By Martin Harris.
WEN Dust Collector Review: 5.7A, 7.4A and DC1300
WEN sells three dust collectors that matter to a small shop: a 5.7-amp unit around $126, a 7.4-amp induction unit around $229, and the 14-amp DC1300 around $392. The first two are small portable units for one machine at a time. The DC1300 is a full-size single-stage collector that can feed two tools. All three use a 5-micron bag or filter, so a respirator and an air cleaner belong in the plan too.
I have not tested these three myself. Every figure on this page comes from the listing on Amazon, and I say so each time. The CFM numbers are the maker's maximum with an open inlet. Your airflow at a tool with a hose attached will be lower, and my CFM chart shows what common tools need.
The three collectors side by side
| Model | Motor | Listed CFM | Filter and bag | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEN DC3401 | 5.7 A brushed, 6 in. impeller | 660 | 5 micron, 12 gal bag | 17 lb | $126 |
| WEN DC3474 | 7.4 A induction, 9 in. impeller | 600 | 5 micron, 15 gal bag | 41.1 lb | $229 |
| WEN DC1300 | 14 A, 10 in. steel impeller, 3,450 RPM | 1,300 | 5 micron, 50 gal bag | 86.8 lb | $392 |
Source: the three Amazon listings, read on 2026-10-24. Prices are what Amazon showed on October 22 to 24, 2026 and change often. Listed CFM is the maker's maximum, not airflow at the tool.
WEN DC3401: the cheapest way to start
The DC3401 is a small rolling collector with a 5.7-amp brushed motor and a 6 inch impeller. The listing gives it up to 660 CFM, a 4 inch dust port, a 12 gallon zippered bag rated at 5 micron, lockable swivel casters, an optional wall mount and a two-year warranty. It measures about 34 by 13 by 14 inches and weighs 17 pounds, so one hand can carry it.
At about $126 it costs little more than a good shop vac. It fits a bandsaw, a small jointer, a router table or a drill press, one at a time, on a short hose. A brushed motor is a series-wound motor with carbon brushes. It is light and cheap, and it is louder than an induction motor of similar power. The listing gives no noise figure.
Be careful with the 660 CFM figure. A 4 inch round duct needs roughly 350 CFM to carry chips at about 4,000 feet per minute, since the duct area is 0.087 square feet. A hose, an elbow and a dirty bag all take airflow away from a small motor, so a table saw or planer on this unit will likely collect poorly. Keep it on small tools.
WEN DC3474: the better small collector
The DC3474 steps up to a 7.4-amp induction motor with a 9 inch impeller and a 15 gallon bag. The listing says up to 600 CFM, which is lower than the DC3401 despite the bigger impeller. That is a reminder that the listed CFM is a marketing number measured with an open inlet. I would trust the bigger impeller and the induction motor more than the number.
It weighs 41.1 pounds and measures about 43 by 18 by 20 inches. The listing says it has an onboard handle, swivel casters, a wall mount option, a 4 inch port and a two-year warranty. It sat at number 12 in Amazon's Shop Dust Collectors list when I looked, with 4.3 stars from 197 ratings. Induction motors generally run quieter than brushed ones and last longer, which is the main reason to pay the extra $100 over the DC3401.
Pick it if you want a portable collector for one machine at a time, like a planer on a short hose or a table saw with a clean 4 inch port. For a table saw, read my table saw dust collection guide first. A table saw with a blade guard and an under-table port collects better than a saw with a bare cabinet.
WEN DC1300: the one that can feed two tools
The DC1300 is a different class. The listing gives 1,300 CFM, a 14-amp motor turning a 10 inch steel impeller at 3,450 RPM, dual 4 inch inlets, a 5-micron filter and a 50 gallon vertical collection bag. It rolls on a four-caster base and weighs 86.8 pounds. It had 4.5 stars from 236 ratings when I looked.
A 14-amp motor is close to the limit of a normal 15-amp household circuit. If anything else shares that circuit, expect a tripped breaker. The dual 4 inch inlets let you plug in two hoses, but running both at once splits the airflow. Use a blast gate on each branch and run one tool at a time, the way my guide on how to install blast gates shows.
The weak point is the same as the small WEN units. A 5-micron filter lets fine dust back into the air. My page on 1 micron vs 5 micron filters explains the difference. WEN also sells a 1-micron canister filter cartridge for its woodworking collectors. Check which models it fits before you order, because a finer filter is an upgrade you can add later.
