WHAT IT TAKES
TIME: 1/2 day
SKILL: Beginner
Want more versatility than standard sawhorses can deliver? With these, you can support both long and short lumber at the same time or large sheets of plywood. When you’re done, just fold them up for storage.
To build these sawhorses, you’ll need five 8-ft. 2x4s, a couple of pieces of scrap 1/2-in. plywood, 2-1/2 in. and 1-5/8 in. drywall screws, and a pair of 3-1/2 in. door hinges.
First, cut the 2x4s into eight 32-in. crosspieces, six 24-in. legs and six 6-1/2 in. pieces for the feet. Cut six triangles from the plywood, making them 6-1/2 in. on two sides.
Next, screw the horizontal pieces into two angle iron–shaped crosspieces, then screw a leg on each end of two crosspieces, positioning the legs on opposite sides so the two crosspieces will meet edge to edge when closed. Finally, screw one leg on the remaining crosspieces, then screw on the feet and triangles and attach the crosspieces with the hinges. That’s it. Now you can saw, sand or rout those unwieldy workpieces in comfort.