Build the World's Best $6 Sawhorse?

(Page 2 of 2)

July/August 1985
By the Mother Earth News staff 
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Finish up by laying the platform boards over the cross braces and nailing them down (make sure a sample 2 X 4 slips between them). Drive a few more fasteners through the sides of the legs and into the ends of the short braces and the edges of the corner notches, then lock the whole shebang up tight by cutting your scrap of 1 X 4 into two 16" lengths and tacking each one between the outer edges of each leg set, about 6" up from the bottom. Finally, check the joints and trim any protruding corners with the handsaw to make sure they're flush.

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At first, you'll probably be taken with the fact that this cutting bench makes stud trimming a breeze, because the lumber stays where you put it and the blade doesn't tend to bind. But after a while, you'll begin to realize that it works with shorter boards as well, and gives you the option of using a circular saw in the center or a handsaw at the ends. Then too, it could be lengthened if necessary to provide additional support for even longer pieces.

Any way you cut it, it'd be hard to beat this pony for the price . . . especially when you consider that one does the work of two.

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  • Bob Robblee 4/19/2009 9:28:13 AM

    Any update on the original sawhorse is good. For some 30 years I have used a variation of it by adding a table top made with two 2 x 12s. Cut two end supports about 24 inches long of 2 x 4 and attach them to the ends of the saw horse. Nail the 2 x 12s {Any combination of 2" lumber can be used to make the tabletop} to the supports and leave a 4-6 inch space between them. Now, you can cut anything, including sheeting with ONE sawtable. Add cross bracing on the legs for further sturdiness.

  • Larry Emmons 4/9/2009 10:00:31 AM

    When I make it, I will basically use their idea but make the opening for a 2X8 and have blocks of wood that I can put in opening to bring it down to other sizes such as 2X6, 2X4 etc. More versatile that way.

  • Debbie 4/9/2009 7:26:00 AM

    Please let me know where to find plans or drawings for the $6 sawhorse. It's not in the article.

  • DanO 4/8/2009 3:11:14 PM

    Click the "Image Gallery" link in the "Article Tools" box for a detailed measured drawing.

  • Dave 4/8/2009 2:58:24 PM

    The plan is picture 3 in the image gallery:
    http://www.motherearthnews.com/multimedia/image-gallery.aspx?id=70064&seq=2

    Also, it would be easy to convert this into a workbench by adding a piece of plywood with a 2x4 underneath.

  • Brent Leishman 4/8/2009 12:07:09 PM

    Yes please let us know where to find plans or drawings for the $6 sawhorse. It's not in the article.

  • Rhall 4/8/2009 9:54:48 AM

    The measured drawing for that $6 sawhorse never showed up in the actual article, just in a blurry way in the emailed teaser. Is it possible to find the illustration somewhere? I do think I'd like to make this.

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