WEN 10-Inch Miter Saw Review
I’ve been on a mission to find the best tools for beginners or for those on a budget. One of our channel members, Mr. David Corliss, recommended the WEN 10” miter saw. Let’s check it out.
Links to the tools discussed in this review:
WEN Miter Saw - https://amzn.to/43Dk6VT
DeWALT DWS779 Miter Saw - https://amzn.to/3UHX9N4
Festool Miter Saw - https://amzn.to/3MOlDCs
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I’ve done a lot of research on miter saws under $200, and there are not a lot of good options out there. The WEN miter saw is probably the better option of those that I found. One of the best features on this saw is that it’s a front-sliding miter saw. You don’t see that at this price point very much if at all. That means you can put it next to the wall and slide the saw blade forward. The rails don’t stick off the back like the DeWALT miter saw rails. That space-saving design will help you out if you’re in a small shop like I am. The dust collection is designed on top, so it won’t interfere with putting it close to the wall either.
One of the few front sliding miter saws at this price point means it saves space behind the saw
The saw is shipped in a small box, so when you get it there is a bit of assembly required. The front part of the throat, the handle on top, and the side tables all need to be put on, but it’s very quick and easy to do.
The overall fit and finish is fairly nice, but keep in mind this is a sub-$200 saw. The base and side tables are metal, but there is a lot of plastic. You’ve got to expect that from a saw at this price. With that in mind, there are some features you wouldn’t expect. There’s a depth stop knob for creating dados or half laps. It will bevel to the left over to 47-degrees, with a hard stop back at 90.
Easily adjust the angle of the miter saw
For miters, it will miter up to 47-degrees in either direction, with positive stops at 45, 31.6, 22.5, 15, and 0. You can also tighten the front knob at any point and lock it in anywhere without worrying about the positive stops.
One thing that surprised me was that straight out of the box, this saw was as square as can be. It was square from fence to the blade, as well as blade to the bed. I made some 90-degree cuts, and after double checking them, they came out perfectly square. This is extremely impressive on a saw that is less than $200. I keep coming back to that because if you’re a beginner, if you’re on a budget, and you need a miter saw, the WEN needs some serious consideration.
Wen Miter Saw cut perfectly square out of the box
Wen Miter Saw cut perfect 45 degree miters out of the box
Because this is a sliding miter saw, you get 12” of cross-cut capacity. It will also cut up to 3½” thick, so you can cut all the way through a 4x4. For most beginners, you don’t really need much more capacity than that. I’ve stepped down to the 10” Festool, and I really haven’t missed that extra capacity much. There have been a few times I wished I had the 12”, but for the most part the 10” is more than enough. If you work with crown molding, this has a 7½” nested capacity, as well as 6¾” baseboard vertical capacity. You can also cut up to 8¼” wide at 45-degrees.
I have a few interesting observations about this ‘budget’ miter saw. Out of the box, it cuts square at both 90-degrees, and 45. If you put two 45s together, you get a square 90. For a stock blade, this blade is actually really good. Most stock blades you get with any saw, even a $3,000 SawStop, are a little trashy. They’re just not that great.
This saw is extremely loud. Be sure to use some type of hearing protection with it. I had the Festool dust extractor hooked up to it, but like most miter saws, there was still a lot of dust. That’s just the nature of the beast. Even the Festool, which is supposed to be one of the better saws for dust collection, is still just mediocre. The saw does come with a dust bag if you don’t have a shop vac.
Dust collection is terrible on the WEN Miter Saw. I have my Festool dust extractor connected and powered on during this cut.
The saw features a laser to mark your cuts, but because I’m red-green colorblind I can’t see it. The markings on the miters are high-contrast and raised up, so you can still see them if the paint wears off.
The saw is also fairly lightweight. You can easily move the saw around the shop (or take it in and out of the garage), if you’re wanting to woodwork and then put it away. With that in mind, if you’re going to use it on your miter station, you’ll want to plan to bolt it down. It’s a little front-heavy.
One thing I really don’t care for is the design of the foot under the throat plate. That foot is there to support the weight of the saw, so it pivots with the saw when you’re adjusting to any angle other than 90. When you pull on the locking trigger, the foot raises slightly, but it’s still rubbing somewhat on the table. You’ll need plenty of clearance in front, so it can move left or right with the saw. On both the Festool and the DeWALT, everything up front is clear.
I’m not a fan of the foot directly under the miter adjustment
The opening in the throat plate is quite wide, at ⅜”. Most miter saws don’t have an opening that wide, but on all of my saws I’ve used FastCap zero clearance tape. You just put a piece of the tape over the opening in your throat plate, make a cut through the tape, and you’ve essentially got a zero clearance insert. That will prevent any small pieces from falling into the opening, as well as preventing tear-out.
One thing all sliding miter saws suffer from, regardless of how much you’ve spent on them, is a little bit of deflection. The WEN is no different. If you’re pushing hard enough, you’re going to see about a ⅛” deflection, give or take. Most people aren’t generally going to be pushing on it left or right. You’re going to be pushing straight down. But because that play does exist, there’s a tendency at full extension on thicker woods to bear down a little more. What that means is your cuts won’t be a true 90-degree angle. Just keep that in mind, and if you make your cuts slow enough, you’ll be just fine. Having said that, the rail-forward design on the WEN does a better job of fighting that deflection than a rear-rail design like on the DeWALT.
Even the much more expensive Festool Kapex has deflection of the blade if you put lateral pressure on the saw during the cut
A lot of people wildly underestimate WEN as a tool company. I’ve had several WEN tools in my shop for a long time. I have a benchtop drill press that I still use all the time. I’ve had a WEN benchtop bandsaw, and it was an extremely nice saw. When I got my Rikon saw, I passed the WEN down to a young woodworker. They’re making pretty good products for the price they’re asking.
Wen 10-inch Miter Saw is a Single Bevel
While this WEN miter saw is a great pick for a beginner, my favorite miter saw is still the DWS779, even over the Festool. I’ve had this saw since 2017. It is an absolute workhorse. It will make miter cuts up to 60-degrees to the right, and 50-degrees to the left. It’s a dual bevel, and it’s a 12” miter, so you’re getting more cut capacity. I just think this is an excellent all-around saw.
Easy to read miter gauge
You can watch the full video review here - https://youtu.be/PrkO4_efYTE