Rockwell Jawhorse Sheetmaster Review

The Rockwell Jawhorse SheetMaster (RK9002) is an upgraded version of the original Rockwell Jawhorse, which is really an ingenious combination of a sawhorse and a large-scale clamp. While the biggest improvement Rockwell included in the SheetMaster is the ability to securely hold a full sheet of plywood, there are a number of additional improvements that may not get as much notice.

The Jawhorse is a fold-able three-legged stand with a foot-operated locking mechanism that allows the user to hold the wood (or other item being clamped) in place and lock it down with a press on the foot pedal. The rubber pads on each side of the clamp holds the wood in place securely without having to press overly hard on the foot pedal. I found that even moderate pressure was enough to hold a 4x8 sheet of plywood, MDF or other sheet goods in place. While it is rarely necessary, the Jawhorse SheetMaster has a one-ton clamping capacity, and can hold up to 600 pounds of weight.

The original Jawhorse required a special accessory to hold a sheet of plywood. However, the moving jaw section on the new Jawhorse SheetMaster can simply be slid off and reversed on the main body beam, and the SheetMaster's clamping capacity grows to a full 49-inches.

One of the major advantages of either Jawhorse model is the ability to clamp workpieces into a variety of positions. In addition to clamping plywood or other items horizontally, the Jawhorse SheetMaster can clamp many items vertically. A good example would be placing a door on edge and clamping it into place so you can use a router or a bevel-edged chisel for cutting a hinge mortise to recess the hinge body into the edge of the door. In this manner, either Rockwell Jawhorse model can act like an extra set of hands, particularly with the ability to use both hands to hold the wood while you tighten the clamp using your foot on the foot-pedal.

NOTE: In some cases, items can be clamped on one side of the jaws of the Jawhorse, and the stability of the three-legged stand will hold the item in place. Just be sure to avoid using excessive force when locking a one-sided clamping action to avoid causing any damage to the jaws of the Jawhorse.

After you finish working on the clamped item, move the locking mechanism to the "unlocked" position and then step on the foot-pedal to release the pressure on the clamp.

One of the real benefits of the Jawhorse SheetMaster is that the setup out of the box is very simple. There is really no assembly required, as the unit comes folded up in the box. Merely remove the middle protective foam insert and lift the unit out of the box, then slide off the foam inserts from each end. Stand the Jawhorse SheetMaster on edge (with the end with the roller wheels on the floor). Loosen the rear leg locking knob (a big yellow knob next to the single rear leg) and lift the rear leg into position, sliding it into the housing before tightening the knob to lock the rear leg.

Next, place your finger into the quick-release foot-pedal locking button and pull slightly, releasing the lock on the pedal. Raise the pedal until it locks into position. After moving the foot-pedal into place, the two front legs will be able to be rotated until they click, locking them into position.

Tilt the body forward on the two front legs until the third (rear) leg is on the floor, and the unit is ready to use.

To compact the unit, tilt the unit onto the end of the body with the two legs, then fold those two front legs inward toward the center of the body. Next, click the quick-release button on the foot-pedal mechanism to unlock the pedal, and fold it toward the body to hold the two front legs in place against the body. Finally, the single leg can be loosened and folded into the body, leaving a compact package that takes up only about a square foot of floor space in the corner of your woodshop.

Instead of carrying around the 53-pound unit (as opposed to the original Jawhorse's weight of 44 pounds), there are two wheels on the end of the body that allows the SheetMaster to be pulled or pushed much like a wheeled suitcase through the airport. The two wheels provide far more stability when moving the unit than the single roller design found on the original Jawhorse, whether moving the unit on a concrete shop floor or on more difficult terrain like a lawn.

Simply put, the improvements in the Jawhorse SheetMaster, while heavier than the original, make it a more stable, easier to use and move unit. This extra set of hands would be a welcome addition to any woodshop or construction site. The SheetMaster is covered by a 5-year manufacturer's defect warranty.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.