When adding finish to a completed project, I always run into the same problem. How do I finish opposite sides without scratching or marring a finished surface.
Applying stain and varnish to a project takes long enough as it is, so the last thing I want to do is chase my tail by fixing sawhorse marks or dings on a surface that’s already done.
To curtail this problem, I made two stands that look like an upside-down ‘T.’ They sit temporarily on my sawhorses while finishing and once done, can be stowed away when not needed. Just clamp the stands to the sawhorses.
I used four pieces of plywood that are slightly shorter than my sawhorses. To join them, I cut a centered groove in the base piece that holds a vertical riser. I put a bullnose on the top of the riser with my router and a roundover bit. Around this riser I wrapped a piece of ¾" pipe insulation. This is the pre-sliced type that you can get at your local hardware store or home center.