Heavy Duty Adjustable Height Saw Horse

[Jon]

Congratulations Keith William Knull - your Sawhorses are the Homemade Tool of the Week!

This was a very difficult week on which to win, especially with a fairly common tool such as a sawhorse. There was both a high volume of tools, and a large number of tools with many Thanks votes. However, upon reviewing the 85 sawhorses in our Homemade Sawhorses category, this one stood out because it appears to be either among the best, or simply the best design we've seen. Specifically: stability, collapsibility, and adjustability - both in regard to height and uneven terrain.

Some nice picks from this week:

Square Stock Collet Inserts by mklotz
Round Stock Vise by rossbotics
Machine Badge by earz
Pipe Bender Die Guide by Frank S
Tool Handle for Arthritic Hands by philipUsesWood&Brass
Knurling Tool by Stevohdee
Belt Sander by Radioman
Watchmakers Lathe Threading Slide by threesixesinarow
Bench Block Ring Saver by mklotz
Bearing Installation Tool Handle by Frank S
Drill Press Lathe Chuck Mount by Rorschach
Vise Restoration by Make Everything
Slide Hammer Bearing Puller Adapter by Frank S
Stump Jumper Removal Press by Imabass
Single Hole Spanner Wrench by Frank S


Keith William Knull - we've added your tool entry to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post. And, you'll now notice the wrench-on-pedestal award in the awards showcase in your postbit, visible beneath your username:



You'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

A look through all of Keith William Knull's tools (viewable via the "Keith William Knull's Tools" link in his postbit) reveals that, like many of our tools, this one is likely the culmination of multiple similar builds. In fact I believe I see the folding ladder work table doing double duty in this build as a scaffold.

Free Standing Truck Bed Slide by Keith William Knull

tags: 2x4, portable, workbench, caster(s), pickup

Folding Ladder Work Table by Keith William Knull

tags: portable, workbench, extension ladder

Folding Outfeed Table by Keith William Knull

tags: 2x4, table

[Keith William Knull]

Glad you like them. I don't have any plans, sorry.

[Scotsman Hosie]

Wonderfully clean, well thought out, function-driven design. And the heavy duty door hinges no doubt supply ease and precise operation, while contributing to the strength and stability of the overall design. Your photography is super, as well. I've never seen anything quite like it. Thanks for sharing.

[Jmortonsalt]

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.

What dimensions are your mortises if they are tight fitting, yet permit the top to be set to different angles as the terrain requires? I'm definitely going to build a set of these. Thanks!

[Keith William Knull]

The mortises are tight fitting along the 3 1/2" faces of the 2x4 for lateral stability. The length of the mortise is approx. 4 inches, allowing 1/2" of play.

[Keith William Knull]

*design modification*

After leaving the horses in the rain, the wood swelled which made the height adjustment really stiff.
So, I just made a relief cut through the end of the 2x6 to loosen the fit and added a* through bolt and knob to tighten as needed to retain lateral stability after adjustment.

I think if you're using these outdoors, this mod is definitely required.

[Philip Davies]

I made a pair of sawhorses last week for some chaps and they were appreciated. They are knee height, or just over, so that the average fellow can kneel on the material while he is sawing it. It did take a couple of hours to make them. My carpentry teacher, Wally Faulkner, said that as a young carpenter, he was allowed 15 minutes to make one for his use on site. This would’ve 1950s. French journeymen are often told to make one as elaborate as possible when they arrive at a new place so the master can assess their ability. Google “treteau” and you will be impressed. Mine are very basic.