How many sawhorses do you use?

[Bugsysiegals]

I bought 2x Bora Portamate XT's when they went on sale for $150 and then another 2x when they went down to $140.  I canceled the $150 order but Amazon sent them anyway.  Now I'm debating if I should keep them given the price point but am not sure when I'd ever use them ...

I'll use one set with TrackTubes as a cutting station and have the Kapex with stand/wings so I don't need another set for that ... does anybody use more than 2 at a time ... I can't think of when I'd ever need more than 2?

 

[ChuckM]

If you're referring to the Bora sawhorses only, then it's none for me as I don't have that kind of sawhorse; I find them too heavy.

I made the Krenov style of sawhorses out of 1x4, and use them 1, 2 or 3 or 4 at a time as a worktable on the fly, or holding lumber before it's processed, or as an outfeed support (with a roller installed) for my planer They're so light weight (but incredibly strong) that I can carry all 4 of them in one hand over my shoulder.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Holzhacker]

For me 4 is a minimum.
2 for obvious daily work as a work station
2 for lumber that is waiting, being processed, stain is drying, getting measured and sorted, etc.
You might not use the other 2 all the time but those times you feel you need them you'll be glad to have them.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
You might not use the other 2 all the time but those times you feel you need them you'll be glad to have them.

Agreed, when it comes to sawhorses, regardless of what type they're. Two sawhorses are not enough for holding hardwood planks that are 7' to 8' long. At least one more in the middle is needed.

 

[Bugsysiegals]

If you're referring to the Bora sawhorses only, then it's none for me as I don't have that kind of sawhorse; I find them too heavy.

I made the Krenov style of sawhorses out of 1x4, and use them 1, 2 or 3 or 4 at a time as a worktable on the fly, or holding lumber before it's processed, or as an outfeed support (with a roller installed) for my planer They're so light weight (but incredibly strong) that I can carry all 4 of them in one hand over my shoulder.

[attachimg=1]

I like these, very nice, this could be a good future project for me!

Snip.
You might not use the other 2 all the time but those times you feel you need them you'll be glad to have them.

Agreed, when it comes to sawhorses, regardless of what type they're. Two sawhorses are not enough for holding hardwood planks that are 7' to 8' long. At least one more in the middle is needed.

I have 4 folding steel saw horses and was considering getting rid of them but I suppose I should keep them as backup ... plus I could always spray/finish parts on them.

 

[ChuckM]

Bugs,

Do you have a Domino Joiner? If so, you can put together a few pairs of them over a weekend. Using 1x4, it probably costs $15 or less for each sawhorse. The photo below shows two sides stacked together:

[attachimg=1]

(The pair shown in the previous post uses a wedged M&T joint.)

 

[cpw]

The thing that I use the most saw horses (or portable tables) for is finishing things or just as a very long table for manipulating materials on while cutting.  Having more is helpful, because especially for long floppy things like trim or siding, support in the middle is very important and 2 just doesn't cut it when you have a 16' length.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I have tried 3 different brands of sawhorses with my TrackTubes and three MFT slabs and like the adjustable SpeedHorse XT's the most. I dedicate the set to my table setup and store it on a ceiling lift. (https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/finally-used-my-df-500-connectors/msg681923/#msg681923)

For around the garage shop I use my Dewalt folding sawhorses and for rougher work around the house a cheap brand of folding sawhorses.

So for me one set of the XT's is sufficient.

 

[gunnyr]

Hah!  I have four sets that I use regularly.  2 sets of the plastic Dewalt ones; I use them for my TrackTubes and finishing.  I have a set of the Toughbuilt C700 adjustable that I like a lot but are heavy and time consuming to set up.  I carry a pair of the Bora Speedhorses on my van.  I love he weight of them and easy of set up; simply pull a lever and allow the legs to drop in place!

I also have a set of low saw bench horses that I used to get things off the floor where I can work on them and to stand on when doing interior trim.  I also own a pair of Toughbuilt C500's that I left on a job site....  (that's why I bought the Bora's and the Bora's are why I didn't pursue recovering my sawhorses! [big grin] 

I have plans to built a set of benches to match the height of my Saw Bench that are patterned after the IKEA PERJOHAN Bench with storage.... 

 

[woodbutcherbower]

My work is split around 70/30 between site and shop. All I’ve ever needed is a pair of Toughbuilt 700’s with a pair of 2” x 8”s laid flat on top to act as sacrificial support battens - these get replaced every few months once they’re trashed beyond recognition. I recently bought an additional pair of Bora Speedhorses to support a half-sheet of MDF to use as a portable worktable, and broke both of them within a month. Some nice ideas on them, but way too flimsy for the real world IMO. The lack of adjustable leg height is also a big negative.

 

[twistsol1]

I have two cheap aluminum sawhorses from Menards and they are rarely used.

In my shop I have a 4'x9' work table, two MFT/3s, an STM1800, and an 8 foot bench. I usually bring the MFTs with me on site along with the STM 1800 and saw horses. If used, the horses are for short term framing lumber storage so I don't need to bend down to pick it up from the floor.

 

[afish]

It all depends on the person but I think 4 is a good number to have available for most.  While 2 might get more bench time than the others.  I will also say I use one of these and love, love it.  I dont do any cutting on it but it makes a great addition to have a spot to set tools instead of on the work bench which helps keep it clutter free.  I do use it for small jobs, it makes a great assembly table for cabinets because you can easily adjust the height currently its set up as a tile back buttering station.  It folds up quickly and very compactly. 

