Popular Woodworking 2004-06 № 141, страница 79

EBCO ^

This is the real bargain of the lot. Costing about $20 a pair (depending on where they're purchased), these folding steel horses are manufactured almost identically to the Fulton TS21 horses, but are about half the price. We found them at Lowe's, but they seem to be available online as well. The steel is somewhat thin (.032" thick) and there are sharp edges on the legs and braces. But when the horse is locked open (dropping over pins to lock as shown), it's stable and strong.They collapse to a convenient storage size and the top is drilled to attach a 2x6 for a more friendly (and clam-pable) surface. These are the winners for best value, hands down.

SKIL

Designed very similar to the Storehorses listed below, the Skil horses are stable, but these are a bit different.The shelf on the Skil locks with 10 tabs, rather than the 16 on the Storehorse models. They have a less rigid shelf lock and the molded plastic is less rigid as well, allowing more flex in the individual parts. The top surface closely matches the top of the Storehorse HD, offering a nice stable surface.And Skil has added a pair of sawbuck accessories (shown) that accept either a 2x4 or 2x6 in a top-mounted position. Costing $15 less than the Storehorse XL, it's a good option, but not as good a horse.

FULTON TS21

This set of horses would be in the winner's circle if not for the price. We're not sure how the pricing structure works, but these horses are nearly identical to the Ebco horses we tested - right down to the interlocking cross braces (shown), the thickness of the steel and their tidy collapsed size. Unfortunately, they sell for almost $40 at Amazon.com, and that's double the price for virtually the same product.With either the Ebco or Fulton TS21 horses, we suggest taking a file or some sandpaper to the edges on the braces and legs to avoid a cut or abrasion.

Locking tabs

STOREHORSE XL

This is the industry standard in portable, storable sawhorses. Made of molded plastic, the Storehorse XL folds flat for storage but provides a stable base by dropping (tabs slide in tracks in the legs) and locking the shelf in place. Differences from the Skil include a 16-tab locking mechanism (shown) for the shelf, providing very good strength.An open top piece designed to hold a 2x4 also is included.This makes the top a little flimsy and difficult to clamp to without the 2x4. It's a good stable design and easy to use. Surpassed in the plastic category only by its sister horse, this is a workhorse, but not a thoroughbred.

FULTON TS101

These metal horses were a little harder to judge. Their collapsed storage size is excellent and there's a handle for carrying.When open and weighted they were very stable with heavier 14-gauge steel (.085" thick) than on either the Fulton TS21 or Ebco horses. The legs lock in the left-to-right position behind steel tabs (shown), but there is no bracing front-to-back except for the load and gravity. They offer a good clamping surface and the tops are drilled to accept a two-by. These are the shortest, heaviest, highest-priced and highest-capacity horses in the test. If stored size and capacity are your concern, then these horses belong in your stable.

STOREHORSE HD

Similar in many ways to the Storehorse XL, (the locking shelves are interchangeable) the HD offers more frame rigidity (thanks to thicker molded plastic and a less-perforated design) and a higher weight capacity. We were very impressed with the stability of this horse when locked in the open position. The top surface gives you the option of either dropping in a two-by for attaching tools or cutting wood (as on the XL) or you can use the drop-in V-notched cap (shown) for a fast, stable support.This is a very nice folding sawhorse, and even with the $50 price tag for a pair, it's a strong finisher and the blue-ribbon winner in our race. PW

FOLDING SAWHORSES

* Prices as of publication deadline.

* Prices as of publication deadline.

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