Thread: sawhorses as supports for portable workbench

I often have a third or fourth bench on saw horses either using full sheets of 18mm MDF or doors when projects overflow other space, and I often just use a clamp in one spot to secure the top down

(just ask my SWMBO who grumbles about it all the time )

(come to think of it, I also use the c/saw as a 5th bench too)

Welcome to the forum.

The sawhorse and old door bench is a stopgap arrangement that you're best to start planning your way out of now......he says, with some (unprecedented? ) authority, because I've recently built a bench and now my sawhorses are being used for their intended purpose. The old sawhorse bench was not a great arrangement, wobbles and it's the wrong height, but it did for a while.

Is the new house your own or a rental?
If it's yours, you might be able to have a fold away bench secured to a wall......just a thought.

Also, if you do the foldaway bench, you won't need two pairs of sawhorses.

A heavy solid core door on sturdy hardwood sawhorses works well and is quite solid to work on. The door is that heavy I can plane on it without the door being fastened to the sawhorses.
Regards
John

orraloon - thanks for posting that and saving me the trouble. I was beginning to think that my sole purpose in life was to say "use a solid core door"......

They are cheap (35mm thick is fine), heavy enough to stay put, and (most importantly)flat. Use a solid core door on sawhorses for a temporary workspace, then make it permanent later by adding timber rails front/back and some permanent legs.

When I go chain saw milling I used to take a couple of saw horses with me to place the mill on to of to keep it out of the dirt plus it makes it a lot easier to sharpen the chain. After trying out a few different saw horses and various tops I ended up making this 18mm x 600 mm portable work bench.



The full thread is here.

The underneath also has a 75 x 50 jarrah spine running down the middle of it which stops it flexing.

I have also found it useful for all sorts of other purposes around home from the workshop to the BBQ.

The advantage of this type of set up is the top is locked onto the horses so it will not come off easily although there are many other ways of doing this.

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

orraloon - thanks for posting that and saving me the trouble. I was beginning to think that my sole purpose in life was to say "use a solid core door"......

They are cheap (35mm thick is fine), heavy enough to stay put, and (most importantly)flat. Use a solid core door on sawhorses for a temporary workspace, then make it permanent later by adding timber rails front/back and some permanent legs.

Totally agree.

And M10 + B**'s routinely sell damaged doors around $10 each - usually because someone dropped it on a corner, or messed up the hinge or lock routing.

Cheers

Graeme

Hi acetylene, welcome to this forum, I am sure you will get a lot of value out of it, from responses and from your contributions.

Get hold of this Fine Woodworking publication. It shows how to make the stands and planks, and also shows the versatility for differnet applications. I like it because of the height, much better than sawhorses.

"Acetylene" - interesting nickname - goes off suddenly with a bang?

hey mate, i work at a big cabinet making business and all we have for work benches are 2 saw horses and a 18mm sheet of mdf screwd down to them.. as far as needing a vice i generally will just clamp it to the top..

Welcome to the forums.

I made my sawhorses without screws or nails so I can check recycled timber for nails with the metal detector.

They are also used to make a third bench or to rest large projects on whilst assembling or finishing.