The WEN air cleaner and its filters
WEN's other big seller on Amazon is the 3410 air filtration system, listed at 300, 350 and 400 CFM with a 1-micron inner filter and a 5-micron pre-filter. The listing says it covers rooms up to 400 square feet, runs on 120 volts at 1 amp, has a programmable timer and an RF remote that works from up to 26 feet, and is rated at 50 to 60 dB. It costs about $154 and has 4.6 stars from more than 5,600 ratings, the most of any WEN product here.
An air cleaner like this catches the fine dust that escapes at the tool, which a 5-micron collector bag lets through. At 400 CFM it turns the air in a 400 square foot room with an 8 foot ceiling about 7.5 times an hour, which sits at the low end of what a shop needs. My air filtration guide has the air-change table. Replacement filters are cheap and sell well: the outer 5-micron filter is about $20 and the inner 1-micron filter about $25.
WEN picks, with current Amazon prices
Prices are what Amazon showed on October 22 to 24, 2026. Check the price on the page before you buy, because these move.
- Check price on Amazon
WEN DC3401 5.7-amp dust collector$126
The $126 entry point. A good fit for a bandsaw, router table or small jointer on a short 4 inch hose. Treat the 660 CFM figure as a ceiling.
- Check price on Amazon
WEN DC3474 7.4-amp induction dust collector$229
The induction motor and the bigger impeller make this the better portable. Pick it for a planer or table saw on a short hose.
- Check price on Amazon
WEN DC1300 1,300 CFM dust collector$392
The full-size WEN, with two 4 inch inlets and a 50 gallon bag. It needs its own circuit and floor space.
- Check price on Amazon
WEN 3410 400 CFM remote air filtration system$154
A hanging air cleaner with a remote and timer. It catches the fine dust a 5-micron bag lets back into the room.
- Check price on Amazon
WEN 5-micron outer filter for 400 CFM air cleaners$20
The 5-micron outer filter for the 3410 and other 400 CFM WEN air cleaners. Keep a spare and swap it when it loads up.
- Check price on Amazon
WEN 1-micron inner filter for 400 CFM air cleaners$25
The 1-micron inner filter for the same units. This does the fine work, so replace it on schedule.
Where WEN falls short
- Filters. All three collectors ship with 5-micron bags or filters. That is the standard budget compromise, and fine dust still reaches your lungs. Add a respirator and an air cleaner.
- No separator. Chips go straight into the bag. A cyclone separator in front keeps a small bag from filling in one session.
- Listed numbers. The CFM figures are maximums. They do not tell you what a table saw gets at the end of a hose.
- Reliability. The DC3401 has 4.1 stars from 679 ratings, the lowest of the three, so read recent reviews before buying.
Who should buy which
- One small tool, tight budget: the DC3401.
- One mid-size tool at a time, a quieter motor: the DC3474.
- A table saw plus a planer in a garage, with floor space: the DC1300, or step up to a 2 HP unit from my 2 HP collector list.
- Fine dust matters more than airflow: put the money into a 1 micron canister or bag collector and the 3410 air cleaner.
For the rest of the shop, start with my small shop dust collection guide. For how much air a tool needs, use the CFM calculator. A collector, an air cleaner and a respirator work as a set, and my page on woodworking respirators covers the last layer.
FAQ
Is a WEN dust collector any good?
For the price, yes, with limits. The 3410 air cleaner has 4.6 stars from more than 5,600 ratings. The collectors rate lower, from 4.1 to 4.5 stars, and all three use 5-micron filtration, so add an air cleaner and a respirator.
How much CFM does the WEN DC3401 really move?
The listing says up to 660 CFM, which is a maximum with an open inlet. Hose, fittings and a loading bag cut that figure a lot. Plan on a short hose and small tools.
Can the WEN DC1300 run two tools at once?
It has two 4 inch inlets, but one 14-amp motor splits its airflow between them. Use blast gates and run one tool at a time for the best collection.
What filters fit the WEN 3410 air cleaner?
The 3410 takes a 5-micron outer filter and a 1-micron inner filter. WEN sells both, and third-party sets list the 3410 as compatible. Check the fit note on the listing before you order.