Modern Legs

All of our metal legs are made of 100% US steel, and we’re proud of that. They are great for durability and longevity, but what if you live in a harsh climate that has lots of environmental factors such as humidity or high salt content…say right near the ocean? Our legs are thick and durable and even with salt in the environment they will still last a long time.

A half-inch of steel is a lot of steel – even left alone in a rough environment there will be years of use–probably decades–before the metal would start to downgrade. But there are ways you can protect your metal legs. The easiest protection is to wax the hairpin legs. This provides a clear coating that retains the look of the metal legs while sealing out moisture and contaminants.

Our hairpin legs can also be clear coated with a metal sealant, which will maintain the classic look of the leg while adding a more durable coating – and adding a higher gloss look. Clear coating will provide a longer lasting finish than wax but takes longer to dry – and don’t forget to apply it in a well ventilated area. Yet another option is applying gun blue to the metal legs. This can be done alone or with a layer of wax over it and adds a deep color to the legs.

If color is something you are interested in, painting is a great option for hairpin legs. Choosing a paint that is intended for use on metal will provide the correct adherence and protection qualities. Or if you want a removable solution, try Plasti Dip. It’s a spray on paint that comes in many colors and can be peeled off later if you change your mind.

No matter what protection you decide to use on your metal legs, be sure to remove dust, moisture and any other particulate matter before applying and follow all of the manufacturer instructions. And don’t forget to have fun! We look forward to seeing what you come up with so send us a pic!

 

Making your own piece of furniture is a rewarding project. There’s something supremely satisfying about working with wood and steel. The opportunity to make a piece of furniture which is uniquely yours is just the icing on the top. To make a meaningful piece of furniture, many of our customers start with a special piece of wood. Maybe it’s an old piece of furniture you’re resurrecting, maybe it’s a tree that you grew up with, or maybe you have a love for a certain species of wood…these are all ways our customers have used our hairpin legs to transfer a love of wood into a piece of furniture. You can take it a step further by adding a personalized feature to your furniture by choosing the perfect legs. Maybe a pair of sturdy bench legs are perfect, or maybe it’s the right pair of hairpin legs. Whatever is right for you, the furniture becomes a reminder of what you care about every time you use it.

There are endless options for what you can create in your own table to make it something unique and special that others will admire. Thinking about what you love in life will help you come up with your ideal piece. Our metal legs offer longevity and durability to any project. You can choose between our bench legs and our hairpin legs; the bench legs come in tube steel as well as flat bar and our hairpin leg offerings are quite extensive… check it out! All of our metal legs are made to order right here in the USA and they are constructed of durable 100% steel. We know you’ll be thrilled with the custom piece you put together – send us a pic of your creation when it’s finished!

 

Inspired woodworker and Modern Legs customer Jeff Spugnardi had his work featured in the Washington Post last week! If you look closely you’ll see the custom metal table legs we were able to contribute to this amazing dining room set.

We think you’ll agree that the masterful attention to detail and craftsmanship displayed by Jeff is truly worth the credit he’s getting in the Post…and we couldn’t help but share the article! Good work Jeff, and we’re proud to play a small role in the finished product. To check out the full article, head on over to the Washington Post.

Items that are often discarded can make a beautiful table, bench or stool with metal hairpin legs. Take the old electrical wire spool-turned-table for example. Or maybe there’s a new renovation or remodel project in your life; an old door, cabinet, or butcher block can all be salvaged and made into a beautiful new table. Even old barn beams have been turned into beautiful benches with our bench legs.

In this modern age it is unique and grounding to have a reminder of older times in our homes. Something otherwise destined for the scrap pile can be turned into a centerpiece and conversation starter in your home. It can be a piece that is meaningful to you or simply a piece that speaks to you – or just a piece that you like and that gets the job done!

We offer a variety of hairpin leg styles to ensure we have the right metal legs for your project. You can start with the wood and decide what hairpin legs will best complete the piece, or you can start with the right legs and work the other way around. Sometimes the right metal legs for your project are all about the lines and angles, or maybe you’ve already found your favorite table leg style and you need an excuse to use them.

Our metal legs come in two different diameters to meet your weight and durability needs. And they of course come in different heights – anything from 4-inches to 38-inches so you can put hairpin legs on anything from a chest of drawers to the dining room table. We know you’ll love our legs…so be sure to send us a picture of your creation when you’re done!

Using distressed or weathered wood or reclaiming wood for a DIY furniture project is a great option and a rewarding process. There are many pieces of perfectly good – and beautiful – wood that can be turned into a great piece of furniture for use with our metal hairpin legs. The wood can be completely refinished for a clean fresh look. Planing, sanding, and finishing old wood makes a beautifully aged piece of wood come alive again and the wood can look like new when you’re done.

 

Leaving remnants of the wood’s old life can is also an attractive look. Perhaps you’re using an old door or butcher block that has beautiful hardware or markings that lend uniqueness and character to your furniture. Sanding or planing the wood by hand rather than using power tools will allow you to stop along the way and decide what level of wear or weathering you’d like to leave on the final piece. Determining what type of furniture you’re looking for helps figure out what you want in the final product as well as what style of metal legs will best compliment the piece. A small unobtrusive corner table can handle a different look than a large dining or coffee table could pull off.

To finish the look you’re after, pick out one of our many metal hairpin leg options: the original, the twist, square bar hairpin legs, or metal bench legs. Our legs come in different diameters as well as heights to ensure you get the very best match for your future homemade table!

A question we get asked more than you might think is, ‘How should I orient the hairpin legs on the table itself?’ It may seem like a simple question, but once you look around the internet, you’ll see a variety of options.

It is a great question and one whose answer depends on each table being made. The standard table legs uses four hairpin legs that are angled outward from the corners of the table to give maximum stability to the table. Although this is the most common leg orientation, this is hardly the only option. Table legs can be placed parallel to the each other as in this round table with Just the Tip legs – the two legs on each side are facing the same direction. This offers a unique look to the table giving it its own character. Not all tables use four legs either – there are applications where either more or less are better suited for your project.

Four legs may be too many for a table being supported by something other than just metal legs, such as a wall or other supporting structure. Stools often use only three legs which alleviates tipping on uneven floors. On the flip side there are furniture pieces that use more than four legs. A long bench for example can utilize additional legs to add to the overall stability of the piece. So add your own creative touch to your next project and do what’s best for the piece–and for your house. When you arrive at a final decision, send us a picture! We’d love to see what you come up with!

Much of the furniture we see made with our hairpin legs utilizes plain wood paired with the simplicity of the metal legs. Often customers treat wood with simple methods such as staining or clear coating. This affords a classic look to the finished furniture.

Another great option is using paint on the tabletop. This opens up a whole world of options for your hairpin leg furniture. Plain wood can certainly be painted – or perhaps you have a wooden piece that is already painted that you would like to use. You can keep the paint on the piece, refresh the paint with a new coat, or mix coats to create a mottled look. A mottled or intentionally distressed look can be achieved by sanding down a painted piece of wood so part of the wood or undercoat shows through. Some customers paint the entire tabletop while others paint just enough for an accent color.

Painted pieces can be mixed and matched to create a design, and the metal legs themselves can be painted to offer even further color options for your hairpin leg project. We know you’ll have fun picking out the right colors for your table and its surroundings. And of course you get to choose which style of hairpin legs best fit your project – anything from the original hairpin leg to the square bar hairpin leg to our ‘Just the Tip’ legs. All of our legs are made right here in the USA of 100% steel. Have fun painting and send us a picture of what you come up with!