Folding sawhorse idea

[throbscottle]

I could do with a sawhorse or 2 but haven't got room to store it/them. So I was thinking, make each side with a board connecting the legs, to maybe 1/3rd of the way down, and hinge one side, so it can fold flat, and have some kind of flappy arrangement between the bottom edges of the 2 boards to prevent minge movement when it's in use.

Does the idea hold water? Anyone?

 

[Cabinetman]

Well I’ve read it a couple of times but still not really sure of your idea. Suggest a quick sketch, doesn’t have to be brill.
Ian

 

[graham88]

Google "DIY folding saw horse" quite a few videos and instructions pop up.

p.s. Given other words in the sentence, that is a world class typo.

 

[throbscottle]

Oh yeah. Tee hee hee.

I never even thought to look for existing designs. I looked at a couple of slot-together ones here on UKW (very impressive) whilst looking for how to make a normal one, then went straight to "folding" in my head.

Right here's a rough drawing I did in LibreOffice Draw. It's just a way to make one side fold in and be able to lock it when in use.

 

[Sideways]

If you've never used one, the commercial versions are good. Expensive obviously, but metal joints make for speed, strength and stuff like adjustable legs.
I can vouch for toughbuilt, bora have similar, and I have a related product that tells me the dewalt yellow and aluminium trestles derived from their mitre saw stand will be strong and sturdy too.

 

[SimonStevensCanes]

I bought these from screw fix https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-sawhorse-trestles-860mm-2-pack/590tg. They won't be super strong/stable without support between the legs, and they're a little finicky to deploy but they fold up very small, and I've been very happy with them for the price.

 

[Sachakins]

I like this method.

 

[throbscottle]

Bought ones may be nice but... Budget. And the Screwfix ones do look spindly. I'd probably get annoyed with them. Anyway I have a load of reclaimed wood taking up space so I may as well use some of it.

I like the ones in the video - way better than my idea and the legs slope in both directions, unlike many out there. I really want a top wide enough to balance a cup on though. (Cough) I mean, to clamp something to. Yes, ahem... Experience being that I can do a remarkable lot balanced on the edge of an old pallet (which also works as a very low level sawing platform when laid the normal way round) so there's a definite advantage in having a portable narrow work area, but without the proclivity for falling over

 

[HamsterJam]

I have a small workshop and use whatever is to hand (often a piece of flooring-grade chipboard) on top of two plastic trestles similar to these…
https://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-saw-horses-415mm-2-pack/964jc?
to cut up bigger stuff outside.
They are very light, fold up flat and surprisingly stable although just a little too narrow to balance a coffee cup on
Maybe you could make something similar with a slightly wider top?

 

[throbscottle]

Remarkably similar to my first idea!

 

[HamsterJam]

Remarkably similar to my first idea!

Saw this just now and immediately thought of this thread….

Slots in crosspiece angled approx 5° outwards to give stability.

 

[throbscottle]

Remarkably similar to this: https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/portable-japanese-sawhorse.97974/post-1060630 - the thread got me started and has some inspiring ideas, but I really do want 1 piece stands.

 

[HOJ]

I have all sorts of saw horses, wooden, plastic and metal ones, but I find them awkward for when I'm trying to hold and cut pieces of timber, so my solution has been to use a folding hop up with a piece of a fire door blank screwed on, works really well and It can still be used a a hop up, and folded away.

 

[throbscottle]

That's a really good idea. How tall is it, roughly? I never thought to make the legs fold endways...

 

[sneggysteve]

I've got these. Can make the width whatever you like - in fact you can have a couple of lengths ready made.. Really useful

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/39226910...rusiJD9MJ/WmDgEue3x7fi65I=|tkp:Bk9SR-yO2fvFZA

 

[throbscottle]

Good idea - I have a very distant memory of those from somewhere but had completely forgotten. Might get a set - thanks! Plank nailed onto the top would also make a clamping space.

 

[Doug71]

I have all sorts of saw horses, wooden, plastic and metal ones, but I find them awkward for when I'm trying to hold and cut pieces of timber, so my solution has been to use a folding hop up with a piece of a fire door blank screwed on, works really well and It can still be used a a hop up, and folded away.

View attachment 188852

I'm feeling so stupid for never thinking of this, it's pure genius.

My hop up will be getting a wooden top fitted this weekend.

Thank you

 

[Ollie78]

Got a pair of these Metabo ones for 99 quid.
https://dvspowertools.co.uk/shop/po...-work-trestle-set-twin-pack-mab-82-626990000/

Absolutely can`t be beaten for value, cheaper and better than the Toughbuilt or Bora ones. Even making your own you would struggle to beat the price.

Has holes for clamps on top, adjustable side arms for different thickness timbers when making a table, adjustable height, leg stops on one side for holding stuff vertically or cutting pipes etc, very strong when set up. Only complaint is they could be a bit taller.

I also employ the hop up technique as mentioned above, as well as the top of the vacuum technique and the couple of toolboxes technique..

 

[HOJ]

it's pure genius

Not sure about that @Doug71 just what we practical peeps have to do.

I'm actually a bit miffed, I made one years ago using a taller hop up and a home made MFT type top out of some Tricoya I had left over, It was left out in all weather and worked a dream with all the holes, until it went walkies off a site I was on.