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I should start off by saying that I’m not a fan of collapsible sawhorses, or at least I wasn’t.
I was in the market for new work support accessories a few years ago, and decided to open up a pair of folding steel sawhorses that I came across at the local big box store. Those sawhorses seemed very flimsy, and that’s probably the last time I ever seriously considered using this type of product.
Fast forward a few years, and my growing curiosity collided with opportunity. I’ve been testing a pair of ToughBuilt C650 sawhorses, and they’ve made quite the impression on me so far.
This review is sponsored by the TOUHGBUILT SCRAPER KNIFE.
ToughBuilt’s new scraper knife is a 2-in-1 tool that combines a scraper with a utility knife. Read more about it here.
Alright, so what changed? A couple of readers had good things to say about ToughBuilt’s sawhorses, and this ignited my curiosity after largely ignoring the entire product category for several years. Might these sawhorses indeed provide a better experience?
Here is what ToolGuyd readers have been saying about ToughBuilt sawhorses, with links to their comments.
They make some of the best sawhorses on the market.
I also have a set of the C700 sawhorses. They are really badass and heavy-duty.
JoeM:
I want the saw horses pretty bad. I’ve lifted one in Home Depot to check to see if it’s too heavy a product to carry home, if I buy two. They are deceptively light. They’re incredibly well balanced, and have carry handles built in.
…
The ToughBuilt sawhorses, even the SMALLEST sized ones, whup the DeWALT Jobsite Worktable, and saw horses ANY DAY.
Their sawhorse table system which does require wood to make the table – is quite nice. As far as I know they are the original maker/seller of it.
Their knee pads and the sawhorse are nice products in my opinion.
I purchased ToughBuilt Sawhorses at Home Depot about 4 1/2 years ago- they are still in stock there now (Colorado Springs). They are good sawhorses, more versatile than our Trojans and much sturdier than the plastic options.
A W”
but I will agree that their sawhorses are a great product.
You guys can be quite persuasive.
I had been talking with ToughBuilt about the new scraper utility knife, and I not so subtly expressed my new curiosity in their sawhorses (as well as their knee pads, more on that separately). So, ToughBuilt sent me a pair of their C650 sawhorses.
Why the C650?
For me, and how I anticipated I would use these sawhorses, I thought that the C650 would offer the best balance between size and functionality.
Here is a comparison chart, detailing the differences between ToughBuilt’s various sawhorse models:
Here is what I thought I wanted or needed in this type of product:
- The ability to build a jobsite table
- Pivoting feet
- Adjustable height legs
I have used the sawhorses enough for an early impression. For those of you that own ToughBuilt sawhorses, do you agree with these points?
What I Like:
- Sturdy (all-steel) construction
- Quick setup and breakdown
- Easy to use, set up, and breakdown
- Grippy top surface (although not for delicate materials)
- Ability to quickly assemble a jobsite table
- Folds for compact storage
What I Love:
WOBBLE-FREE on uneven surfaces!
I like to set up sawhorses or worktables outside my garage when working outside, and I thought that wobbling was a fact of life. Forget about getting anything level, it’s a challenge to get work support accessories to make 4 points of contact with the ground.
Some sawhorses and portable work-supports offer leveling of two sides, but that doesn’t really help me and so I rarely bother. Here, the C650 (and C700) both have pivoting feet that help to make up for uneven ground. I can also adjust each leg individually for height adjustments.
The downside is that overall height adjustments must be done to each of the 4 legs, but I’m okay with that tradeoff. If you don’t like that idea, there’s another model (C550) with pivoting feet that isn’t height-adjustable.
Something to be Aware of:
When opening the sawhorse, you need to support the weight of each pair of legs slightly in order to depress its locking tab. This isn’t one of those “press a button and everything falls out” sawhorses. This isn’t a complaint, and I was actually pleased by this as it’s more controlled and safer in my opinion. Similarly, when closing everything back up, you have to guide each pair of legs back into the sawhorse body. If not, the legs could inadvertently bump into the sides of the sawhorse body.
What Surprised Me:
My eyes lit up when I realized what the fold-out material support pegs can do. Somehow I missed this important detail when looking at the product details online.
The material support pegs have an 80-pound load rating, as opposed to 1300 pounds for the sawhorse’s main support surface (or 2600 lbs per pair), but that’s more than enough for a sheet of plywood or other sheet goods that I’d rather not put on the floor or lean against the garage.
I have not been using the sawhorses in “work table mode,” at least not outside of initial testing, as I simply haven’t needed to yet. They’ve been great as material supports, and I am utterly pleased that they can do this wobble-free.
The pivoting feet require a little attention when closing the sawhorses, but it’s worth it to me.
Overall, the sawhorses have been delivering a rock-solid experience. I’m actually a bit annoyed at myself for having dismissed this style of sawhorse so long ago. I have used other brands’ folding miter saw stand work-supports on occasion, and that should have opened my eyes sooner. Compared to those dual-purpose stands, these work better for material support, and they’re also far more compact to store and transport.
Thank you guys for opening my eyes, and to ToughBuilt for satisfying my curiosity!
Buy Now: C650 via Amazon
See Also: C700 via Home Depot
See Also: C550 via Home Depot
The C650 are $50 each on Amazon, and there’s also a 2-pack of C700 sawhorses for $106. The C700 has more features – the ability to fit 4x4s, the ability to attach a sacrificial 2×4 top, and cutting support pegs.
Having experienced the C650, I think I would consider the C550 if budget was a concern. It cannot support quite as much weight as the C650, and its legs are not adjustable, but the C550 still has pivoting footpads and also material support pegs for sheet goods or single boards. You of course also still have the ability to set it up as a work support table. The C550 sawhorses are $35 each.
