Homemade Saw Horse

[Sean7a]

Pretty cool video we just came across.



Legs remind me of a Powermatic 3520b.  I really dig the "no wobble" thanks to the tri leg design.

 

[basswood]

Hi Sean,

Thanks for posting this. I'm glad you like the design.

This was my "things are slow in the shop" challenge for myself last winter... to build a sawhorse that could solve some of the problems that most saw horses have.

That drove the 3-legged design for the "no wobble" stability you mentioned. The thickness matches 2x lumber, so tools with rafter hooks can hang on or IN the rail (hooking them in the large holes so the top of the horses is available as a work surface).

The large holes have lots of other uses too (clamping, cord management, etc.)

I won't carry on about the other features, but would be happy to answer any questions anyone has.

They were in articles for FHB and TotT, so I can add links to those if anyone wants to find out more. I have a website where plans are available too.

Let me know if you want any of those things posted.

Thanks, Brian

 

[semenza]

Brian,  That is very cool!

  What great design. 

Yes, show and tell us more.

Seth

 

[basswood]

Hi Seth,

Here is the Tools of the Trade piece:

http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/homemade-and-modified-tools/clever-home-built-saw-horse-work-station_o.aspx?dfpzone=blogs.davidfrane&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=jump&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TOTTU_010714&day=2014-01-07

The Fine Homebuilding article is a members only piece online, so unless you are a subscriber you only get the first 100 words (it is the Oct/Nov 2013 issue, if you have access to a printed copy):

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/three-legged-sawhorses.aspx

Here is the website where you can get a 12 page PDF of the plans to build them (costs $10):

http://www.basswoodmodular.com/

We are putting most of the revenue from the plan sales back into the business so we can offer more and improved plans as people request them. This first set of plans is mostly for building 3 and 4-legged versions of the horses in various heights and lengths. Working on a cutting and clamping table now.

Thanks for the interest, Brian

 

[Paul G]

That's pretty cool, will be thinking of ways this might be integrated into my upcoming track saw table

 

[basswood]

I'll see if I can add some photos and brief descriptions to add to the discussion. This is a test, only a test.

 

[basswood]

That was not so bad.

Here is a shot of a Tri-Horse with a work piece clamped to it and a saw hanging from a rafter hook:

 

[semenza]

Have you tried one with wide legs?  The two leg part about 3' -4' wide so that one try horse could support sheet goods.

Seth

 

[basswood]

@Seth,

I have made a set of table legs for a banquet table that sounds similar to what you had in mind.

Had not thought to do this with the Tri-Horses.

 

[semenza]

Something like this.

[attachimg=#]

Seth

 

[basswood]

I posted my sawhorses as a project on the LJ site about a week ago and made it to the top of the "Hot Projects" page and received the "Editor's Choice" award.

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/96307

People really seem to respond to the design. I think the design is enough of a shift from what people have seen before that it surprises them and gets them thinking. This is what is good about it, when people have that sort of “ah-ha” experience they start coming up with more cool ideas on their own.

This brings the design to life with an infusion of fresh thinking. Some of the best ideas for this system may be yet to come and from people like you (like the version Seth posted).

All the best, Brian

 

[cje]

Brian, well deserved. I just ordered your plans.

Best, Karel

 

[Frank Pellow]

Brian, I really like the design.  Well done.  [thumbs up]

 

[basswood]

Hi Karel and Frank,

Good to hear that you like the design. Nice to get orders for the plans too.

For those who might wonder, here is a description of the plans:

    "The plans are a 12-page PDF that includes dimensioned drawings, photos, illustrations and instructions for building sawhorses in a range of lengths from 4' to 8', in heights of 30" to 36" and in both the three-legged "Tri-Horse" and in a more traditional 4-legged version.

The plans are primarily for the building of the sawhorses with some photos, illustrations, and suggestions about how to use them and accessorize them."

If anyone wants to do a "build thread" and discuss the process, let me know.

Thanks, Brian

 

[Tinker]

When i was 7 ft tall and in mason contracting biz, I did something like that using 2x6 lumber for scaffolding small jobs or where i only needed to get my ffet no more than 3 ft off the ground.  Instead of using slots, i nail cleats on the horizontal cross pieces.  the cleats were nailed at an angle as are your slots so the horses would bear agains the ledger pieces.  If ground was level, i used four legs that would spread and make the joint tight against the sides of the ledgers.  If ground was uneven, I had legs on one end of ledger that fit close at bottom so the scaffold ended up as three legged.  for hight scaffolding, i had steel staging frames, but for small jobe, it was very quich setting up low staging and the method would support a lot of weight very substantially.

I really like your idea and it is so very adaptable for a lot of ideas and uses.  great job.
Tinker

 

[basswood]

Tinker, Good hearing about the masonry scaffolding. Lumpy, bumpy and sloped terrain can make work "interesting". Sounds like you had a good setup.

Glad you like this design. I actually envision building loft beds, and other knockdown furniture using similar designs.

I'll post more photos here soon.

All the best, Brian

 

[Tinker]

Some times i wood use only the double legs at one end and the other end would be resting on scraps of wood or cement blocks.  It was an adaptable system and if better stability was needed, I would add a few cross braces between the leg sets.  Sometimes, the stages were placed to hold only the material and i was down on a lower level of ground.  In that case, I used triagled 2x 's to keep the whole thing from pushing in to the space where I was working.  That could get a tad uncomfortable.  When in tight spaces, i did the scaffold setting up no matter how experienced the help.

I actually enjoyed the problems encountered with scaffold setups.  Mistooks were not acceptable. 
Tinker

 

[basswood]

Tinker,

I enjoy seeing well set up scaffolds. You are right, there is not much margin for error.

I used this set up this week to add conduit to the shop ceiling. Not enough room for a full scaffold set up so I used a plank on my horses:

[attachimg=#]

 

[RONWEN]

An outstanding design!  [thumbs up]

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

+1