Saw Horses

[JayL]

Hi all.

I've been lurking around the forum now for several months and have so far accumulated basic to intermediate automotive, woodworking and metal working tools. Time to put these tools to use.

For now I need to build 2 saw horses. I have found the plan below.

http://woodworking.about.com/od/shopequipmentsupplies/ss/woodSawhorses.htm

Don't you think that using all 2 x 4 wood is an overkill?

Does anybody have a better plan than this?

Thanks a lot.

 

[krusty the clown]

2x4 construction is not overkill,rather the norm. my advice would be to consider some of the plastic folding saw horses. i thought about this myself a while back and decided i could buy the folding ones for less than i could make a set, besides i liked the idea of them taking up less space when they weren't in use.

 

[PurdueSD]

Here's a pic of some i built when I needed a pair building my shop...

Dont over think them, they are just saw horses and you dont want to be afraid to cut across the header (2x6 in my pic)

 

[JayL]

Thanks for the reply Krusty.

Space is a premium to me thus the stacking sawhorses design I chose.

Do you have any recommended plastic folding saw horses. An online link would be much appreciated.

 

[mbatarga]

Those 2x4 constructed sawhorses will be heavy - and awkward to move around. I've got 2 different plastic style - I believe Stanley brand bought from HD years ago for $20 a pair. (They must have been on sale at 1/2 off when purchased.)

Edit to add info off Home Depot site:
Model: 60582
Internet/Cat #: 947580
Store SKU #: 1000401324
Anti-slip rubber on feet and top for safety
Includes 2 sawing grooves
Flat -folding, free standing sawhorses

 

[krusty the clown]

thats the same set i have IIRC i gave 17.99 on sale at wally world

 

[speed bump]

If you plan on cutting across them those plastic saw horses ****. I have some folding metal ones that you screw a 2x4 onto the top for a consumable top and those work great. If I needed some heavy duty ones I would build them out of 2x6s.

 

[JohnK007]

Yep, I got the same folding sawhorses from HD too. Work like a champ and I can hang them off the floor when I'm done. Best gift my wife gave me.

 

[krusty the clown]

If you plan on cutting across them those plastic saw horses ****. I have some folding metal ones that you screw a 2x4 onto the top for a consumable top and those work great. If I needed some heavy duty ones I would build them out of 2x6s.

uhhh......they have a channel on top the same size as a 2x4. you can attatch a 2x4 with screws just the same

 

[WH0DAMAN]

I have the Stanley ones as well. They work great and hang out behind the tool box when not in use.

 

[jams002]

saw horse is cute like an chair but not a chair,



___________________
Great thing to know about busby seo test.

 

[kbs2244]

Because they are working out of vans most guys like the fold up plastic ones.
Screw a 2x2 across the top.
The white plastic fold up tables seem to be getting popular with the mechinical guys instead of 2 saw horses and a sheet of plywood.

 

[vlpronj]

Those 2x4 constructed sawhorses will be heavy - and awkward to move around. I've got 2 different plastic style

If you want plastic, the ones shown in mbatarg's pic are the style to get - I've had and seen the ones with a small pair of struts on each end as hinges - they pop out or snap really easily. I have a pair at home with a big hinge that acts as a platform when in use, just like those in the pic - they work great and are sturdy.
I'm not saying they're as good as, better than, or worse than wood, just that they're the better plastic style.

 

[JayL]

Thanks for all your replies.

I will need something stronger than plastic. How about this?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

 

[vlpronj]

Thanks for all your replies.

I will need something stronger than plastic. How about this?

Well, sure, that's fine if you're just gonna be using the 1/2 inch plywood shown...


EDIT: I followed the Amazon link, and was impressed by the portability of this item :http://www.amazon.com/Trojan-TWC-35-35-Inch-Center-Included/dp/B0000224RP/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_c

 

[Abodyracer]

When I worked at Menards we had a set that was made of all 2x6. Each horse was 42" long, had 6 legs, and was covered on both faces and ends with 5/8 plywood down to about 6" from the floor. We used these in the Wallcoverings dept to stack paneling on to make it easier to pull sheets off to put in the racks that they were stocked in. We wold some times put 3-4 hundred sheets at a time on them.

 

[Quiksilver]

I bought these http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100003259 from Home Depot. If I would have known about the ones in the amazon link I would have bought them in a heartbeat.
I am very limited on space and these work for that, but they are not extremely user friendly.

 

[sberry]

Stronger,,, like this?

 

[krusty the clown]

Stronger,,, like this?

i bet thats hard on saw blades

 

[mulepackin]

I built 2 sets of all 2x4 horses about 15 years ago. Used this plan from Family Handyman magazine, they are in the lower right hand side of the sawhorse page. They are very sturdy and work very well. I've use them for short scaffolding, I also have some T pieces I can insert into the space on top to increase the height of them and used them as upright extensions for my sliding compound miter saw:http://books.google.com/books?id=MZ...xj15&sig=vhQTnA0Gh-3czY5ynW4D3ylxlgA#PPA54,M1

 

[JayL]

I found this site. Lots of Info on saw horses.

http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/0...-plans-in-the-hunt-for-the-ultimate-sawhorse/

 

[ironroad 9c1]

I personally like these stanley big max's , they are adjustable hight and pretty beefy construction, and termit proof, Have notches to lay 2 2x's across and had little rubber grips for holding material that you lay right on the horses.

had those for 3 years now and they work great.i got em cause they where cheaper tha the crappy folding metal ones, and i think they where cheaper than the build your own kits with metal caps you slip 2x4's in.

 

[PurdueSD]

^ those stanley ones look nice!

 

[danski0224]

I have had a set of these for about 12 years: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LNPW1S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They don't fold up if the height is adjusted, so I don't bother. The fixed height model is a bit less. Mine were US made- don't know if they still are.

These also work- have a couple of sets of them: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00019JPGK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They do not fold up flat like the style above, and do not stack well with wood fastened to the top. These work well for stationary use, and they are lightweight.

 

[dwilliams35]

I bought these http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100003259 from Home Depot. If I would have known about the ones in the amazon link I would have bought them in a heartbeat.
I am very limited on space and these work for that, but they are not extremely user friendly.

I've got a few of those that are probably ten years old: I've got a heck of a lot of use out of them. You're right about the user friendly part, but they're a lot easier to store than the plastic ones: just fold up about the size of a 3' 2x4. Like you said, they definitely work for "limited on space": I personally have been willing to overlook the quirks for that size premium. They've held up well.