Heavy Duty Adjustable Height Saw Horse

[Keith William Knull]

These folding saw horses are adjustable from 2' to 4'. The legs have a wide stance (25 degrees) for stability at full height and they are each hinged on a heavy duty 3 1/2" door hinge. The legs are cross braced by Simpson Strong Tie straps that hook into screw heads.
The adjustable upper frame is joined with half-lap joints and is tightly fitted in two mortises in the base and are held in position with carriage bolts in offset holes every 1 1/2".
These bolts also secure the legs in the stowed position.
The upper frame can be set on an angle to adjust for uneven terrain.
Made from dimensional 2x4 and 2x6 lumber and weighs 30lbs each.

[mklotz]

A very clever design, indeed. I especially like the fact that the working height of the support is adjustable. Most saw horses I've used are just too low to permit working comfortably.

[Frank S]

Have to Agree with Marv the adjustable height is a plus being able to use them on a step or with 1 side raised is another nice addition.
I would feel a little uncomfortable using them in the full elevated position as a scaffolding but as always the user must exercise care and caution when working on any elevated platform.

[Jon]

Very nice take on a common but often lacking tool build.

A very clever design, indeed. I especially like the fact that the working height of the support is adjustable. Most saw horses I've used are just too low to permit working comfortably.

Although I understand why something like kitchen countertop heights are a necessary compromise, standard worksurface heights seem to be unusually low. Not sure why. We have reliable, longstanding data on average human heights, our understanding of ergonomics is well-developed, and we know that lower back pain is both extremely common and costly. Economic incentive to produce worksurfaces with less material, which are thus less expensive? Lingering holdover from an era of universal 36" heights?

[Frank S]

Jon I worked in a shop once where all of their work tables were 32" I'm not particularly a tall man 5' 11" but I found those tables ludicrously low. I learned that they were that height because the workers liked to sit while working. DO What? this is a fabrication factory where you are constantly loading items on a fit up table then welding them together Chairs are for offices and desk jobs was what I told the foreman. He and I made me a heavy duty work table over one weekend @ 38" in height. you didn't find a stool or a chair in my area.

[Tranquility]

These folding saw horses are adjustable from 2' to 4'. The legs have a wide stance (25 degrees) for stability at full height and they are each hinged on a heavy duty 3 1/2" door hinge. The legs are cross braced by Simpson Strong Tie straps that hook into screw heads.
The adjustable upper frame is joined with half-lap joints and is tightly fitted in two mortises in the base and are held in position with carriage bolts in offset holes every 1 1/2".
These bolts also secure the legs in the stowed position.
The upper frame can be set on an angle to adjust for uneven terrain.
Made from dimensional 2x4 and 2x6 lumber and weighs 30lbs each.

Very nice indeed!! These are something I could use on the my ranch in Texas. Do you have any plans drawn up them?

[DIYer]

Thanks Keith William Knull! We've added your Adjustable Height Sawhorse to our Sawhorses category,
as well as to your builder page: Keith William Knull's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Adjustable Height Sawhorse by Keith William Knull

tags: sawhorse

[bruce.desertrat]

Jon I worked in a shop once where all of their work tables were 32" I'm not particularly a tall man 5' 11" but I found those tables ludicrously low. I learned that they were that height because the workers liked to sit while working. DO What? this is a fabrication factory where you are constantly loading items on a fit up table then welding them together Chairs are for offices and desk jobs was what I told the foreman. He and I made me a heavy duty work table over one weekend @ 38" in height. you didn't find a stool or a chair in my area.

Workbench height really really depends on what you're doing and what tools you use on it Chris Schwarz on Workbench height. (the whole article is a good primer on workbenches. Woodworking in this case, but applicable to all sorts)

Again what you're doing dictates whether you sit or not. (also age of joints and condition of knees etc :-)

[bruce.desertrat]

Very nice sawhorses; vastly superior to my ancient '2x4 + wobbly sheetmetal sawhorse brackets' pair. What is that yellow and black clamp set I see in pics 2 and 3? I think I shall look into my supply of lumber and build a paor of these to replace 'em.

[Toolmaker51]

The adjustable upper frame is joined with half-lap joints and is tightly fitted in two mortises in the base and are held in position with carriage bolts in offset holes every 1 1/2".

bruce.desertrat asked about a yellow and black item on the elevating 2x4. Aren't those clamping devices, more or less like a pipe clamp but fit lumber? That's another outstanding feature of your horses. I avoid the molded horses for one reason; useless for clamping to the top. Use of hinges, tie-bar strut, leveling feature...what an array! I'm thinking these didn't just happen overnight