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.
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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 TOUGHBUILT 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.
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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.
Chris
The C700 2 pack on amazon now shows $248, or $54 each. They’re $50 ea at HD.
Stuart
Thanks! I swapped it in.
King duck
I bought a pair no idea what model but loved them went back and bought 4 more.
Like you I never liked them they always felt flimsy and for the price you could build some nice ones out of 2×4 and 2×6 and scraps. But I needed set to travel with and these fit in the mini van a lot better than full size wooden ones after using them I realized how sturdy ,easy to move (around the handle on top is awesome!) and storing them is a lot easier. I don’t know if these ever
Aaron s
I really appreciate your framing the market segment “work support accessories”
I buy saw horses for $9 at harbor freight but I have a dozen of then and hate them. They are floppy and barely enough to support the material.
I tend to use folding tables in my shop and those I spent quite a bit more on.
The table mode and sacrificial 2x are key features, especially once Milwaukee gets around to releasing a track saw for me.
OldDominionDIYer
These are on my list to purchase and I will likely be getting the C700 version unless there’s a super deal on the C650’s over the holidays. I have bought and subsequently destroyed several sets of the “plastic” ones from various brands and while they can suffice for small quick tasks I am always waiting for them to collapse, unfortunately I’m never disappointed!
fred
Not quite the same – but Amazon and Acme both have “deals” on Bora Centipede folding work stations:
https://www.acmetools.com/search/?q=centipede
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bora+centipede
Mac
I would recommend the C700 just for that sacrificial 2 x 4 mounting option.
I have a pair of Protool SH-47s and they look identical to the 650s sans the feet.
-Mac
Mike S
The Bora Speed version of these makes them infinitely more usable.
I own these, and I’ve tried out the Bora – and I would swap mine out for the Bora in a heartbeat.
Getting these set up or taken down is the slowest deployment of a sawhorse one could possibly imagine – and the Bora design makes them fastest to do those things. I see no reason at all to get the Toughbuilt when the Bora are available for the same price.
Stuart
I LOVE the pivoting feet – a feature the Bora lacks. Maybe I wouldn’t care as much if I worked in perfectly level spaces, but I don’t think that will ever happen.
The Bora is much more expensive, as in nearly double the price.
The ToubBuilt’s material support pegs are more useful to me than a slightly faster gravity-drop leg deployment.
Those are definitely reasons to consider the ToughBuilt over the Bora, at the least.
Matt the Hoople
Question… on the toughbuilt with adjustable legs, do the legs need to be fully collapsed before folding or can they be left adjusted to “normal” sawhorse height and folded up like that?
It seems that if you dont have to adjust the height of every leg every time you open or close them, it shouldn’t be too bad to use.
Brian. B
Yes. They need to be fully collapsed before closing. I’ve had mine for two years and love the versatility. After a few times, setup gets quicker and easier. Hope this helps
Jon
I’ve had a pair of C700 for years now. I don’t see the point in buying the lesser models to save a buck (they are $50 at HD). They are packed with useful features and are seriously rugged. They are a bit heavy (23 lbs) and awkward to open and setup sometimes. That’s me being lazy as my old plastic set was a breeze in comparison. Mine got a bit wet and the zinc plating is rusting is places.
Nathan
the adjustable height is a absolute need for me. Last project I did – since the table was 34 inch tall – I dropped the horses/worktable down so the top of the table was more natural height for me finish and work on.
Other Nathan
I much prefer the Bora. For me, the fact that they are wider (thicker?). You can attach a sacrificial 2×4 to the top, in addition to the sides.
Steve L
have had a pair of C700s for 2 years. they are great. pivoting feet + height adjustment legs lets me use on heavily sloping terrain. sacrificial 2×4 on top means peace of mind.
Peter Fox
The best folding sawhorses I have ever seen or used were made by Trojan manufacturing, and are now made by Guardian fall protection.
Works with any 2X lumber, no metal on the top so you can cut into the top of them with our risking damage to your saw blade, easily customizable to whatever length you might need and absolutely solid. Once you use them you will probably never want to use anything else.
https://www.guardianfall.com/performance-safety-products/product/sawhorse
https://www.amazon.com/Trojan-TS-27-Tall-Sawhorse-sawhorse/dp/B0000224RO
MM
I have used the old Trojans before an I liked them a lot. My only gripe is that the legs aren’t adjustable so they’re not all that nice for uneven ground. I also wish they’d include screw holes just for extra safety but that’s easily fixed with a couple minutes and a cordless drill.
