Sawhorse Happy Fun Time!

It’s update time! I’m making prints on my 3d printer and selling them. My low tech ordering form is at https://adaptivecurmudgeon.com/sawhorses/.

I make jigs that help you build a sawhorse. The jig has all the angles you need for a simple sawhorse. It also has the lengths you need to cut embedded directly into the jig. It also has a handy hole to hang it on your shop wall (an idea that came from blog readers!). My idea was a physical object that holds all the information. It works.

I also make little model sawhorses. Lacking a word for such a thing, I called them “rigs“. They’ve got measurements embedded within each specific part. They go together magnetically. You can pull them apart and pop them back together. It’s a fun thing and it’s also my second phase of creating physical objects that hold the information to make a real thing.

I suppose technically what I call a “rig” is a scale model. They really are to scale. If you’re uptight about such things, the X-axis is on a different scale than Y & Z. (I had to do that to make a manageable sized model that was also wide enough to hold 6 x 2 mm magnets.)

Someone requested a special jig to trim the sawhorse feet. I made that too. I called them “fancy feet“. (It’s a goofy name, but I needed to name the file and that’s what I typed. The fancy feet jig is optional but it does spiff up your sawhorse.)

Everything comes in a variety of colors. I have a box with lots of different filaments. Thus, changing colors is just a matter of changing filament spools.

This video is what inspired me. (Also, it’s pretty cool to be able to whip up as many rockin’ sawhorses as you want for dirt cheap!) Please like & subscribe if you watch it. Those guys don’t even know I exist and I want them to have a good opinion of me. I plan on sending them a free jig once I get past the holiday season but that will take a few weeks yet.

I still have to do some “arts and crafts” work to finish the 3d prints. It’s not hard but it has to be done. Frankly I’m loving it!

My workshop is happily dedicated to the project. Here’s a random photo of my messy workshop.

The “rigs” require 22 (!) magnets each. I made 3d designs with “pockets” for little magnets and I glue them in the pockets. In case you’re wondering, it’s more or less impossible to remove the magnets once they’re glued in. (Don’t let kids and pets chew on it though. These things are for adults.)

Here’s a shot of two rigs I’ve just finished. The assembled one is translucent turquoise and the disassembled one is translucent blue.

In case you’re wondering; yes. Yes I do have superglue all over my fingers. (BTW: I haven’t yet had to use the “goof off” but it seemed wise to buy some.)

Also the best news of all. I just shipped my first order. I put a paper on top for privacy but that’s a legit shipping label under there! I also found out I screwed myself on postage. This is about the smallest order and I estimated $7 for that. It cost $7.71 and most of my orders are bigger. Oh well, that’s on me. Plus you gotta’ try to learn.

I know it sounds very sappy but shipping out that first package made really made my day! I created an idea entirely in my pointy little head. I went through a zillion iterations in Fusion 360 and then 3d printing one prototype after another. Then I finally got it right and sent it out and someone will enjoy it as a Christmas present.

I know it’s no big deal. I’m not building a spaceship or anything. But still, I did a thing. It feels like everyone has an excuse why they don’t do whatever they think they ought to do. I ignored all that and flat out did it. Yay! It feels super cool to take an idea all the way from “hmmm… would this work?” to “it works and I’m mailing the finished product today”. That satisfaction is earned even if a sawhorse jig is pretty simple.

I truly appreciate all the orders. Thanks. There’s room for more. I hope y’all have as much fun this Holiday season as I think I’ll have.