Types of Sawhorses – How Many Sawhorses Do You Need?
Contrary to popular belief, sawhorses aren’t actually horses. Of course, that’s not a popular belief, but everyone believes that any establishment dealing with woodworking needs one of these.
They’re essentially a tool that acts as a foundation to place your material, most often wood, to saw safely and properly. Additionally, they have a strong foundation and a slim surface so that you get more room to saw off your material as you please.
As you can tell, it is a vital part of any woodworker since you’ll have to cut the wood into shape frequently. Accordingly, you’ll find them in spades all over carpenters’ and woodworkers’ workshops. Besides, you can use them as slim tables while sanding or painting.
However, you can’t just get any kind of sawhorse and call it a day. If you truly want to make your workshop right, you’ll need the type that suits your purpose best.
What Are the Types of Sawhorses?
Although they look and seem simple enough, there are multiple different types of sawhorses for you to choose from. Each of them offers you different kinds of utility and benefits. They specialize in particular purposes that make them more viable than others based on what you need for your projects.
So, the different types of sawhorses offer you different kinds of benefits. Some last longer, while others reduce the risk of leaving marks. In any case, let’s educate ourselves on the different types of sawhorses out there.
Wooden
This is probably the most common type there is. You’re bound to see one of these once in your life. It’s because the wooden variant is just so versatile in terms of use and availability. They’re easy to make, too, so you can whip one up yourself if you are capable.
- DIMENSIONS: 24" d x 60" w x 30" h
- Handcrafted with care using the finest quality solid wood
Maintenance and repair are quite easy since it’s made of wood. If it gets damaged, you can simply replace the parts. It’s also easy to install and put together. So, you don’t have to work too hard to fix them. This is a concern because these types of sawhorses aren’t all that durable.
You’ll encounter several situations where you might accidentally cut into the tool with your saw. Fortunately, the saw won’t get damaged due to the soft nature of the wooden sawhorse, but you’ll have to make repairs nonetheless.
It’s also worth noting that these won’t leave marks on your materials. So, you can rely on it to dish out solid results when you’re dealing with wood. However, if you plan on cutting steel, then the next type will appeal more to you.
Metal
These aren’t nearly as common as the wooden variant, but it’s earned its spot in industrial use everywhere. Starting off, we must mention that the metal will leave marks on your wood and similar materials. So, if you’re using delicate materials like that, it’s wise not to choose metal.
- HEAVY DUTY FOLDING SAWHORSE — Constructed from 100 percent high-grade steel, this sawhorse is rugged and capable...
- CREATE A STURDY JOBSITE TABLE — Durable sawhorse has 2 x 4 support arms, when deployed transform two sawhorses into...
On the other hand, if you need to cut steel and similarly hard materials, then the metal variant is the type for you. It stays strong and durable even through the toughest use. This is due to their build materials. However, that’s what makes them harder to maintain, as well.
They won’t damage as easily as wood, but when it does, repairing becomes a hassle. Unlike the previous type, you don’t have much scope to make a new one at home, as well. That’s why you’ll mostly see this used in an industrial environment rather than a home one.
Also, they cost much more if you’re planning on buying them instead. So, keep those details in mind before you make your final choice. Therefore, if a long-lasting and durable but ultimately more expensive sawhorse appeals to your needs, then the metal is up for you.
Chainsaw Sawhorse
So, if you try to cut wood on a wooden sawhorse with a chainsaw, you’ll have a real mess on your hands. Your cuts will get messed up, the sawhorse will get damaged, or you could injure yourself. So, what can you do then?
- SLEEK SAWHORSE - The Smart Holder is a sawhorse that facilitates your work.The log is automatically secured when it has...
- PATENTED CLAW - The patented claw bites into the log holding it firmly in place allowing you to cut any length of log...
That’s where these variations come into play. They offer you the ability to hold your logs in place tightly. That way, they won’t mess up their positioning, so you can get a clean cut. Moreover, the vibrations of the chainsaw won’t hinder your accuracy as well, since the logs will stay in place.
Their structure and positioning also make it easier to see and keep track of. As a result, accidents are decreased, and the whole process is much safer than ever before.
Of course, these sawhorses need to be made of hard materials like metal to pull this off. As a result, they’re more expensive and heavier. However, that doesn’t change the fact that it keeps you safe and offers you a lot more convenience when trying to cut down wood with a chainsaw.
Lightweight Sawhorse
Yes, wooden sawhorses are generally light, but it always makes sure to keep just the right amount of weight to avoid sacrificing functionality. That’s just the quality of most sawhorses. Functionality is key. However, there are cases when you might need a portable sawhorse to take to places for a small project.
- Folding sawhorse (set of 2) for stability and strength; quick, easy setup and fold down for carrying to different...
- 900 pound weight capacity, evenly distributed across both sawhorses
That’s where the lightweight variant comes in. They are generally cheaper and lighter but sacrifice durability and functionality for it. It’s not an ideal pick if you’re doing heavy-duty work or even standard work for that matter.
Instead, if you’re working on small projects, then it should be enough. Its decreased weight makes it much more portable than the other variants. You can easily take it anywhere you need to accomplish whatever tasks you have.
So, if you need portability, then this type has you covered. Just make sure that whatever project you’re creating is safe on these types.
How Many Do I Need?
That’s highly subjective. A lot of it depends on the kind of work you’re doing. For instance, if you need a sawhorse to cut metal, then get the metal type and use that. Since they’re highly durable and long-lasting, you won’t have to change them all that often.
On the other hand, if you’re planning on getting a wooden type, then you should try to keep one or two extras. That’s because there could be issues where it gets damaged in a way that interrupts your project. As such, extras never hurt.
In normal scenarios, there shouldn’t really be a reason to get more than one chainsaw sawhorses. One should be good enough as long as you use them properly.
Finally, keeping one or two lightweight variants is good enough. Of course, this is all in terms of personal use. In industrial cases, you’ll need more based on the scope of your business or projects.
Conclusions
Now that you know about the different types of saw horses, we know that you’ll make the right choice on what to get. As long as you’re aware of the purpose it’ll fulfill, you can’t go wrong. So, get out there and saw it!
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