Member Login
  • Building Furniture: Welding Custom Table Legs

  • Building Furniture: Welding Custom Table Legs

  • Building Furniture: Welding Custom Table Legs

  • NextFab North Philadelphia makerspace - Welding

About the Course

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

This metalworking series will cover the basics of mild steel welding 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 a steel box tubule, angle iron, and/or flat bar to shape steel into table legs or a base over seven classes and one-on-one training. Head to the woodshop after completing this series to build a wooden tabletop using our tools and classes.

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. Our Maker Series are currently closed. To be the first to know when our next series opens for enrollment, fill out the Maker Series Interest Form here.

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 $400 value)
  • Adobe at Home Access ($120 value over 2 months!)
  • Special member pricing to continue membership beyond the 2 months: $149/month (over 30% 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 also 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.

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

A: Yes. The Maker Series package accounts for one (1) makeup class date per student at no additional cost. Advance notice/active communication with your instructor is required to coordinate when you can make up the lesson before the next scheduled class date. Subsequent absences from the pre-scheduled classes will incur an educational fee of $60/hr to make up the material.

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.

If you have a particular project in mind and want to learn all the skills needed and complete your specific project, Monthly Ultimate membership ($319/mo) is your golden ticket. Ultimate membership comes with $200 of class credits monthly, so you can get started taking the classes you need, on your schedule. You can even book Private Training sessions with those credits if you need hands-on help completing your project.

Day One: Intro to Metal Shop
Day Two: MIG Welding: Introduction on Steel – Designing
Day Three: Private Training: Welding Practice
Day Four: Designing and Project Planning for Welding Fabrication
Day Five: Private Training: Cutting and Prep
Day Six: Private Training: Fixturing, Welding
Day Seven: Finishing

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!

Request a Class

Let us know your prefered dates and times, and we’ll work with you to put something on the calendar. Please note we need at least 48 hours notice to schedule classes.