LOW SAWHORSE

A low sawhorse sounds like an oxymoron, but you won’t believe how much you’ll use these. Build two at a time. A plank or piece of plywood on top creates a low platform to set work on. If you build these out of 30 mm timber instead of the 25 mm pine that we show, they’re easily strong enough to stand on. If you make the lower shelf out of 12 mm plywood, you can shave some weight without sacrificing strength.

I NSTRUCTIONS

Start by crosscutting 1 the sides using a circular saw and a 40-tooth ATBR combination blade. Choose whichever end will become the top and mark its center. Then measure and mark 180 mm out from the center and make a mark on the left and right. On each side of the panel, measure 295 mm up from the bottom, and draw diagonal lines from there to the marks at the top. This produces a cut line with a pleasing slope and space for the horizontal 25 x 100 T-brace at the top.

Now mark the triangular cutout at the bottom. Measure in 50 mm from each edge and draw a 45˚ line toward the panel center. Cut along the sloping lines with a jigsaw to the point where they intersect. Crosscut the shelf. Use 2 the shelf to mark the length of the vertical 25 x 100 that forms the T-support and crosscut that. Now crosscut the support cleats based on the width of the sides. The remaining pieces will be cut to length to fit the assembly. Begin assembly by 3 locating the support cleats. Measure up 140 mm from the bottom of the sides and mark a line across the panels, then clamp a square on the line. Butt each cleat to the square and attach it with four 30 mm screws.

Place the shelf between the two sides and clamp the three together. Check that the sides are square to the shelf, and screw through the sides into the shelf. Remove the clamps and drive two 40 mm screws through the sides into the vertical part of the T-brace. Crosscut the top of the T-brace and attach with four screws. Hold the shelf support 4 in position, mark its length, and crosscut it. At each end, drive two 80 mm screws through the sides into the support and drive two screws through the shelf into it.