Building Furniture: Welding Custom Table Legs

About the Course

Learn MIG welding to fabricate a table base or set of legs of your own design in our metal shop!

This metalworking series will cover the basics of mild steel welding and fabrication to create steel legs to build custom furniture. Classes in this series will review design, project planning, cutting, material prep, fixturing, MIG process welding, post-processing, and finishing. Use steel box tube, angle iron, round, and/or flat bar to shape steel into table legs or a base. Materials are an additional cost. Feel free to purchase from us or bring your own! NextFab’s Maker Series is a two-month program that gives you up to 5 classes, unlimited shop access, and a cohort to learn alongside.

Classes included:

• Wednesday, March 25th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Metal Shop Orientation
• Wednesday, April 1st, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: MIG Welding: Introduction to Steel
• Wednesday, April 8th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Designing and Project Planning for Welding Fabrication
• Wednesday, April 15th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Welding Practice
• Wednesday, April 22nd, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Fixturing, Welding, Cutting, and Prep
• Wednesday, May 6th, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Finishing Touches and Sharing

Note: This series focuses on the metal base only. After completing your welded legs, we encourage you to use our woodshop tools and classes to build a custom top and complete your piece!

Q. What is included in the Maker Series package?

A. Registration in a Maker Series grants you:

• The scheduled classes and training to complete the selected project (over $600 of class instruction)
• 2 months of active NextFab Membership, starting on the first class date (over $298 value)
• Special member pricing to continue membership beyond the 2 months: $129/month (over 10% discount from standard membership)
• A cohort of peers, new skills and confidence gained, and a sense of community within the Philadelphia creative ecosystem (priceless value!)

Q: Is the Maker Series right for me? I have ZERO experience!

A: Yes! The Maker Series programming was developed with the true beginner in mind. In six weeks, you could go from zero experience to confidently navigating an active studio and future projects.

Not only is NextFab’s Maker Series designed to teach you how to use the most common equipment within the area of your program, but it also teaches you how to think about design when creating something from scratch. Knowing how to follow a blueprint or plan is incredibly valuable, but designing your own project plans is what will differentiate you from the hobbyist who is “just winging it.”

Q: If I am a previous member of NextFab, can I join the Maker Series?

A: Absolutely! If you are a previous member and looking to complete the class project or get a major refresh of skills you haven’t used for a while, the Maker Series is a perfect way to get your feet wet again. To receive the discounted pricing for members, please register through our Q-Reserve system available on the Member Portal.

Q: I have a schedule conflict with one of the class dates. Can I make it up?

A:  While we understand things can occasionally come up, please do your best to stick to the scheduled dates. Participants in the Maker Series will be charged a rate of $60 per hour for any required make-up sessions. Your instructor will work with you to arrange a make-up session based on their availability. To ensure you remain on track with the program’s objectives, please provide as much advance notice as possible if a make-up session is needed.

Q: Should I join the Maker Series or join as a regular member and take classes?

A: This depends on your goals. If you are feeling inspired and want to learn new skills but don’t have a particular project in mind, the Maker Series is perfectly suited to get your feet wet and help you find your way in the craft.

What’s Next:

• Build a wooden table top to attach to your new metal table legs!
• Take Wood Shop Orientation, Wood Milling I, and Table Saw I to equip you with the skills to build your wooden table top. Classes by request, so dive into woodworking immediately after finishing this metalworking series!