These sturdy sawhorses serve a multitude of functions around our job sites. They have provided the base for a working-drawings table or improvised miter-saw stand, held walking planks, and supported heavy lumber. They can’t be folded into a small package, but they are surprisingly light and stackable.
There are no exotic materials required to build these horses, and on some job sites, the parts might come right out of the burn pile. The top is a 4-ft. 2×8. The legs are 1x8s, and the stretchers are 1x4s. Gussets made of 3/4-in. plywood reinforce the legs. The 2×8 is beveled at 17° on a tablesaw. The 1x8s are cut with 17° compound miters at both ends, so when placed against the bevel of the 2×8, they are flush with its top and firmly planted on the ground. Attaching all pieces with 1-1/2-in. deck screws should ensure many years of rugged, continuous use.
Ty Simmons, Fort Laramie, WY
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #214
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