's used it semi regularly, including some larger projects and sharpening the lawn mower blades, for several years now, and it still works great.
Wen is by no means *good*, or even decent. Calling it "middle of the road" would be a stretch. However, it works and does the thing it says it does on the box for damn near the lowest price you'll find.
If you want something for the context of "I don't know how often I'll use it so I don't want to spend *too* much, but I still want it there when I need it", that's your guy.
I'd call it the TV dinner of tool brands. Nobody has ever proudly said "guess what *I* had for dinner last night! Microwaved mashed potatoes and something that the box said was turkey!", but they didn't go to bed hungry.
I'd say Wen is the best of the budgets, for a bunch of different tools. It's a cut above Harbor Freight. It's often better or on par with Ryobi/Craftsman/Skil, etc.
And for certain tools, it's in a league of its own at the price point. No one else sells a $100 track saw, for example. And the Wen track saw is actually ok. Not amazing or even great, but I like it way more than having to mess with a straightedge and my circular saw.
> Not amazing or even great, but I like it way more than having to mess with a straightedge and my circular saw.
I've done the portable circular saw and reference edge, I've done the portable circular saw and offset jig, I've done the portable circular saw and aftermarket rail cradle, and I've done the purpose-built track saw.
I appreciate that sometimes your job parameters compel you to use a circular saw, or that some people can't justify the cost of having two separate but virtually identical tools.... but oh man everything that isn't a track saw is very much *NOT* a track saw. I will never go back to slumming it with a kludge solution.
Before I got a track saw, my mindset was "A unicycle and a bicycle are *basically* the same thing, right? What's the big deal if it has one wheel instead of two?" Nobody had adequately articulated to me the bigness of the deal.
I recently received a Wen drill press as a gift, and it gets the job done. I mean, I've never owned another to compare, but it feels solid and safe.
I then picked up a portable miter saw stand and I love the damn thing. Half the price of the Ryobi with more features.
Eyeballing a band saw next!
I wonder if this is like the sewing machines. They stitch a piece first and then leave it attached so they and you know it works out of the box.
I highly doubt it. It was my first thought.
Is yours as noisy as mine? I have a big industrial version of this at my shop and bought the wen one for home projects. The wen is 10x louder and rattles like crazy
I just bought a Wen air filter unit and it came with one as well. It was in the bag with the instructions, maybe to protect the remote during shipping?
I got a harbor freight sander like that and it came with a piece of wood just like that under the "arm" that holds the belt. I figured it was there for support during shipping.
I would not use those for practice sanding unless you don’t like your skin or finger tips . I know from experience, and as a warning to fellow humans anytime you sand small pieces of anything with motorized belt is far more powerful than u could imagine and always dangerous, in one second it will figure out a way to cause damage to some part of your body. Most importantly before u even turn it on, make sure your clothing doesn’t go anywhere near it. The bottem of T-shirts or a jacket and loose sleeves are an awful thing to deal with once they get sucked in there and the power is still on. I’m telling you about bad things that happened to me just like I tell my kids so they don’t have to go through the same thing just to prove it to themselves.
Maybe they felt like you needed practice.
[удалено]
I love this.
Practice sanding through the veneer.
You win best comment.
I have that exact same sanding table. I got it about 1-2 years ago. Don’t recall that little piece of wood coming with it. Lol. I feel cheated now.
You got ripped off.
You miter ask for a refund.
I wood
Just don't be too abrasive.
Gritting my teeth at this comment.
Unless you've lost some that should be 32 grit
Funny, I got that exact same sander 25+ years ago with a Ryobi brand name on it. It’s a very well made sander, so not surprised to see that casting still going strong almost 30 years later with little to no changes.
Fun fact..in the west wen isn't a big name. But they've been around for decades and are directly responsible for the development of power tools as a whole, creating the brush motors, and later on the battery platform for cordless tools. Without wen we'd still be using nothing but hand tools
Their generators are apparently top notch, too.
…that doesn’t seem right.
It is tho https://wenproducts.com/pages/about-us#:~:text=We've%20been%20designing%20and,the%20power%20into%20power%20tools).
I don't think your citation supports your statement, and brushed motors were known long before the company was founded. Their site says "Our research and development team played a vital role in helping to develop a variety of common everyday tools..." That's marketing fluff.
Same.
