Metabo recently promoted their folding sawhorses on social media, model MAB 82, and I must admit that they look compelling.
At first glance, the Metabo sawhorses look like many of the others on the market today, with drop-down legs, 2×4 supports, and adjustable height legs. They also have swiveling feet to help compensate for uneven floors.
Objectively speaking, these look like decent and well-featured folding sawhorses.
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The Metabo folding sawhorses weigh 22.5 lbs (presumably each), and have a max load capacity of 1300 lbs (individually).
The sawhorses also have holes in the top surface, which Metabo says can be used for locking clamps, screw clamps, or for “fixing semi-stationary machines” such as miter saws.
The 2×4 supports can be retracted inwards and secured in place with what look to be tool-free cam locks or similar.
I have been privately grumbling about how every brand seems to be looking to broaden beyond their specialties these days, too often with uninspired me-too products, but these look to be competitive and even compelling sawhorses.
These aren’t novel, but they look good. I don’t think I’ve seen clamping holes on folding sawhorses before – have you?
There’s no word about whether Metabo will bring these to the USA.
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Nathan
I haven’t seen specific clamping holes but I don’t know if pay much extra for them
The new bora or toughbilt ones have that retracting 2×4 support. I wish mine did but I do rarely use mine without the 2x4s and a ply top on it. I’ve even gotten to where I have 2 sets of 2x4s. One is 2.5ft long and I put a 3/4 sheet cut to size on. And the other set is 6 ft and I put a 1/2 sheet on but it’s got 2 cross span notched 2x4s too.
Nathan
Build quality in how the fold how the legs extend and ext really separates them. I gave away my Lowe’s kobalt beaded ones for a set of toughbilt ones a while go. So worth the extra and it was only 20 dollars more per
A W
The ToughBuilt ones are fantastic!
I’ve of the rare tools that has given me reverse buyers remorse: I wish I had bought them years earlier than I did.
Evan
I like my ToughBuilt ones (C700) but had a warranty issue and it has taken over a year for replacements to be available with stock issues. I heard back that a replacement is finally in the mail – overall good customer service and warranty process except for the stock issues.
DRT42
I have six metal sawhorses out in the barn that look identical (OK, “very similar”) to those, except no “clamping holes”. Not saying these are bad, but they aren’t anything new.
Matt_T
These look like they’re made by the same plant that makes the Bauer ones. Not a bad thing. I’ve got a couple and they work well.
I don’t personally see any value in the retractable ends or holes. IMO these sawhorses are commodities and Bauer won at under $40 each.
Hans
Now that you can’t get Trojans or Stablemates there isn’t a decent sawhorse on the marketplace—these awkward fingerpinchers are not an exception. Proof that in our economy good products are irrelevant—profitable products are all that matters.
JR Ramos
I think these are very much a me-too product, but there’s nothing at all wrong with that and I think for large companies like Metabo it’s even to be expected (perhaps appreciated…for vendors if not end users).
I see zero compelling about these. Zero. Drill your own holes for gosh sake, if you need them and aren’t concerned that it will make brushing them off harder or weaken their weight capacity in certain loading conditions.
I like the way they look, though…nice industrial color scheme and personally I think galvanized is a good way to go compared to powder coating (for this item).
The only horse I can think of with holes in it is the DeWalt welding horse…surely there are copies of it somewhere (if it isn’t a copy itself).
I guess if you’re setting up a saw on these horses and don’t plan on moving it for awhile then that’s a good option. Otherwise setting these up and spacing them just so to align with bolt holes looks like a pain in the butt.
Took me a second to find these…they’re “trestles”….not horses. lol.
https://www.metabo.com/com/en/accessories/other-accessories/universal-accessories/work-trestle-set-mab-82-626990000.html#
Stuart
Maybe compelling wasn’t the best choice of word, but they’re definitely appealing though.
JR Ramos
I’ll go with appealing. lol. For that reason alone I would buy a pair of green Menard’s me-too horses if I had one of those near me. I like their whole dark green motif.
TomD
The second to last photo there shows a more useful use of the holes than bolting on a tool imo
JR Ramos
I actually like that idea but for me it would only be useful if f-clamps like that could be used handle-down, beneath the surface. Not sure if there’s enough room/access under there but that would be a sometimes-handy feature. Then again, adding a top with some t-track or buying the Kreg track-horse thing might be even more useful. I’ve got a couple of very customized steel horses that for the life of me I cannot remember the manufacturer of (back in the 90s) and haul those out more often than I ever thought I would (lots of clamping options and different angles on corners). For basic support or cutoffs just about any horse works fine.
Matt_T
These are already listed on, at least, a couple UK tool sites. The collapsible ends and ability to use them as saw stands makes much more sense for that market. Space is at a premium over there compared to the States.
Mopar
One thing I like with the Bora is it’s designed around having a sacrificial 2×4 on top.
It looks like there are some small screw holes to attach one to the Metabo, but if you do you lose the use of the handle and you’ll need shims to use the side brackets.
Of course, that kinda defeats the purpose of the clamp holes on the Metabo.
The weight capacity also seems lower than most of the competition in that class too. I guess due to the clamping holes and retractable end brackets.
John Blair
I love my Burro Hide-a-horses. They are basically wooden versions of these. Cut into them by accident, no problem. Need to screw something down to them, no problem. Because they fold up and are pretty light, they are easy to carry. They don’t have swiveling feet or come with notches for 2×4’s but they continue to be my favorites.
Ovan
innovation would be to have a press system at the ends
Robert
This a sawhorse/trestle you probably haven’t seen. By IKEA.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/mittback-trestle-birch-30459997/
I like that they are height adjustable for bringing the plywood work platform to a more comfortable height for me. I also made a set of lights that I slot in place of the horizontal tops.
Don’t know the weight capacity. Never been an issue for my needs.
Steve L
The Metabo saw horses look just like the Toughbuilt C700 models with some holes drilled in the top. I have several pairs of the C700 and like them. My favorite use is dropping 8’ 2x4s in the side brackets with cross span 4’ 2x4s. Use it for cutting or, with a full sheet of 3/4” plywood sheet on top, as a portable work table
Once Metabo has some inventory they can sell these
eddiesky
More affordable than the Bora Speedhorse XT, that I am waiting on a deal for. However I have Stanley FatMax foldout with height adjustments and tray near bottom which has been useful. Thing is… you always need a pair. I also like the Bora Centipede but $210 is steep for 4’x8′ sheet needs.
Ryan C
I’ve got 4 of the Bora Speed Horse XT that I’ve been using a bunch for the past few months. They’re much heavier than my old metal folding saw horses but the weight makes them feel more planted. I originally thought the rapid deployment was a big gimmicky but I bought 2 to try out. I love it now and just bought 2 more for my last project so I could cut 12ft stringers and 4×6 posts more easily. If these Metabo horses are your standard manual fold-out affair, then that’s going to be a hard sell for me. I do like the idea of clamping holes, though, as that’s always been a challenge with my metal saw horses.