Sawing wood again last night on the kids plastic climbing frame, actually makes quite a good saw-horse and the kids have outgrown in now so I only keep it to saw wood on but... it's not really ideal... can you recommend anything better?
Needs to fold down unless it also doubles as kids play equipment, clamp wood so I don't have to play twister trying to hold the wood in place, maybe also useful to have a stop so I can cut wood repeatedly to the same lengths?
I don't have a power saw of any sort so doesn't need to be able to fix one of those in place.
Budget - under £100, under £50 would be better as long as it does the job.
The classic B&D Workmate remains a good bit of kit.
Rich beat me to it.
I've got this: it's brilliant.
Strong, stable (AKA NOT Brexit...), and has the clamps..
Price varies so look around.
DrP
EDIT before posting! £70 here...
The classic B&D Workmate remains a good bit of kit
Are the new ones as robust as the old ones though? I am sure I read that they are made out of cheese in comparison ?
the Keter ones are very good - having two is more than twice as good as having one as is gives lots of options for supporting and cutting larger / longer stuff or you can just a door or sheet of plywood on top and have a nice big work bench
They're also available (sometimes cheaper) branded as MacAlister (b&q's own brand) or as Black and Decker but they're all the same and all made by Keter.
they also so a simpler heavier duty one thats not as quick to set up and fold away, but packs up into the same amount space. Annoyingly they're not quire the same height so the regular and heavy duty ones don't really work well together as a pairing
DrP and maccruiskeen +1
The only negative I have of it is the top is ~4mm thick, with a ~12mm reinforcing web and a 50mm lip around it. It'll hold two people standing on it with no issues, there's no problem with it's strength, But clamping stuff down with anything other than the built in sliding clamps is a bit of a pain.
Significantly more useful than my old workmate(s), and apart from a wipe of the clamp sashes with grease once in a while it can be left outside.
I have a fold up Van Rack MFT:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52648019766_ba3d464699_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52648019766_ba3d464699_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2odjS3J ]Van Rack MFT Table[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52647519122_d960ae40ce_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52647519122_d960ae40ce_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2odhidW ]Van Rack MFT Table[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52648286534_0c45371944_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52648286534_0c45371944_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2odmemb ]Van Rack MFT Table[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Oh that keter thing looks magical. I've also got a workmate that is 30yrs old now and won't die so it's difficult to justify replacing but if I can find an excuse then the keter is what I would go for I think.
yep keter is really good. I have one and use it alot. folding sawhorses have there place to.
downsides of the keter - mine no longer stays fully flat, so it often half unfolds as you carry it which can occasionally cause issues (like marking new paint or tripping you over)
I find the clamps bloody annoying to fit back into the base (so I don;t)
It isn't really stable enough for handsawing bigger timber as it wobblies side to side a bit and makes it harder
You cant adjust the feet if the ground is not even, you'll need to chock with offcuts or the like.
That said I would buy again
that folding mft looks great, quite a bit more. I built my own mft but its got so much crap stored on and and in it never gets used....
Any problems with the mft soaking up water if you use it in bad weather? EDIT - is ply I'd assumed it was made out of mdf. Looks even nicer...
Have a B&Q Workmate copy.. It just won't die. Mine currently has a chops bolted to it for when I had to cut a lot of battens. Cheap and decent. You can also mount a bike stand on it.
My dad gave me his small B&D workmate when I bought my own house in 1986.
I inherited his large B&D workmate when he died in 1995.
I still use them both when I'm DIYing*.
* not often
Any problems with the mft soaking up water if you use it in bad weather? EDIT – is ply I’d assumed it was made out of mdf. Looks even nicer…
Looks like water resistant MDF - not left it out in the rain, so can't really comment on how long it lasts.
Like the Keter ones, also tempted by this black and decker one posted above
How easy is it to clamp things on the Keter/MacAlister ones?
How easy is it to clamp things on the Keter/MacAlister ones?
Using the built in clamps - easy
Clamping down to the worktop - harder due to the lip under the tabletop
Google images suggest there exists some sort of T-nut, threaded rod and a C-shaped clamp accessory that lets you clamp down to the channels which would resolve that.
Came on to say get a ketter one but beaten to it. All I would add is the flat form factor makes it easier (IME) to store. It’s also super stable in use.
There are some things the Keter doesn't clamp as conveniently as a work-mate e.g. the Keter doesn't have the low profile pegs for routing or planing. But overall I prefer the Keter because it provides a much sturdier base and is very quick and easy to fold/unfold.
Does the Macallister version come with all the same clamps and blocks etc as the Keter ones?
I have a Triton superjaws for clamping wood, doors, branches and anything else that fits within the jaws.
I posted the same query a year ago and ended up getting a Bosch for about £70 i think. It's not bad at all. Light - Alu and bamboo and pretty sturdy if you plonk your foot on the lower rail. It also folds pretty flat very quickly!
I could only be happier if it folded up small enough to go on my panniers....
+1 for the Keter. As far as I can see the Macallister version is identical just rebadged.
Look for an old work mate on Facebook
Another Keter user here. Absolutely brilliant. 8 years I've had mine and it's been great. Also worth mentioning it's fully plastic so no rust issues to worry about
These https://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-folding-junior-saw-horses-57-1cm-2-pack/7078f
plus two lengths of 38mm wide timber (to go between them. They slot into the tops) and some clamps.
I also have a Workmate but rarely use it. My dad has 2 older ones (one was his dad's) the newer Workmates aren't as good as they were. Also as Jasper Carrott said, Workmate? All it does is hold wood. If it bandaged my head and stopped the bleeding then it would be a work mate.
The Keter is also handy as just a table.
Often pull it out the back of the van to cook the brekky on if we are working away, or to put the laptop on to do some work whilst sat on the back of the loading area
+1 for the Keter.
Currently have mine with me as my camping table. Using the clamps to hold down my cheddar whilst I pare away slices with a block plane. 😉
Brilliant thing.
I have a WORX WX051 Pegasus Folding Work Table & Sawhorse. Bit over budget but does a very good job.
I’ve got a couple of tough built c700 folding metal saw horses, jobsite table from a couple of pieces of 2x4 and a 1/4 sheet of 18mm plywood. Bomb proof and easy to clamp things on the edges.
These Von Haus look fairly similar, but a fair bit cheaper.
Another vote for the Keter, I also have a slightly smaller Stanley one on wheels. It’s similar but as it’s a bit smaller takes up less space. The Keter is also fairly compact for storage.