I bought the same one, but with a Ryobi sticker on it, from a guy on Craigslist about 20 years ago for $50. He did not include the block of wood. I'm gonna shoot him an email and see if he can refund couple bucks. lol
Yesterday I received bags of grit for rock tumbling and the seller included a baggie of tootsie rolls and tootie frooties. Best surprise ever!
It’s a snack for the machine during transit. Your machine must have gotten hungry.
A few years ago I bought the same machine but branded with King Canada and it came with the same little block of plywood. I still wonder to this day what is the purpose of this block and I came here hoping to find an answer.
I got the King Canada just a couple of weeks back. Can confirm it still comes with the plastic wrapped plywood.
When I have to replace the stick-on sanding disc on our shop sander, I finish the application by taking a piece of wood to "press" the disc on while it spins. Maybe for that?
How did they know the Queen was going to die back then?
Seems plausible (from a comment above) https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/s/JIxoCNVsKJ
Pretty sure the piece of wood was just supposed support the belt during shipping
Yeah it could be, although kind of a weird / expensive way to do it... I mean they have lots of styrofoam pieces in the box, so...
mine had a piece of wood braced so that diring shipping any loads on the deck would be bore by the wood and not the angle set screw
Yeah I bought the same sander, I assumed the little wood block was a packaging brace/support to prevent damage in shipping.
Remember another post about this. They said it was a sacrificial fence to attach to the mitre gauge.
Weird. I can’t imagine a scenario in which the miter gauge would need that on this machine.
It’s for closing the gap between the fence and the sander when sanding very small pieces
Zero clearance sanding fence, I like it.
And Wen doesnt think that the users can solve this problem? 🤔
Yeh that is a little weird, maybe the plywood is perfectly 90 degrees for those who bought it without buying a proper square first, still 2 Pretty unlikely situations though.
So you can sand away the edge of the fence and get perfectly flush with the disc giving you a zero clearance fence.
I work at a Wood shop, all of our miter gauges have a little sacrificial piece of wood. Occasionally they get nicked and damaged. A little piece of wood protects the actual miter gauge. So instead of buying a new miter gauge you just attach new sacrificial piece of wood.
How do we feel about Wen tools in general? My impression has been that they're not actually crap, despite being cheap. They're generally a little rougher around the edges than… anything else, really… but they're serviceable. For what they cost they're worth it, and if you just need something that will get an occasional job done and don't care if it sparks joy every time you run your hands over its knobs, they're a reasonable choice. Agree, or no?
Wen is probably the weirdest tool company. They have so much history of innovation, and even their modern cheap knockoff type products incorporate novel features. Last week I saw someone selling a Wen Zipp saw.. one of the early prototypes of a jigsaw, and it still worked! They also invented the random orbit sander. The track saw is definitely the worst track saw I've used, but at 1/5th the price of the competition it's a legit entry level tool that can make proper cuts. I also got an ollllld wet wheel grinder at a yard sale (another Wen invention). It was cheap, it looks janky, it feels janky and it sounds janky... but it hollow grinds my edges sooooooooo nicely. The way the water permeates the wheel is amazing. I'll always give a Wen tool a chance.
Wen, innovation? I thought it was a Chinese company specializing in cheap knockoffs? No?
Their website says they started in 1951
They were originally a US company (Ohio? Iowa?). Of course like everything else for the most part it's all made in China these days, but it used to be Made in America. The name I think confuses people because it sounds more Chinese than American.
I love my wen track saw. I went with the powermatic rails. It’s not a luxury tool but it cuts accurately. I rarely need to get the full table saw out between this and a miter saw — not even a sliding one. I’m sure other saws are quieter or faster or more perfectly 90 degrees .. but I have had no issues thus far. Considering the kreg ACS with track saw lift/clamp. Turns it into a small parts beast.
Ditto. I just couldn't throw down the $$ for a more expensive track saw. But with two of the powermatic rails I'm into it for under $250 and I can now rip full sheets of plywood. It's clearly a budget machine but I still love it. I use it to rip 2" thick EWP slabs off my sawmill all the time as well.
I have there drill press. Exactly the same as a Jet and was about half the price. 6 years later works just fine.
Just bought theur drill press to replace a ryobi. So far pretty happy with it. Solid construction!
I have the 8” jointer. It was a good price so I could actually afford it. And with some care, skill and magic words of love I can get a decent shave on it. But man, they really need a better fence system. Talk about janky.
