Custom Steel Leg Styles
Every table I build can be paired with a steel base fabricated by In Front Metal, my steel fabrication partner of more than ten years, based just down the street from my shop here in Portland. Like me, they're a local one person operation committed to premium quality and precision craftsmanship. Every base is fabricated from American steel and fitted with adjustable leveling feet so your table sits solid and true. Legs are available in naturally blackened or natural brushed steel.
Steel By Design
A table top is the star of the room. The grain, the color, the character of the slab, all of it does the work. A steel base gets out of the way of that. Set a dark walnut top on a slim blackened steel frame and the contrast sharpens the whole piece, your eye reads the wood as wood instead of losing the edge where the top meets the legs. Match the tones and the table can start to feel heavy before it needs to.
That's the idea behind every style I offer, from a minimal U leg to something as sculptural as the Blade. Thin steel tube carries serious weight, so the base stays quiet while the top carries the visual weight of the piece. Even a large dining table ends up feeling lighter in a room, more open, sitting on a base that adds without competing.
Standard Legs
U Legs
Clean, strong, and timeless. U legs are built from 1x2 steel tube, offering a simple silhouette that puts the focus on the wood. One of my most versatile bases, they work beautifully across a wide range of table styles and spaces.
Trapezoid Legs
Trapezoid legs taper slightly as they meet the floor, giving them a subtle architectural shape while staying minimal. Made from slim 2x1 steel tube, they create a refined profile that balances strength with elegance.
Premium Legs
Blade Legs
Blade legs are precision welded from two pieces of steel to create the seamless look of a single flat blade, angled outward for a strong sculptural stance. The refined edge and clean finish require exacting fabrication work that makes each set truly distinctive. Bold but clean, they give the table a presence that feels both modern and enduring.
Curved H Legs
The Curved H base is our most distinctive design. Vertical uprights flow into softly rounded inside corners, with a horizontal bar raised just above the floor and a gentle taper at the feet. The curves require precise fabrication and careful hand finishing that sets them apart from standard welded legs. It's a design that combines strength with quiet detail.
Parsons Base
A classic form with a modern build. The Parsons base is made from 2x2 steel tube, four legs joined by a visible support skirt that becomes part of the design rather than something hidden away. The skirt adds both structural integrity and clean geometry, complementing the natural beauty of the wood without distraction.
Built To Fit
Most steel table legs are made to a handful of standard sizes and shipped from a catalog. Every base I use is fabricated to fit the exact table it's going under. In Front Metal builds each set after I've finalized the top's dimensions, so the proportions and leg placement are sized to that one piece rather than adjusted to fit a stock frame.
It shows most on the Blade and Curved H legs, where the welds are ground and finished until three pieces of steel read as one continuous form. That's hand fabrication work on a one-off basis, not something a production shop turns out at volume. Every base still starts with a conversation between two people who know exactly what the other is capable of, not a spec sheet sent to a supplier.
Custom Fabrications
The five styles above are our most popular designs but some of our favorite work happens when a customer brings something completely different to the table. Whether it's a sketch on a napkin, a photo from Instagram, or a fully developed design idea, we can turn it into a reality. Here are a few examples of custom bases we've built.
Let's Build Your Table
Whether you're drawn to one of our five standard styles or have an idea of your own, reach out and let's talk about what's possible.