Speaking of portable work surfaces, I think what I miss the most from my old machining business was the forklift…which is essentially a self-propelled mobile work platform with incredible weight capacity and the ability to be adjusted to any height. Now I’m back to some cheapo folding plastic horses, homebuilt wood ones, and welder’s V-head pipe stands, which I think are underappreciated outside the metalworking trades. They are very strong, stable on nearly any terrain thanks to the tripod legs, and easily used to make ‘horses or tables by putting lumber on top. Different heads are available with cradle-type rollers, which are good for pipe, or flat rollers which make great infeed or outfeed supports for a tablesaw, bandsaw, chop saw, planer, making moulding on a router table or shaper, etc. They have a jackscrew built in so you can level things very easily, even with large amounts of weight on them.
fred
I see that Milwaukee has a new (available for pre-order) pipe vise with a smallish work table surface:
https://www.acmetools.com/milwaukee-6-leveling-tripod-chain-vise-48-22-8690/045242600823.html
MM
That looks a heck of a lot more useful than the more traditional tripod pipe vises. Lots more room to work with, places to keep tools and other things, and the ground tab for the welder is a fantastic addition. I also like how there’s a lot more space between the main part of the vise and the secondary “v” support, that should be much more stable when working with longer pipes.
fred
For long pipe we’d often set up a stand (aka pipe jack)
https://www.zoro.com/wheeler-rex-folding-pipe-stand-wv-head-850/i/G7162246/
Several tripod vises also have a tray for placing tools – or fittings
https://www.acmetools.com/r470-tripod-chain-vise-r470/757033094024.html
Nonetheless the new Milwaukee offering looks interesting
MM
Those pipe stands aka jacks are exactly what I was singing the praises of in my earlier post. They are very helpful to have around the workshop.
fred
Yet – they are useful for pipe and even light structural steel. Their cousins (roller stands) are useful as portable outfeed tables for table saws and other woodworking machinery.
I have several different ones – like the Ridgid for some uses better than the roller stands I own:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Flip-Top-Portable-Work-Support-AC9934/100618242
fred
I should have added a note about your comment about using a fork-lift as a work platform.
Like so many things we had in our fabrication shop – so much industrial equipment would be nice but probably impractical for home use. We had fork lifts (did not replace our travelling overhead crane) that had pretty good lifting capacity. We did have to buy an aerial lifting work platform – as a much safer alternative- to stop the guys from using the forklift and pallet as such.
For my home shop – I’d love to have some of the Jung toe jacks, dollies and machinery skates that we had in that shop. But Then I look at the price and decide that the big machinery will just have to stay put.
https://toolwell.com/products/
MM
Just to be clear, I used the forklift as a workbench that can be set to arbitrary height, not something for I or any other human to stand on. Using a forklift as a manlift or aerial work platform is a huge safety no-no in my book. I know they make special work platforms with a guardrail and whatnot for working off of forklifts but I think a purpose-built aerial lift is the far better and safer option.
fred
Like you – I think that “workarounds” like using a forklift as a manlift are accidents waiting to happen. That’s why when it came to our attention that it may have been done – we blew a safety time out – had a talk with the folks – bought the more appropriate piece of equipment and then monitored things to insure compliance.
Peter Fox
I can see the issue with uneven ground. At least in my experience unless you are on really rough ground it is more of an issue when you don’t have much weight on them. Once you put a few hundred pounds on them they tend to twist the top board a little bit and stabilize.
I just recently made some short V-notch boards for them out of some scraps of 2×10. Not quite Pipe stands but they will work for the times I need to support larger ham radio antennas for assembly or repair.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cLubYSz6SjyhptSE7
AngryDrumGuy
I have the Kobalt version of these, which are the 650’s without pivoting feet. No complaints about how they handle uneven surfaces, particularly grass. They were on a clearance shelf for $20 about a month ago. Their previous location now has the same sawhorse with actual ToughBuilt branding.
Jake
Kobalt used to make a similar type, but they discontinued them. We bought all that we can find in the stores near us when we learned they were no longer made. I think the foldout types are very convenient especially for setting up a mobile workbench wherever your workplace is.
Phil
I’ve been looking at the Bora’s for two years and never pulled the trigger because of the price. For a DIY guy, these are more than enough for me. Sold. Pair of 700’s today before they sell out for Christmas. Thanks for the review and readers comments.
Bill Clay
I’m in the same predicament. I’ve been also watching the Bora (was recently down to $123/pair) but I’m not sure if it’s worth it. The $100/pair price on the Toughbuilt C700 is in the same ballpark. Still not sure what to do…
Chris
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Super-Steel-Sawhorse-Brackets-JM7726/203735505
I don’t have much to contribute to the discussion other than the link so you can see these sawhorse brackets in case you’ve never come across them before. I saw them for the first time a few years ago on the official site (McCoy Tools), but they were never in stock. I finally saw them available at HD so I bought them… but returned them.