 

[ChuckM]

The HD table seems to be reasonably priced, though the "One hand adjustable height" in the product name isn't what I thought it was. In addition to the Krenov sawhorses, I can also use one or a pair of my centipedes where desired. I used to have a set of 4, but sold one, and gave another one away after seeing not enough use of them. They take up little footprint when folded:

[attachimg=1]

 

[Michael Kellough]

A small folding rolling scaffold is very helpful on site and in the shop when storing and sorting lumber.

 

[afish]

The HD table seems to be reasonably priced, though the "One hand adjustable height" in the product name isn't what I thought it was. In addition to the Krenov sawhorses, I can also use one or a pair of my centipedes where desired. I used to have a set of 4, but sold one, and gave another one away after seeing not enough use of them. They take up little footprint when folded:

[attachimg=1]

I liked the looks of the centipedes but Im a pretty tall dude and it looked on the low side for working on.

 

[gunnyr]

I liked the looks of the centipedes but Im a pretty tall dude and it looked on the low side for working on.

Bora sells extensions to bring the height of the Centipede up to a comfortable working level for me (I'm 6')  I saw recently they came out with a taller table that sets up to 36" H. 

 

[afish]

The centipede has its place for some for sure.  If I was mobile and needed/wanted a quick to deploy spot to cut up a few sheet goods down and dirty then it would probably be my go to. If I was setting up for a longer or more intense cutting session, no it wouldn't be my go to.  We are lucking to living in a world that offers so many options to fit everyone's needs.  I rarely even break out my saw horses anymore but they are there if I need them.  For myself space it at an all time premium so folding saw horses are a must. My horses got used more for a painting station than anything before discovering how much I liked my wifes folding table . She got a new one after I got paint all over it... That thing is great for "me" others, maybe maybe not.  Its cheap, fast, folds up small and thin so its slips easily into narrow spaces and I abuse the crap out of it. Paint all over, who cares. thinset boggers all over it just knock em off with razor scraper. knicks and cuts, who cares. Would I try to stack 1000# of lumber on it, nope!  Would I try and cut sheet goods on it, nope! (however a pair with some track tubes and a mft top would probably work very well for cutting.) Can I flick it open/closed before the centipede is even out of the bag, yep! The folding table linked is not really meant to be a work surface but a compliment too a work surface.  I hate having "only" a single surface because all the tools will inevitably be set on it.  This is where the folding table really shines.  I just set it up next to the workbench to have a spot to set down all the tools and keeps the worksurface free. Everything is right there at a comfortable height.  As mentioned it also works good for assembling cabinets since I can drop it lower which puts the cabinet at a more comfortable height to assemble.  The centipede would work for that too since its lower but then I need a top for it. With a centipede I would also be worried about overspray accumulating on all the slidy, hingy bits if used as a paint station and the legs binding. Others might not ever want or need to paint on it. It looks a little delicate and susceptible to damage if not treated well to me.  Im not really into babying my work benches but that doesnt mean its not an great option for some   

 

[jeffinsgf]

One of the first books I read about furniture making was Krenov's. I've been "meaning to" make a set of his saw horses for something on the far side of 40 years. Every time my memory gets tickled about them, I study up a bit and have the same argument with myself that I've had all those years. If I'm going to go through the trouble to build something with draw-bore and wedged mortise and tenon joints, it's going in the living room, not the shop. But, as Chuck pointed out last week, the fancy joinery isn't necessary for the horse to do its job. So Thursday I printed a Fine Woodworking article to steal dimensions and scrounged through my lumber to see if I could build a set of kinda-Krenov saw horses for not much investment.

I used double 8x50 Dominos to join the uprights to the bases and double 8x40s to join the stretchers to the uprights. I used Sassafras because it's light, strong, cheap and machines easily...and I had a bunch.

Here's a pic of the joints.

Here's a pic of the final dry assembly before I started spreading glue.

And here they are all glued up and assembled.

My other horses are from a pre-WWII "Manual Training" middle-school text book. I worked alongside a crusty old cabinetmaker when I was a teenager, and he pontificated on these particular horses being better than anything you could buy or any other plan you could make. I built my first set right after I graduated college in 1980. They've followed me faithfully for 42 years and they're still up to the job, but they've been semi-retired to a corner of the shop and I made a new pair a couple years ago.

I think they're going to play well together. The splayed leg horses are short...designed to drop a knee on a board to hold it while you cut with a hand saw. The kinda-Krenovs are taller, lighter and narrower. They even nest together for storage.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
I used double 8x50 Dominos to join the uprights to the bases and double 8x40s to join the stretchers to the uprights. I used Sassafras because it's light, strong, cheap and machines easily...and I had a bunch.
Snip.

Wow.

Does WP offer local classes? If so, you should run a few of them on this!

Like many other things in woodworking, one has to use them to really appreciate Krenov's brilliance.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Wow.

Does WP offer local classes? If so, you should run a few of them on this!

Like many other things in woodworking, one has to use them to really appreciate Krenov's brilliance.

No, but I am thinking about using my layout technique on the double Dominos for a video. I've done doubles before and fought with the spacing a little bit. I did these with a center-scale rule, first locating the material center then going a certain distance either side of center for the centerlines of the mortises. Did every one of them on the tight setting and it all came togehter perfectly.