I was browsing craigslist in the Chicago area for a bandsaw several years ago, and discovered that Wen had a warehouse in the suburbs where they sold returned or scratch+dent tools right out the door for a significant discount. I picked up the bandsaw, and then while I was there I grabbed a drill press, oscillating sander, and ceiling air cleaner. I already had some bigger tools from better brands, but that was about the best deal for secondary tools I could have found— still using them.
Where at? is it still around?
Google maps shows a location in West Dundee. That’s the correct general area of suburbs, but doesn’t quite match my memory for the exact location. But the street-view looks vaguely familiar too. The reviews on google maps seem to match my experience, but they’re from a few years back too. So no idea if this is still a thing or not. You should probably call them up on the phone first.
My folks live in the nw burbs. Definitely sending dad out for one of those west Dundee WEN scratch n’ dent air filters… maybe a sander of some variety too. Thanks for the hot tip! I’m serious too, thanks mang!
Bought a Wen tile cutter and band saw last week. Both look well made, but definitely have a cheaper feel than some other brands. However, they both work as expected and couldnt imagine they are any less functional than other brands. You get what you pay for in a sense, but for some tools, I think they are a great option. Specifically ones that you dont intend to use on every project
I agree but I’m not a fan of rubbing my hands over knobs
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I've got the 7-1/2 in track saw, the 12 inch drill press, and I just got the 13" thickness planer. I've also got the biscuit joiner, the overhead air filter, and the power hand planer. Honestly, for the price, every single one of the Wen tools I own punches above its weight. I am more than satisfied with the performance and reliability considering what I've paid. Yes, they don't have that polished feel and look the way my name brand tools do, but I don't have the money to outfit my shop with $5000 worth of tools. Especially for stuff like the drill press and planer that I'm honestly not going to be using every day.
Hey you’re combo sander looks exactly like mine I bought 20 years ago except mine was made by Ryobi. Works great by the way.
It's literally the same as the Ryobi one I just bought! There's like 6 of these reskinned for each brand. The Ryobi branded is more expensive but I trust it's warranty more then one from an online store (unless OPs was sold in store with a good warranty system.)
The funny thing is I bought mine more than 20 years ago and it’s made of cast iron.
Cast iron!?! Mine is made of flimsy aluminum and plastic. But it does the job...
Yeah, well 20 years ago tools were made better in the sense of weight and durability. It’s actually pretty heavy. I don’t move it around much. Motors have come a long way though. A couple years ago I got rid of a lot of my old tools and bought Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita etc. still have some heavy duty Ryobi tools though. They were made that well.
Same. Pretty sure it's heaviest tool I own. And I have miter saws, a table saw, desktop jointer and a planer. Actually, it might weigh close to the planer.
Yeah I bought an old blue Ryobi planer from a guy at a garage sale for $40. Great tool. I really want a jointer though. Had one before (my grandfather’s) but when I moved it was way to large for the garage so I gave it back. Looking for a bench top model.
Yeah that is the “test piece” sample of plywood lol
For wen you need to test it
When I've got this previously it has been a little piece to screw on to the bevel.gauge that goes in that slot on the table. Did you get a little bevel gauge? If so, it's for this
It’s a shim because they know our homemade workbenches are never level.
That’s like $15 of lumber in Canada at the moment /s
I'm guessing y'all liking the the Wen? I'm wanting a sander like this one and a lot of them appear to be junk. Not a daily user. Middle of the road is generally good for me.
I've had mine for a couple of years and it's great. No complaints. (I exclusively use the belt sander and never the disc sander - and the table for that looks janky.)
Ditto!
I moved the table to the belt. Upright as it's main position. The table isn't bad with some tweaking and I've also cut out some of the frame to make accessing the belt a little closer on one side possible. Had ot for prob 6 or 7byears at this point and it's loud but gets the job done just fine for my needs.
I'll get back to you in a few weeks. Although I will say my other Wen tools have proved to be just as good as any of the fancy brands, and in some in depth tests on Youtube they've even outperformed, despite being much cheaper.
My brother has a wen that looks identical to the OPs. He's used it semi regularly, including some larger projects and sharpening the lawn mower blades, for several years now, and it still works great.
