Woodworking Sawhorses

Types Of Chainsaw Sawhorses

There are numerous different sawhorses that can be used in the workplace for both construction work and forestry applications.

Perhaps the most common type of sawhorse is the traditional "A" profile saw horse that is used for supporting timber items such as doors, timber sheet materials, and wooden sections of timber as they are being worked on.

This type of sawhorse is commonly used by a carpenter or joiner, although it could just of easily be used by a builder or other construction trade worker.

The standard "A" profile sawhorse is typically manufactured in either a man made material such as plastic or is made out of wood. Heavy duty versions are also available that are manufactured in box section steel or alloy.

One such manufacturer of this piece of equipment is Stanley Tools who manufacture their 060582R folding sawhorse. This is a flat folding freestanding saw horse that is made out of heavy duty plastic and featuring anti-slip rubber bases (feet) for extra safety on slippery surfaces and flooring. The 060582R model also features a built in "V" groove for holding items such as plumbing pipes and tubing.

Also in the Stanley Tool range is the 060622R model sawhorse. This differes from the 060582R version by way of having a smooth sliding mechanism.This allows easy adjust of the units ruler and legs.

Both of these two options in the Stanley range are supplied as a pair when purchased in the UK.

The toughest model of sawhorse in the Stanley range is the 011031R Fatmax unit. This heavy duty version is manufactured out of alluminium and resin plastic. Each leg on the Fatmax model adjusts seperately allowing this saw horse to be used on uneven surfaces. As with the smaller models in the Stanley range the 011031R features a "V" groove for use in plumbing applications as well as moulded feet inserts to give extra stability.

The Stanley Fatmax 011031R is aimed more at the professional user than the home DIY'er. It is however a good investment for the home owner that is contemplating a fair amount of home improvement work in their house or garden.

Sawhorses For Cutting Logs

For the cutting and chopping of logs thare are also sawhorses that have been designed and manufactured specifically for use with electric and petrol chainsaws.

These are categorized as chainsaw sawhorses.

The construction of this type of "horse" is aimed at holding and securing logs and branches so they can be cut, sawn, and chopped in an efficent and safe way.

Unlike "traditional" woodworking benches a chainsaw sawhorse is usually manufactured out of steel or alluminium tubing (usually square box section). The configuration is also different as they are purely designed to hold logs and branches and not sheet construction timber materials.

There are countless makes and models available to buy, some also feature a chain or retaining strap to securely hold the log being cut in place.

Most chainsaw sawhorses also fold up for easy transportation and for carrying to the work area. When folded it also allows easy storage whether this be in a garden shed, workshop, or in the back of a vehicle.

For the new owner of an petrol or electric chainsaw a sawhorse increases overall safety to a far higher level than just using a saw on its own. By freeing up the need to hold or position logs for cutting a saw horse is like gaining an extra pair of hands.

A chainsaw is a power tool that needs extra care when being used over other powered garden machinery. The cutting blade on a chainsaw revolves at such a high speed and with ferocity that every safety precaution must be made when cutting with this type of tool. A wooden or metal sawhorse helps somewhat with this.

Amongst the most popular brands of chainsaw sawhorses sold are the ones under the brand names of Handy, Oregon, Parasene, Portek, Rocwood, Ryobi, Sawbuck, and Stihl.

All of these brands are very similar in what they offer, the Portek and Stihl units probably being of a slightly better all round quality than the others. The Stihl metal sawhorse is extremely well constructed and also features a spring loaded retaining chain for securely fastening the log being worked on.

Portek manufacture a unit that is unique in having a clamp for attaching the chainsaw to the saw horse itself. This frees up the operators hands to concentrate on using the chainsaw solely for cutting as opposed to supporting the weight of the saw as well. All the effort on the operators back and arms is removed making this a very safe way to chop logs. This particular model is the Portek Logmaster.