Simple Sawhorse

This sawhorse is made from 2 X 4's, the top can be any length, over 32" is recommended so it will hold most doors to work on them.

Make four legs for each sawhorse marking them off with a 24" carpenters square, place the 24" mark and 8" marks at the bottom of a 2 X 4 as shown, make the cuts, then cut the point off as shown below.

Fasten the four legs to the top, about 3" in from each end, then placing a piece of plywood under the top on each end mark off the angles to cut for the leg braces. A second brace can be added half-way down the legs for added strength.

Cutting legs with miter saw.

Although this is a simple design cutting the top oblique angle on the legs has always presented a bit of a problem, until I made this jig I had always used a hand rip saw.

Cut both ends of the 2X4 at 20 degrees, the overall length should be about 26". Make the cut with the 2X4 on edge so you swinging the saw to the 20 degree mark rather than tilting the saw with the 2X4 flat.

Make a jig to cut the top angle using 2 short 2X4's and a 2X2 as shown in the photo below. Place a leg in the slot with the saw still set at 20 degrees, the short side of the top of the leg should be to the left, when you make the first cut you will slice a bit off the 2X4 on the right and cut into the 2X2, stop before you cut all the way through it.

Sawhorse Supports for Creating Work Table, Award Winning!
Just voted Popular Mechanics Magazine Editor's Choice Award for 2011! The one drawback to the ubiquitous and incredibly useful "sawhorse workbench" is that it almost always suffers from saddleback. But these nifty brackets from Rockler are an instant cure - just slip them onto the sawhorses and add two 2x4's in any length you desire to create a strong, stable base. Or you can add a sheet of plywood as a top for a sturdy, portable assembly table or for job-site work tables. A simple tool with virtually limitless possibilities. Includes screws to secure brackets to 2 x 4s. Sized for use with 2x4 sawhorses. Steel. Patent pending.

Sawhorse Supports for Creating Work Table, Award Winning!

Sawhorse Supports for Creating Work Table, Award Winning!

See also:

Sawing Trestle, a similar but more intricate design from the early 1900's.

Wide top sawhorse, great for hand sawing.