Wen Compound Miter Sliding Saw Review & Troubleshooting

A couple years ago I was in the market for a sliding compound miter saw.  They can get expensive, so I was delighted when I found one that cost less than $150.  But, I was worried about the quality.  It wasn't a brand I was familiar with:  Wen.  I did a couple quick searches on the internet, and I didn't exactly find any long term experiences for how they held up.  Now that I've owned it for a couple of years, I can give you a fair assessment.

My saw is a model 70771.  It's a 10 inch sliding compound miter saw.  It cost about $130.  I can't remember the exact price, it's been a while.  It was significantly more affordable than other name brands that did less.  (Example, not sliding, smaller blade, etc.)

Out of the box, it worked great.  It actually is pretty nice looking too.  It's easy to adjust, user friendly, and no problems.  I probably used it a fair amount, but I wouldn't say a lot.  It was just for projects here and there.  I didn't use it for daily work or anything.  It was just for around the house stuff.

Then it happened.  I was using it to saw some 2X4's and it just quit working halfway through a project.  I'd pull the trigger and nothing would happen.  I checked the brushes on the motor, they appeared fine.  I also checked the power source of course.   Nothing.  Dead.  I was not happy.   I had not used this product nearly enough for it to already fail.

I called up customer service.  The guy was very friendly and helpful.  He told me it was the trigger switch, most likely and I could order one online.  Here is the handy link, if you are looking for it.  My guess is you may need it, because it's one of the few common parts that are replaced.   I don't know why the original trigger is so junky, but it's a $19.99 replacement part.  A little steep if you ask me, considering the whole saw cost just over $100.

I also checked the brushes again, and while removing the screw cap, it cracked in half.  POSSIBLY, I overtightened it previously, but once again... shouldn't have happened.

Which brings me back to the customer service.  I asked for another in the phone, made a note on my online order, and received the new cap, no charge.  The customer service is what is saving my business with Wen.

So in conclusion, if you're looking for a cheap saw for your garage and you can make minor repairs to it, this will work fine.   If you're looking for something that will give you years of reliable use, spend a little extra.