The Centipede sawhorse has been described by its inventors as the ultimate sawhorse. Unlike most other foldable sawhorse systems, the Centipede can completely support sheet materials without sagging. This makes the Centipede great for supporting thin or full 4′ x 8′ sheet materials, or for creating a temporary workbench.
Demonstration Video
http://youtu.be/6UIjpU-KWgE
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DIY vs Pro Versions
The Centipede makers have developed two versions – a DIY kit, and a Pro kit. Both versions deploy to a working height of 30.75″, and are 38″ tall when fully collapsed.
The DIY kit is sized at 2′ x 4′, which is best for supporting quarter sheet construction materials or for setting up as a temporary workbench. It provides 6 points of contact.
The Pro kit is sized at 4′ x 8′, and can support a full sheet of plywood, MDF, or other sheet goods, and provides 15 points of contact.
Accessories
- P-Tops are a non-marring topper that is placed over each support point
- Bench Clamps fit into P-tops and are made from plastic with a flexible TPE polymer overmold
- X-Cups hold standard 2×4 lumber in place to allow quick cuts or wider points of contact
These accessories are provided with all Centipede purchases, but are also available separately.
Where to Buy/How Much?
Centipede sawhorse are being offered as part of an indeigogo fundraiser campaign that is set to end 8/15/2013.
DIY kit: $60, free US shipping, ETA Feb 2014
Pro kit: $120, free US shipping, ETA Feb 2014
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There are also multiple kit and quantity discount options available.
Buy Now(via Indiegogo Fundraiser Campaign)
More Info(via Centipede Tool)
First Impression
I think the Centipede would make a wonderful workpiece support, and hope the project is fully funded so that the product makes its way to stores. But I do have some questions.
How well does the Centipede work on uneven ground? Uneven support could stress the pivot points, not to mention lead to wobbling boards. That’s not to say that the product won’t work well on uneven ground, but it has not yet been tested or demonstrated in enough environments to prove itself either way.
It can be argued that sawhorses do not perform ideally on uneven ground either, but with sawhorses you have far fewer legs and interdependent points of support contacts.
I would also like to see a load rating. The inventors had two men stand on top to provide 500 lbs of loading, but that’s not a good enough measure. At the very least, they need to take several samples and apply an increasing uniform load until the product fails. Take that number and divide by 4.
John S
I appreciate your final few paragraphs. That is exactly my thought. If the ground is remotely uneven, I think that it will be a dud. But innovation is always a good thing – it will surely spur even better improvements to something (saw horse) that I am sure could be improved somehow
Javier
I like the size of the diy version but they should call it something else like the mini pro or something. They should also come out with a companion folding table top. Something strong sturdy and lightweight that also takes up very little space when folded.
Stuart
I was thinking the same exact thing. “DIY” has the connotation that a product is not up to professional/demanding use.
This is also just preorder/fundraising campaign, so there’s time to change things once production and retail marketing kicks off.
A folding table top would be a good idea, especially for the “DIY” size, and I could see that maybe happening down the road as part of a product line expansion. From a product-launching standpoint, it would be best for the development team to limit their focus to the core Centipede products.
For the tabletop, something that folds up accordion-style, similar to auto windshield sunguards, would be a good idea. Maybe add pegs at opposite ends that fit right into the clamping holes of the “P tops.” Since the Centipede has an open structure, the hinges wouldn’t have to be flat, which could allow for a simpler but stronger tabletop.
Javier
Totally agreed. After seeing the differences in features and quality I shy away from diy tools. If the smaller sawhorse is identical in quality as the bigger one it should definitely not be called the “diy” as some may think it might be inferior to the bigger one even though the size is exactly what they may need.
Ed Adkins
Thank you for sharing this post, Stuart. Opportunities to get feedback like this and from your commenters is absolutely priceless at this stage of the product launch, as we are still able to make adjustments to the product and message as needed. One of your truest statements was about the Centipede being demonstrated in real environments. We are anxious for real world testing as we are confident it will exceed expectations.
Some comments from our perspective in response to your article:
We may have come on a bit strong, but we never intended to say that the Centipede Sawhorse will replace traditional sawhorses any more than screws replaced nails. Love ’em or hate ’em, the traditional sawhorse will always have its place on job sites and in our garages.
The Centipede is a whole system with redundancies that gives it its strength. If a few of the support columns do not reach the ground, they will not be under any stress at all and the pivot points are never really under any significant stress when loaded. They’re simply there to make sure the support columns move in tandem when folding and unfolding.
We will be getting this load tested as soon as the first production run has begun. We cannot wait to hear the numbers and understand that it is key to our message. We do feel the over 500 pounds being supported by the small prototype bodes well for this testing, but as with everything Centipede, it remains to be proven. We have some initial calculations, but there is no need to share them until an independent laboratory like UL provides the answer.
Thanks again for this opportunity to discuss the Centipede! We can be reached at [email protected] and our campaign can be visited here: http://igg.me/at/centipede-sawhorse/x/3621241
matt
I agree with the others if the small one is the same quality dont call it DIY… I think I would actually prefer the smaller model..
Eric
As far as counteracting uneven surfaces, is there a way to make the tops threaded so that they could adjust for leveling? I am sure it would increase costs, but just something to think about.
Stuart
It might be possible for them to create inserts as an optional accessory, but I don’t think threaded adjustments would be practical. Spring-loaded mechanisms might be better, but could introduce other usability issues.
Jason
Surprised no follow review. Just bought one of the XL’s at Lowes and wow I can’t imagine not having this going forward. Was really one of those where have you been all my life moments. Sadly my first hand made workbench has now been relegated to wood storage and a standing desk.
aaron
just got one and having a sturdy 4×8 table in the middle of my garage whenever i want it for cutting, assembly and painting is great! one thing i think would be cool, though, is if there was a version for taller people with a 38″ inch or so working height, to save the back from bending over at length for certain tasks. the tall centipede.