Looking for saw horse recommendations . . . I’m done!

[steel 35]

I pulled two damaged two step ladders from service;
I am sure I saved a life.

 

[dchawk81]

I pulled two damaged two step ladders from service;
I am sure I saved a life.

Congratulations you're welcome.

 

[IRQVET]

Harbor Freight has two Bauer versions. I have the more expensive 1300lb set. $50/each. Been solid for me.

I cannot do Bauer, they have let me down too many times in other applications. Appreciate the comment in either event.

Don’t have a Menards anywhere near me that I know of . . .

I’ll have to check out the Tough Bulit, those weren’t on my radar until now. Appreciate it!

 

[mslim]

My key grip when I lived in Atlanta in the 80's made me the best set of light weight handy sawhorses I have ever seen. I think they were based on an old stage set builder's pattern.

Unfortunately I forgot to load them on the Penske truck when I moved and I have regretted it ever since. They were made primarily of 1x4's with three hinges.

I have searched in vain on the Internet for a set of plans to match Tony's (RIP) sawhorses. If anyone knows of something relevant to what I am talking about, I would appreciate any links you might share.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

OP what are you putting on the plastic sawhorses that have let you down? Good info for those who uses them I may need to upgrade to metal ones.

 

[Firebrick43]

The Shop dog sawhorses are the best wood saw horses I have ever used. They have some complicated cuts but the ability to change out the top bar and yet it be held insanely tight is amazing, as is their stability and no wobbling. I use 8' 2x4's commonly to cut up sheet goods and have a set that is shorter with notches on one edge for holding clamps for glue ups.

 

[metaldad]

I cannot do Bauer, they have let me down too many times in other applications. Appreciate the comment in either event.

Don’t have a Menards anywhere near me that I know of . . .

I’ll have to check out the Tough Bulit, those weren’t on my radar until now. Appreciate it!

menards will ship. and, im sure their 11% will apply to you.
their housebrand - masterforce, has 2 styles of horses. fixed, no info on height on their site, and adjustable (22-32) (that doesnt seem correct, i think its much taller)
i have 1 pair of fixed, and 2 pairs of the adjustables. sharp corners, and pinch points. otherwise, great tools.

 

[RTM]

The ones I mentioned dont adjust. I even included a picture.

But I have a pair like yours, and a pair that height adjust. The ones that adjust are a royal PITA to fold, as you need to readjust to zero height increase, get them to pop out of the sides of the top rail, then lift them out of a little ear so they will drift to the side so they will fold flat. I think they will fold to a messy 2x thickness if you don’t lower them, as @danski0224 said

 

[grant00]

Another vote for the Toughbuilt units. Love the adjustability and features and stability and they fit on my narrow shelf.

 

[danski0224]

But I have a pair like yours, and a pair that height adjust. The ones that adjust are a royal PITA to fold, as you need to readjust to zero height increase, get them to pop out of the sides of the top rail, then lift them out of a little ear so they will drift to the side so they will fold flat. I think they will fold to a messy 2x thickness if you don’t lower them, as @danski0224 said

You made me remember that there was nothing to hold the folded legs in place, either.

So there was a really good chance that once the sawhorse was lifted by that Itty bitty handle, the leg(s) would swing out while attempting to carry it.

I haven't used them in years, and I may not actually have them any longer.

I've put a bit of weight onto the stamped Ebco(?) ones and plastic ones. In my opinion, just about any of the plastic style horses are more stable than the Ebco's.

Sometimes the rubber foot will come off. The plastic horses are junk once that is lost because the leg cracks.

My only plastic horse failure stemmed from not snapping the hinge tray in place on the bottom.

I have easily had several hundred pounds supported by plastic sawhorses. Enough where 2x material had to be placed under the plywood top.

They would have been forced off of the market if they were faulty or prone to failure.

 

[RTM]

You made me remember that there was nothing to hold the folded legs in place, either.

So there was a really good chance that once the sawhorse was lifted by that Itty bitty handle, the leg(s) would swing out while attempting to carry it.

