Sawhorses are a must-have for your workshop if you like carpentry. These are sturdy frames that can be made out of wood, metal, or plastic which are used for supporting materials that are being cut with hand saw, circular saw, or any other tool. So, sawhorses are basically steady work surfaces mainly used by carpenters when they are building something. If you are a homeowner you too can use it for any DIY projects at home.
How to build a sawhorse:
The sawhorse is a DIY must-have and a workshop stable. It can have different designs and functions; it can be heavy or lightweight and used for a variety of tasks. You could either buy one from a retailer or fix yourself one at home. Some sawhorses can be folded to be hung up on walls while some are too big and bulky. The idea is to make a strong sawhorse which is both portable and effective for carpentry jobs. Ideally, they must not take up too much space for storage. You should be able to stack them one on top of another to save space.
- To start building one, you must buy suitable boards. You can invest in yellow or white pine, but it is best to buy lumber that is resistant to insects and rot when building one that can be kept outdoors.
- You must install a work table for measuring and cutting the wood. The lumber is to be ripped into half when using 2×6 boards. These typically do not have large knots.
- Next, you must measure their length up to a height which is comfortable for you to work with. For example, 34-36 inches will work best for a 6-footer. It is best to make them tall at first; if needed, you can trim the legs to fit your height.
- You must cut a bevel in the leg which should be at a 65 degrees angle from square line to give the optimal spread. Since you must cut the bevel square to narrow edges of the board you should mark the bottom and top. You must re-cut through right from the bottom to the top.
- Then you can cut the top board and this will be sawed onto both ends. The back board must be laid down on flat surfaces, whether these are floors or work tables.
- Positioning the first leg on an earlier-made square mark, you should nail to the bevel to ensure it sits tightly on the top board edge.
- Both legs must be nailed on any one side of this top board and then flipped over. Then, the other two legs should be nailed.
- Now you can stand the half-assembled sawhorse straight and measure down from the top board. You may use a shorter board and make this the spreader between the two horse legs.
- Finally, you must nail the braces in position carefully to make sure that the legs are positioned in such a way that the horse is able to stand flat on the ground. If the braces are not nailed rightly the sawhorse will become wobbly and unsteady.
Once you have made a sawhorse, you need to make sure the legs have equal length. Else, you may need to cut the legs shorter and ensure that your top board stays parallel to the floor. Once the sawhorses are ready, you can stack these for easy storage. You may paint the sawhorses once ready to complete the look.
