Watcha Makin'?

Resonator · May 24, 2025, 11:55:10 AM

Yup, at least a hundred different ways to build sawhorses.

I've built them with a 2x4 laid flat on the top rail before. Also made them with the legs turned flat ways, so they nest together stacked up in the garage. I like this style as it's rugged enough to hold a good size whack of lumber right off the mill (I made them 5' wide). And the top rail only touches the fresh cut boards a little more than a sticker would.

SwampDonkey · May 24, 2025, 03:44:38 PM

I think they will do the job.

However, I do like the old fashioned kind and have been meaning to build a set, but never seem to make the time. Here's the design.

tule peak timber · May 24, 2025, 07:05:23 PM

For the last couple of months, I have been working on a big slab flattener system that ties in with my existing layup table and something that solves the problem of power, air and me working alone in the shop. This is a 7-1/2' x 20' True table that is co-planer and coupled through a removable bridge to another 40' table, giving me an overall good flat table surface of about 64'. The router system I chose answered the questions that no one who builds CNC machines could answer and as a matter of fact, neither could Caterpillar Diesel. This system is autonomous in the X and Y axes, slow, inexpensive and something I can work with. Oh yeah, did I mention, it is also very big!
In the next week or two, I will work out the power and air dust collection drags from the ceiling to make the thing a set, turn-on and walk away unit, so I am free to do other jobs in the shop.

Worked out a few bugs with limit switches this weekend and some slight improvements on the manufacturer supplied equipment. I got the thing going today and it's like a little robot; up and down and back and forth, and when it is done, parks itself.

Andries · May 24, 2025, 07:32:47 PM

What a huge setup TPT.

Safe to say that you believe the slab market to remain strong for a long time?
Is that a Milwaukee router in the first photo?

tule peak timber · May 24, 2025, 07:44:58 PM

Yes, I wanted something that would flatten as large as I can cut. Besides flattening slabs, it's a major tool for counter top, bar top fabrication.

As far as the slab market; my competitors are getting more than twice what I charge for a flattened, sanded slab. So, I need to get current. I've been collecting slabs for almost 20 years and I have literally acres of them. Supposedly, next week I have contracted for some of the biggest, certainly most expensive logs I have EVER purchased to come in for reduction to slabs. Let's hope the market stays strong!

How are my brook trout doing?

Magicman · May 24, 2025, 08:17:13 PM

I had an old carpenter tell me that when a new rookie apprentice showed up the first thing that they would have him do was build a couple of sawhorses. They would immediately know if he was worth keeping or not.

Resonator · May 24, 2025, 09:54:20 PM

Yup, I've heard of woodworking classes where building a sawhorse is the beginner project to learn the basic skills.

doc henderson · May 24, 2025, 11:15:44 PM

Kenny Skeels is the guy that I built houses with, in high school. He had moved to Colorado at one point, and they had union labor there. He had to take a test and the standard height of a saw horse was one of the questions. If they wanted you, you got it right. If not, the answer was wrong. the final answer he told me was 30 inches, ... if they wanted you.

SwampDonkey · May 25, 2025, 03:48:55 AM

I would build mine 30-32" high because wouldn't be piling a bunch of material on top or a saw. But I may use as a portable table with a sheet of 3/4" plywood. 26" in the drawing seems short to me to, Doc.

teakwood · May 25, 2025, 08:10:56 AM

@tule peak timber , hey Rob, do you have any fotos of that slabber cnc? i don't seem to find them anywhere, sure sound like an interesting machine!

doc henderson · May 25, 2025, 09:06:34 AM

I plan to make a set for the roller table. I still have a still that are 7 feet long. I made them to roll my 22-foot Javelin Daysailer 2 belly up to make repairs under my covered parking spot in Albany NY. They knew they had a Ks boy when I used com-a-long to take the boat off the trailer and roll it 180 degrees. I had some keel issues back in 1992.

Sailed on Lake George up by the fort.

tule peak timber · May 25, 2025, 09:13:28 AM

Quote from: teakwood on May 25, 2025, 08:10:56 AM@tule peak timber , hey Rob, do you have any fotos of that slabber cnc? i don't seem to find them anywhere, sure sound like an interesting machine!

Andries · May 25, 2025, 10:49:40 AM

Your brookies are just fine.
They're just livin' their lives with very little to disrupt them.

tule peak timber · May 29, 2025, 03:35:04 PM

Quote from: Andries on May 24, 2025, 07:32:47 PMWhat a huge setup TPT.

Safe to say that you believe the slab market to remain strong for a long time?
Is that a Milwaukee router in the first photo?

I just had a guy from ECO RELICS approach me about buying parts from his business that is breaking up. This is a big slab place in Jacksonville FL. Funny you should mention the strength of the slab market,,,hummmm.

Magicman · May 29, 2025, 07:02:49 PM

Here is a picture of a slab table that I snatched today:

beenthere · May 29, 2025, 07:31:35 PM

Where did you snap the pic ? and are the individual pieces glued or epoxied in place? Appear they are "floating" loose. Looks great.

aigheadish · May 30, 2025, 07:06:51 AM

Yeah, that table is really neat!

I snapped a picture of your picture. I don't need any more tables in my life but that one looks like it'd be fun to try making.

thecfarm · May 30, 2025, 09:23:33 PM

Now that's a way to use up your scraps!!!!
And your spare time.

WV Sawmiller · May 31, 2025, 08:46:11 PM

The youngest grandkids were up this weekend and this morning they wanted to build a birdhouse for their little friend who just moved into a new house there in Charlotte NC so we got out and cut out the tulip poplar 1X6's for the 4 sides and I found and old piece of 1X12 walnut for the top. I cut out the pieces and pre-drilled the holes for the 6d nails and let them hammer them in with an 8 oz stubby hammer. My grandson got pretty good at whaling away at the nails. When finished we put the family name on the nest box.

Here is the front and top.

Here is how it will look when nailed to a post. There is 4" hanging down with 2 nails to nail it to a post. The bluebirds like the rustic unpainted rough wood of these dimensions and hole size.

There is nothing more fun than doing a project with the grandkids and they are real proud of their gift for the friend.

At the end of the day I was going by the grocery store with my grandson and he had the bright idea about having a cookout with hot dogs and smores so I loaded up on the makings. I got home and they helped me pick up the fallen limbs in the lot and I got a nice fire going and we had a great time at my picnic area which is a big flat rock about 5-6 ft in diameter. I brought 3 of my rough benches out of the shed to use for the 6 of us and that worked well too.