Workshop Aids

Steel sawhorse bracket kits convert five pieces of square-cut lumber into a sturdy sawhorse; the assembly is secured with nails or wingnuts. Those that require wingnuts allow disassembly with no damage to the wood. The other type provides flanged nail holes for easy nail removal with a claw hammer.

Benefits include ease of assembly, since miter cuts are not necessary; sturdiness and convenient storage, since most brackets allow legs to fold together.

Medium-duty brackets are not as long as heavy duty. Most require nails to give added strength and rigidity. Light-duty brackets are similar to medium, only shorter.

Sawhorse legs are made of wood, tubular material or fabricated steel. Most require that a nonmetal cross-rail be added (with metal cross-rail there is danger of ruining saw teeth).

Workbench leg kits contain four upright legs, four crosspieces, braces, nuts, bolts and washers. Some include a tool-bench rack to organize small tools. The kit includes plans for building the bench, using a 4' x 8' sheet of 3/4" plywood cut into eight parts.

SPECIALTY WORKBENCHES

There are two types of specialty workbenches. One is a stationary woodworking bench with a variety of holes, pegs and vises to hold the work firmly. These are expensive and seldom seen in hardware stores and home centers.

The second type is a portable specialty bench that comes as a tabletop or folding bench. The folding benches offer easy storage and a firm, broad base. The tabletop benches clamp securely to table or shelf and are ideal for apartment dwellers.

The bench is designed to hold irregular pieces securely. It will hold a round piece of wood, a bicycle, a door, a window casing, etc., so it can be worked on with a hand or power tool.

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Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.