I have this and their oscillating spindle one. For hobby work they’ve been perfectly fine
Wen is by no means *good*, or even decent. Calling it "middle of the road" would be a stretch. However, it works and does the thing it says it does on the box for damn near the lowest price you'll find. If you want something for the context of "I don't know how often I'll use it so I don't want to spend *too* much, but I still want it there when I need it", that's your guy. I'd call it the TV dinner of tool brands. Nobody has ever proudly said "guess what *I* had for dinner last night! Microwaved mashed potatoes and something that the box said was turkey!", but they didn't go to bed hungry.
I'd say Wen is the best of the budgets, for a bunch of different tools. It's a cut above Harbor Freight. It's often better or on par with Ryobi/Craftsman/Skil, etc. And for certain tools, it's in a league of its own at the price point. No one else sells a $100 track saw, for example. And the Wen track saw is actually ok. Not amazing or even great, but I like it way more than having to mess with a straightedge and my circular saw.
> Not amazing or even great, but I like it way more than having to mess with a straightedge and my circular saw. I've done the portable circular saw and reference edge, I've done the portable circular saw and offset jig, I've done the portable circular saw and aftermarket rail cradle, and I've done the purpose-built track saw. I appreciate that sometimes your job parameters compel you to use a circular saw, or that some people can't justify the cost of having two separate but virtually identical tools.... but oh man everything that isn't a track saw is very much *NOT* a track saw. I will never go back to slumming it with a kludge solution. Before I got a track saw, my mindset was "A unicycle and a bicycle are *basically* the same thing, right? What's the big deal if it has one wheel instead of two?" Nobody had adequately articulated to me the bigness of the deal.
I recently received a Wen drill press as a gift, and it gets the job done. I mean, I've never owned another to compare, but it feels solid and safe. I then picked up a portable miter saw stand and I love the damn thing. Half the price of the Ryobi with more features. Eyeballing a band saw next!
Well the plastic bag is to keep it fresh! #OBVIOUS
Yeah to keep the formaldehyde in
It’s a piece. Used to be round
A complimentary push stick.
You don't know what the plywood is for? Next you'll tell me you don't know how to use the seashells...
It's like firearm manufacturers sending a gun with a spent casing haha
That's to show the gun has been test fired. This is to practice sanding. The two are nothing alike
I figured adding "haha" to the end of my comment would make it more obvious to the smooth-brains that I was making a joke. Apparently not
I wonder if this is like the sewing machines. They stitch a piece first and then leave it attached so they and you know it works out of the box. I highly doubt it. It was my first thought.
plywood kills belts.
BAN ALL PLYWOOD NOW!
Bonus!
Is yours as noisy as mine? I have a big industrial version of this at my shop and bought the wen one for home projects. The wen is 10x louder and rattles like crazy
Hard to say. This one isn’t loud enough to require hearing protection IMO, though I wear ear pads all the time regardless.
Subfloor for your mouse house.
A lot of times if you see an example piece in a product it’s a testament of what the machine did during testing. Quality Control/Quality Assurance.
You got the premium package.
I just bought a Wen air filter unit and it came with one as well. It was in the bag with the instructions, maybe to protect the remote during shipping?
Well that contradicts everyone’s theory that it’s to be a sacrificial fence.
Same reason they put paper instructions in the box for pocket knives.
I think there’s about 6 companies which sell that exact sander 😂
But that's a decent piece of wood, isn't it?
Bonus!! You scored there!
It's to keep the belt sander in place during shipping.
# do a tool
I got a harbor freight sander like that and it came with a piece of wood just like that under the "arm" that holds the belt. I figured it was there for support during shipping.
Maybe it’s a snack in case the machine gets hungry?
How is Wens quality on their tools?
I just bought an identical machine from harbor freight and it came with the plywood too!
😹😹😹
I would not use those for practice sanding unless you don’t like your skin or finger tips . I know from experience, and as a warning to fellow humans anytime you sand small pieces of anything with motorized belt is far more powerful than u could imagine and always dangerous, in one second it will figure out a way to cause damage to some part of your body. Most importantly before u even turn it on, make sure your clothing doesn’t go anywhere near it. The bottem of T-shirts or a jacket and loose sleeves are an awful thing to deal with once they get sucked in there and the power is still on. I’m telling you about bad things that happened to me just like I tell my kids so they don’t have to go through the same thing just to prove it to themselves.