Tale of Two Saw Horses and a Saw Bench

[Tim Null]

A while back I made these two saw horses from a Krenov design from one of the magazines. I used red oak and hard maple.

When I was building them, I just followed the specs in the article. After cutting the sides to length, I realized that I should make the final height match my assembly table, which is also used to cut down sheet goods.

So I designed an attachment that went on top of the blade and raised the height to match my table exactly. Now I am able to place sheet goods on the table and support the cutoff with the saw horses.

They were good practice for through mortises with wedges.

Just last week I saw the blog by Schwarz about his saw bench. So I had to give it a try.

I couldn't use pine, I had to match my horses. So I used some 1 3/4" hard maple I had laying around and some red oak.

The top was supposed to be 1 1/4" by design, but I left mine the full 1 3/4" It makes it quite heavy, much like a work bench top. I used cherry and walnut dowels and red oak for the shelf, but at 3/4" instead of the 1 1/4" in the design.

It came out pretty well, I think. I used my sash saw from Grammercy to cut the leg to top joint. It was the saw's break in, other than a few test cuts and it preformed very well, especially after the first two cuts. I think it started to break in then.

Two coats of Danish Oil and it was done.

Just need a holdfast and maybe a new saw.......

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[Tony Shea]

That's funny, I just recently (about a month ago) built myself a set of some Krenov style saw horses out of some super dense white oak. And within the past week have been working on Schwarz's saw bench. My difference is in the saw bench, am def not using some hard maple.

That saw bench looks massive and heavy, probably both great characteristics to have in a saw bench. You're a better man than I for using some beautiful expensive maple on a bench that will eventually become cut up from my saws. Great job on the shop fixtures.

[Tim Null]

Thanks Tony,

I used the same maple for my workbench and have not regretted it. Sure it has taken a few dings here and there, but it still looks great. An every time I come into the shop, I see it and appreciate how it looks and what it took to make.

My assembly table, with a baltic birch plywood top, is the one that gets beat up. Maybe if I had made it out of nice hard maple, it would look better.....LOL

We need pics of the finished horses and bench!

[Mark Dorman]

Those look great and you gave me an idea. I have a saw bench I built from Borg wood (no maple laying around) and was going to make a saw horse to match the height of it. But you got me thinking; why not make two at a good assembly height as you did and put the lower stretcher at the height of my saw bench. Then it would be dual purpose. Thanks for posting the pics.

Mark

[Tim Null]

Mark,

That is an excellent idea. I would have done the same thing if I had not built the saw horses first. The stretcher seems to be a bit arbitrary in its placement anyway.

Need pics when you are done.

[Marv Werner]

WoW, you guys really get serious with building your saw benches!

That is one solid looking bench. Great job!

The problem I always run into when building anything with four legs is, it always wobbles. Seems it is tipping on three legs most of the time. So I got to thinking, why not just have three legs to start with?

I'm kind of a simple guy, so due to my inherent laziness, I tend to think in simple terms. I took all the shortcuts I could think of.

Here's the simple design I came up with....Now don't laugh, it works quite well... my intended use for it is mainly for making test cuts after sharpening a saw. It's made from Douglas Fir, half was old stuff I had laying around, plus a couple 2 x 6,s I got at the local borg. It is guaranteed to not wobble. The color?? Well, I was kind of in the spirit of the "going green" thing. Besides, I like green.

For more pics and blab, go to Leif Hanson's website here.... While you are there, read the one comment where a guy posted some pictures of a really neat saw bench he and his kid made.
http://www.norsewoodsmith.com/content/marvs-three-legged-saw-bench

[Tom Winship]

Someone said the only dumb question is the one that isn't asked (or some such), so here is my attempt.
Is the purpose of the V in the end of a sawbench for ripping?

(See I warned you it could be dumb.)

[Marv Werner]

Yes, that's it's intended purpose. Not a dumb question though. I once had to ask the same question, but at the time I didn't think it was dumb. In my opinion, the question isn't dumb but the V is not all that smart. It can only accommodate short rip cuts. That could be done without the V by merely extending a board off the end of the bench. A smarter thing to do would be to build a sawhorse the same height as the bench for longer rip cuts. But if you did that, the V would be useful when finishing the rip cut at the end of the board. With the three legged bench I built, I chose to just go with a gap between the two top boards. Doesn't look as neat and fancy, but is functional.

The V can also be useful when doing coping saw work or when using a reciprocating saw. On second thought, the V is actually a smart idea. ;)

Marv

[Tim Null]

Yeah, three legs are easy to get not to wobble......Geometry class I think, three points define a plane. Fourth point needs to be exactly in that plane or it isn't and then it wobbles. I spent a lot of time shaving down the bottom of the legs to get it to sit right.

That green reminds me of some of my cycling jerseys in the 80's, the ones my wife made me get rid of in the 90's.....LOL

Seriously, nice design. The space down the middle is a great idea.

[Marv Werner]

Tim,

The legs can be different lengths and still won't wobble no matter how uneven the surface is that it's setting on.

With four legs, you can make them all exactly the same length, then set the bench on an uneven surface and it will wobble. I don't think there is such a thing as an even surface, except maybe my table saw. The floor in my shop certainly isn't even. I do like those hefty legs you have on yours though, sorta like my women. *smirk*

That green is supposed to be John Deere green. I even did the handle on that saw the same color. After painting it green, I can't tell you how much better it cuts. Really, I can't.... :D

[Tim Null]

Reminds me of a Joe Diffie song....

Yeah I know. I use tripods for gun rests. Can set them up in the side of a hill and still adjust the legs for no wobble.

I adjusted the legs to be fairly flat in the spot of my shop floor most likely to be used.

I will probably just use some cardboard or my favorite, a used sanding disc to scotch the offending leg if need be.