I haven't used them in years, and I may not actually have them any longer.

mine wedged in pretty tight the few times I’ve folded and moved while collapsed. The fixed height seem to wedge into the channel that is the top, moved them several times recently. I’m not cleaning up my vacuum press and moving it just to find out if the other is ok.

 

[goodWood]

My key grip when I lived in Atlanta in the 80's made me the best set of light weight handy sawhorses I have ever seen. I think they were based on an old stage set builder's pattern.

Unfortunately I forgot to load them on the Penske truck when I moved and I have regretted it ever since. They were made primarily of 1x4's with three hinges.

I have searched in vain on the Internet for a set of plans to match Tony's (RIP) sawhorses. If anyone knows of something relevant to what I am talking about, I would appreciate any links you might share.

I've had these for about 30 years. Built like a battleship. Super heavy duty--steady as a rock--I've used them as scaffolding to stand on. I think Trojan makes something similar now.


I've been meaning to make something for lighter duty work such as the stage-hand style 1x4 that might be the same as you're talking about.

A couple examples:

How to Make The Best Folding Saw Horses

Making these easy to build and economical folding saw horses.

ibuildit.ca

My Favorite Sawhorses

This is repeat of a post I made several years ago on my old website. I love these sawhorses. I've made three sets of two over the years. The first set finally fell apart - they were doweled and sat out in the Idaho weather too much. The second set I gave to some friends. Maybe not the most muscular

hamiltonroberts.com

 

[IRQVET]

OP what are you putting on the plastic sawhorses that have let you down? Good info for those who uses them I may need to upgrade to metal ones.

I was speaking to the Bauer brand in general, not specifically about their saw horses. As far as use goes, nothing special. Usually painting projects like vintage Willys projects.

 

[N_Jay]

People buy saw horses?

 

[danski0224]

mine wedged in pretty tight the few times I’ve folded and moved while collapsed.

At the time, I was setting up and breaking down almost daily. I do not remember any detents or other mechanism to retain the folded legs.

I adjusted them once, then never again.

 

[NoahG]

My key grip when I lived in Atlanta in the 80's made me the best set of light weight handy sawhorses I have ever seen. I think they were based on an old stage set builder's pattern.

Unfortunately I forgot to load them on the Penske truck when I moved and I have regretted it ever since. They were made primarily of 1x4's with three hinges.

I have searched in vain on the Internet for a set of plans to match Tony's (RIP) sawhorses. If anyone knows of something relevant to what I am talking about, I would appreciate any links you might share.

I know exactly what you’re talking about, because I build them too! I’ve made about 3 dozen for my current shop. It’s been almost 4 years since I made em, I should get a photo of their current patina. They’re made out of 3/4 birch ply, which we were getting cheap at the time. I had a huge bin of loose pin hinges to pull from so that saved cost too. Now I haunt hardware store clearance bins and have loaded up on hinges that way. The joints are all just doubled sided lapped with luaun, glued and stapled.



I believe there are some plans for a fully tricked out version in the Stock Scenery Construction Handbook.

 

[jar944]

People buy saw horses?

Ever set up a wooden pair in a driveway that's surface is closer to a sphere than a flat plane?

Independently adjustable legs are nice.

 

[Kpaige]

Picked up the Masterforce metal stands recently. They seem pretty good.

Not sure if Menards is down south that far or not.

Have had these for years good horses.


These are the ones I am looking at they have adjustable height which the Menards ones do not

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B8TVVQX/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I'm in the same boat. I don't use them often but one of my plastic sawhorses cracked so it's time. We have a set of Ridgid sawhorses at work that are quite nice.

Good ones aren't cheap but I'm thinking I should just spend the $100 on two good ones and I'll have them for years. Even when the plastic ones were new they were still flimsy and wobbly.

 

[Snapped-off]

Have had these for years good horses.


These are the ones I am looking at they have adjustable height which the Menards ones do not

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B8TVVQX/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They've got both adjustable and non adjustable.