Maybe I got a bad set, I don’t know. I have no doubt about their weight rating, but I was put off by the way the lumber fit into the brackets. I thought it would be a light press fit, and then you’d secure everything in place with wood screws. Instead everything fit together very loosely, and I was just put off by it.
I was really looking forward to getting them, too. You could cut sets of legs to different lengths and create sawhorses, work platforms, or whatever you might have in mind.
Steve M
Please ask the ToughBuilt rep to fix their comparison table (“%100” and “sacraficial”) If a company can’t be bothered to spell check their marketing material, does the same lack of attention to detail carry through to their manufacturing and quality processes?
Stuart
Will pass that along, thanks!
(With the volume of errors I see on a daily basis, I’ve learned to cut web teams some slack.)
Dave P
I have 2 sets branded “Channellock” that look absolutely identical to those. We use them for 6×6’s–one set for sawing and the other set for staging– we often put 5 or 6, 16′ 6×6’s on them. We had tried several other brands/styles and after a few months of 6×6’s, the others all flexed/bent/became hard to use.
You have to adjust the length of the legs before you fold the legs apart and lock them open, so you need to level them out on uneven ground before you start to use them/put anything on them.
I saw them at my local family-owned lumberyard a couple of years ago and I’m fairly sure I gave $50 each for them.
They are very good, although quite heavy to lug around (but they NEED to be heavy to hold as much weight as we routinely put on them).
JoeM
See? I know I am pretty crazy on my best days, but there’s a reason I’m so ready to go for these ToughBuilt Saw Horses!
I like the C700’s. Don’t own them yet, but the fact that you can actually use them to hold the 2×4’s you need to make a table top for these? That sells me on them… The vertical holding pegs, brilliant. The feet that just… sit on the ground and automatically know they have to grip differently on uneven surfaces? Come on, even if the tabletop or heavy body of these things is uneven, what do you need to do? Drop a level, especially a magnetic one, on top of the things, and adjust the legs until it’s where you need it! That’s practically like it was stolen from a standard Photography Tripod design! Yeah, it’s the heavy duty tool form, but I guarantee it’s a better system than the big tool company execution of this. I wanted DeWALT Saw Horses for ages… then I saw the C700 at the now-extinct Blackrock Tools website… (Company got bought by Grainger, then converted to a Fastenal style knockoff. Bad.) and the DeWALT never entered my mind ever again.
Plus the fact that they’re actually a seriously reasonable price… It’s a no-brainer! And I still drool over them, as I haven’t bit the bullet to buy them. The past couple years my tool buying has been halted for other necessities for life. But lordy… I know I can have 2 of those delivered straight to my door, and that makes me happy!
Do ya see now, Stuart?
Amish Mike
Are there any deals on saw horses? I know in prior years home depot had a 2pk of 28″ husky saw horses that would go on sale for $22 for black Friday. I got a set last year and they are great! Was hoping to get more this year but it looks like the deal is not happening this year based off home depots website. Stuart could you please keep an eye out for any sawhorses that go on sale?
Stuart
I have not seen anything so far, but it could be that relevant deals are only planned for specific dates.
Or, they could have been impacted by shipping delays or rising material costs.
Amish Mike
I did just find this deal at Lowes. When added to your cart they are $17 and change a piece. Anyone have any experience with them or know if they are worth it?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-Essential-33-66-in-W-x-28-9-in-H-Metal-Saw-Horse-1-000-lb-Capacity/1001107598
Stuart
I saw these in store. If the ToughBuilt is a baseball bat, that Craftsman is a toothpick.
aaron s
The cutting bracket on the 700 looks like another killer feature I hadn’t realized I wanted. Setting up just a single horse to support the board at 2 points.
700s seem like the way to go
Mr Mephisto
One large flaw with these are the legs. Notice how they twist.
I bought the 550 and had some issues, returned it and got their top of the line
the C700, and like all the modern sawhorses, they were too cheap in many aspects. One being the thin gauge steel they use on the legs, (as well as several other aspects like the lever and clamping mechanisms being cheaply manufactured. They don’t last long.)
All in all, it seems all of the sawhorses out there today are cheap (none moreso than the Bora). I’d happily pay $150 for a pair of great ones (like a fast release mech on bora, with the features of a toughbuilt, but with better materials).
I reach out to toughbuilt several times to question them, and they would receive my messages, but never reply. It’s been 4 months and still no answer about the leg twisting (that all toughbuilt have). That’s usually what happens when a company is trying to make a quick $ then disappear. But I could be wrong. Either way, a reply from them would’ve been nice.
Plain grainy
These look real nice. The Dewalt work table has some unique uses also.
