Sawhorses are used on practically every construction job. They support material that is being laid out or cut to size. They may be built of various materials, depending on the desired strength of the sawhorse. Light-duty horses may be made with a 2 X 4 (38 X 89 mm) top and 1 X 4 (19 X 89 mm) legs, while heavy duty horses are made with a 2 X 6 (38 X 140 mm) top and 2 X 4 (38 X 89 mm) legs. Both use plywood for leg braces.
Sawhorses are constructed in a number of ways, according to the preference of the individual. However, they should be of sufficient width, a comfortable working height, and light enough to be moved easily from one place to another. A typical sawhorse is 36 inches (914 mm) wide with 24-inch (610 mm) legs. A tall person may wish to make the leg 30 inches (762 mm) long.
An alternative to the traditional sawhorse is a collapsible version made of 3/4-inch (19 mm) plywood and that stands about 30 inches (762 mm) in height. This sawhorse is much more durable and much stronger and is at a more comfortable height for using a circular saw. A pair of these sawhorses can easily hold 20 pieces of 16-foot 2 X lOs (5 m 38 X 235s). Also, they are much more suitable for cutting panels of 4′ X 8′ (1.2 X 2.4 m).