Masterforce® Adjustable Folding Steel Sawhorse at Menards® https://www.menards.com/main/tools/...rse/65068/p-1444436617805-c-1496857146263.htm



Masterforce® Folding Steel Sawhorse at Menards® https://www.menards.com/main/tools/...rse/65067/p-1444436621888-c-1496857146263.htm

 

[Kpaige]

They've got both adjustable and non adjustable.

Masterforce® Adjustable Folding Steel Sawhorse at Menards® https://www.menards.com/main/tools/...rse/65068/p-1444436617805-c-1496857146263.htm



Masterforce® Folding Steel Sawhorse at Menards® https://www.menards.com/main/tools/...rse/65067/p-1444436621888-c-1496857146263.htm

We’ll never seen those and great price!!!

 

[alinc100]

The Toughbuilt C-700 have pads on the bottom so they don't readily sink into soft ground( IIRC the Masterforce version doesn't have pads) . The Bora Speedhorse at $199/pair is supposed to be the best but I have not tried them. A Bora Centipede is an option too, I use that daily as well. With both the Centipede and the Toughbuilts adding 2x4's ,2x6's to elevate the work/sacrificial saw cutting etc is super easy and on a few bigger jobsites we've used the Toughbuilts as a print table/lunch table/assembly table,etc. The folding plastic horses work in SOME applications but often are too narrow,fold unexpectedly,can't slide across the floor as a unit and can't hold a ton of weight.

 

[Kpaige]

The Toughbuilt C-700 have pads on the bottom so they don't readily sink into soft ground( IIRC the Masterforce version doesn't have pads) . The Bora Speedhorse at $199/pair is supposed to be the best but I have not tried them. A Bora Centipede is an option too, I use that daily as well. With both the Centipede and the Toughbuilts adding 2x4's ,2x6's to elevate the work/sacrificial saw cutting etc is super easy and on a few bigger jobsites we've used the Toughbuilts as a print table/lunch table/assembly table,etc. The folding plastic horses work in SOME applications but often are too narrow,fold unexpectedly,can't slide across the floor as a unit and can't hold a ton of weight.

The only thing I wish with all is a higher adjustable height they all goto 35-36 inches I would like 42-44” max but I do like the toughbuilts

 

[jar944]

The only thing I wish with all is a higher adjustable height they all goto 35-36 inches I would like 42-44” max but I do like the toughbuilts

Throw a torsion box on top, and you are all set.

 

[Kpaige]

Throw a torsion box on top, and you are all set.

lol that would be great but to big and to much for my shop. When I use horses I am usually setting up for some quick cuts or at someone else’s house. Plus I like to use them to set walking planks on for working on walls etc. that adjustability of up to 42” or so would be nice.

 

[MarcSeattle]

To the OP: how portable do they need to be? I like the feature the legs fold and recess into the crossbar if the sawhorses have to go into a pickup on a regular bases. OTOH, there is the use case of the occasional need and they are going to hang on a wall out of the way the rest of the time. What is your use case?

 

[mslim]

I've had these for about 30 years. Built like a battleship. Super heavy duty--steady as a rock--I've used them as scaffolding to stand on. I think Trojan makes something similar now.


I've been meaning to make something for lighter duty work such as the stage-hand style 1x4 that might be the same as you're talking about.

A couple examples:

How to Make The Best Folding Saw Horses

Making these easy to build and economical folding saw horses.

ibuildit.ca

My Favorite Sawhorses

This is repeat of a post I made several years ago on my old website. I love these sawhorses. I've made three sets of two over the years. The first set finally fell apart - they were doweled and sat out in the Idaho weather too much. The second set I gave to some friends. Maybe not the most muscular

hamiltonroberts.com

The Hamilton Robert version is pretty close to the Tony design although Tony's dimensions were a little larger and I dare say more useful. The stay in between the legs was done the same way.

 

[inline five]

These are awesome:

12,000+ rating, 4.8/5.0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HREBZ3M/?tag=atomicindus08-20