WEN 6-Amp Variable-Speed Jig Saw (3602) review

WEN’s 3602 is a discontinued 120V corded jigsaw, not another name for the current-reference 33606 or the later 20V models. The company’s exact page points buyers to 33606 as an alternative, while the 3602 has its own manual, blade instructions and control layout. This assessment compares those source documents; it is not a hands-on test, and WEN’s capacity and weight figures are manufacturer specifications rather than measurements made here.

The selector gives the 3602 a more specific role than the old listing alone suggests

The model manual identifies a six-position speed dial and lists 800, 1,200, 1,700, 2,100, 2,600 and 3,000 strokes per minute. A separate four-position orbit selector changes the blade path. WEN’s chart places metals or thin sheet at position 0, harder woods and particle board at position 2, and soft materials such as wood or plastic at position 3 when faster, more aggressive cutting is the priority. Position 1 is described for softer material when a cleaner cut or delicate scrolling is wanted, but the manual does not tie that setting to a named species. These are starting instructions, not a promise about a finish or cutting rate; the manual says to choose a speed and make a trial cut in scrap.

The exact product page advertises 4 inches of wood and 3/8 inch of metal capacity, and the manual repeats those as rated values. The sources do not name a metal grade, so the capacity should not be generalized to cast iron or every alloy. A suitable blade still matters. For metal, WEN’s guidance points to straight action; for harder woods, setting 2 adds orbit; and its faster soft-material setting is setting 3. A visitor who needs hardwood orbital use can select those requirements together in the finder, but should not interpret the ratings as independent test results.

Blade fit is unusually clear, but the box is not

WEN’s 3602 page calls for T-shank blades, and the model manual explicitly says the holder does not accept U-shank blades. The quick-release clamp is described as tool-free, so a buyer with an existing blade supply can check the shank before considering a used or remaining-stock tool. The manual’s technical table says two blades are included, but it does not identify their types there; the product page does not provide a complete retail box list. Verify the exact package suffix and blade inventory rather than assuming that the manual’s standard list describes a seller’s secondhand carton.

The shoe tilts up to 45 degrees in either direction. That is useful for angled edge cuts, but the sources describe the rear dust port and the bevel shoe separately. WEN says the port accepts a dust-collection device of the buyer’s choice; it does not publish a port diameter here or establish that a particular hose, adapter or extractor will fit. More importantly, the checked page and manual do not show whether a collector can stay attached during bevel adjustment and cutting. Treat vacuum-plus-bevel as unconfirmed, not as a combination proven by the separate features. The tool-only port is not a vacuum, and no extractor is listed as included.

What separates it from WEN’s other corded jigsaws

WEN currently presents the 33606 as the alternative to the discontinued 3602, but the two should not be conflated. The 3602 is rated at 6 amps and uses a 3,000-SPM manual maximum; the 33606 is a separately reviewed 6.6-amp body with its own four-position chart, front blower/extraction switch and package details. The 3602’s exact listing says it is discontinued and sold out on the check date; neither the historic item page nor this assessment establishes a present retailer’s stock, price, warranty or condition. A model number alone does not guarantee that a used tool includes the manual-listed items or an intact clamp.

The manual lists the 3602 at 5.1 pounds while the exact product page describes it as a five-pound design. That small wording difference is retained rather than resolved by guesswork. The page and manual also do not establish a minimum life for a used motor, brush condition, guide-roller wear or the state of a particular shoe. Inspect an exact offer for those issues and confirm the nameplate and return terms before committing.

Who should consider it—and who should pass

The 3602 is best treated as an earlier corded option for someone who wants a documented T-shank-only clamp, an orbital selector, a two-direction bevel shoe and an external dust-collection port, and who is comfortable verifying a discontinued model’s exact package. It is a poor match if cordless operation, U-shank blades, a built-in cutline blower or confirmed vacuum-and-bevel use is essential. The manufacturer sources do not support ceramic or hard-metal/cast-iron plans for this model, and the metal capacity gives no grade-specific promise.

WEN’s own alternative suggestion is a useful place to start a comparison, not evidence that 33606 and 3602 share parts or behavior. Read the exact manual for the 3602, check the exact blade shank and package, and compare the separate 33606 review if buying a currently listed WEN corded tool is more important than locating this earlier design. No ownership, test cuts, customer experience, price or current stock is claimed here.