Julian Tracy
I have the Menards version of these. The adjustable legs are a necessity for versatility and, of course – outside use. They are a bit of a pain to set up and fold down, but once done, they are strong and secure.
The absolute handiest job site temp support or table I’ve had is the now-unavailable Husky X-Horse. They can still be bought in many brands/colors, but not the original aluminum leg versions that are both strong and lightweight. Unlike a sawhorse, you only need one for a benchtop tool or temp work surface. The only ones available now have either plastic legs or steel legs.
Tom
Lowes has these at $39 each. The model number is SH60
Stuart
Here’s the Lowe’s link.
They’re similar, but not the same. The tops look the same, but the legs and feet are very different.
Bill Clay
Feature wise, they look like they have all the features of the C600, with the addition of the material support pegs. For $40, this looks like a deal to me!
Lowes Model #TBL-SH60
Munklepunk
We have a set of older tough built folding sawhorses, metal body and metal legs, nothing else. Don’t know how long we have had them but they are great, completely overloaded even many times and are always solid.
DeWalt makes some plasticky finding ones, DWST11155, junk. But DeWalt also makes my favorite no frills horses, DWX725B, and they also double as miter stand. Had these a few years and they are rock solid.
Nathan
what do people want in the bora model close that the toughbuilt doesn’t do. the quick release?
I must be missing something – but again I would say if you are getting into any of the clones of this type of device it’s not to use them has a regular saw horse.
I almost never do. I have 2 sets of “rail”s and top sheets that I put down. one set if 5ft long the other set if 3 ft long depending on need. I don’t want to take up the floor space for 8ft which is how I came to 5ft. but in the garage or driveway the 5 foot is good for nearly anything I do and the 3 ft is good for alot of smaller things.
Rhys Wilson
I purchased a pair of the 650’s about 5 years ago. Possibly one of the best purchases I have made. They have been absolutely thrashed in that time and just continue to do their thing.
Zack
I bought a pair of the C700 today to support some light framing type work. I went to Home Depot expecting to buy the C550 but they’re too short and feel much less robust. The various telescoping and clamping features of the C700 add weight, but it’s also heavier just because it’s stronger and stiffer.
One commenter above is not satisfied with the C700, mentioning that the legs can twist and the clamping mechanisms can wear out. I certainly believe it, and I sympathize.
These are fantastic for DIY home improvement stuff, where it’s ok to spend 5 minutes deploying the legs, and you can trust yourself to learn the intricacies and treat the hardware carefully. Once deployed, the legs are nice and rigid, but a clumsy apprentice in a hurry to deploy or stow the legs would ruin them fast.
My one gripe is that the clamping mechanism for the adjustable jaws is only designed to set the width of the jaw, not to cinch it inward by a sixteenth as you lock it in place. I suspect this would be possible without adding much cost or weight, so I’m curious why they didn’t do it. Maybe the system survives job sites better this way, but it would make the whole thing more rigid if the 2×4 or 4×4 were clamped by the adjustable jaw.
Nevertheless, I’m very happy with these. Excellent product for $100/pair.
Joseph
Going to add another professional “heck yeah” to this post!
We’re a six person custom cabinetry/millwork shop. We have solid workstations w 4×8 tables, but for big glue-ups and large panels we sometimes need to move to the open floor and use sawhorses. Every “premium” or “heavy-duty” sawhorse set we’ve previously bought has eventually failed and/or been inadequate.
We invested in one pair of these, and were so happy with their solidity we bought another pair as well. So glad to have a flexible solution that can support real life needs
Sleepy
I was looking for a pair of collapsible saw horses and settled on the C650’s per the ToolGuyd review.
But … I notice Home Despot has the C700’s for $5 less than the C650’s at Amazon (also in stock at local branch). Don’t need the extra features but happy to save 10%.
Jeff
I had the c550 and loved them but had to sell them for an upgrade. The one downside to the entire line is that the extendable ones only go to about 32″ height. Everything else they do amazingly.
The one sawhorse that does everything close to as well but also extends to 36″ is the bora speedhorse xt. The 2×4 table support system is a bit odd, but I get the why. The biggest benefit is that the height puts it in the range to use as an outfeed table. The biggest downside, the price…
Matt
Good sawstools. I fitted sacrificial 6×2’s to the top of my set and have a couple 2m lengths of 6×2 in the shed for the table side slots when needed. Still have my traditional handmade wooden stools when needed for heavier work or if I need a low scaff to stand on. In my carpentry business I do small jobs and reno’s so move around a lot. Hardly ever use the old stools now as I can stow the Toughbuilt’s in my 4×4. Only thing I’d like to see Toughbuilt come up with is a fold out reinforcing system for the legs, as they wobble a bit when sliding heavier material onto them and they don’t like taking a knock from the side.