Hairpin Buying Guide
Choosing the right size legs
We make Hairpins in a wide variety of standard heights:
- 10cm and 20cm for cabinets and other furniture feet
- 25cm, 30cm and 35cm for coffee tables
- 40cm for benches and other seating
- 71cm for standard table height
- 86cm and 102cm for counter, bar and poseur
You can find more detailed information about what height legs will be best for you here.
Number of Rods and Thickness options
We make our hairpins either in a 2 Rod or 3 Rod design, and have options made with both 10mm and 12mm thick steel rod. Which options you should choose will depend on the height of the legs you're buying, and what you're using them for:
- Short Hairpins (under 35cm)
2 Rod, 10mm - Shorter legs are inherently stronger and stiffer than their taller counterparts. You will be hard pressed to build something on small legs where weight is an issue. If you have any specific concerns, get in touch.
- 35cm Hairpins
2 Rod, 10mm - Strong enough for almost all projects.
3 Rod, 10mm - Available if you prefer the look of the 3 Rod Hairpins.
- 40cm Hairpins
2 Rod, 10mm or 12mm - Suitable for smaller benches (1-2 people)
3 Rod, 10mm or 12mm - Recommended for larger benches (3+ people)
- 71cm Hairpins
2 Rod, 10mm or 12mm - Only suitable for small side tables
3 Rod, 10mm - Can support up to 60kg
3 Rod, 12mm - Can support up to 120kg
- 86cm Hairpins
3 Rod, 10mm – Can support up to 50kg**
3 Rod 12mm - Can support up to 100kg**
- 102cm Hairpins
3 Rod, 12mm - Can support up to 80kg**
**If your counter or bar is going to be next to a wall or other static structure, like a kitchen island, then you can also attach your tabletop to that with a wall fixing and this will significantly increase the strength of your final construction**
Choosing the right finish
Our metal table legs are made with mild steel. We offer a number of different finish options to suit your project:
- Raw Steel – This is uncoated steel in its natural form and will rust if left unfinished (indoors as well as out). We offer this option for those looking for a rusted industrial look or wanting to apply their own finish.
- Clear Coat – These legs have a clear powder coat layer over the steel to protect them from rusting while maintaining the natural colour of the steel.
- Colour Powder Coats – We offer all of our legs in a black powder coat, and the hairpins come in a variety of other colours too.
- Electro-plated options – We currently offer hairpin legs electro-plated in Copper, Brass, Chrome, and Zinc.
- Outdoor finishes – Some of our finishes are suitable for use outdoors. You can find all of our outdoor grade leg options here.
You can find some detailed guides on choosing the right finish here.
What's included?
All of our legs come with free wood screws and appropriate floor protectors.
How do I attach the legs, and what tools will I need?
With screws included, attaching our legs to your project should be very simple. We just recommend a few things:
- A tape measure to get the positions of the legs in the right place
- A pencil to mark the positions of the screw holes
- A drill to predrill guide holes for the screws. We recommend a 2.5mm diameter guide hole for soft woods and a 3mm diameter guide hole for hard woods
- A screwdriver to screw the legs in
That should cover almost everything you need to consider when choosing some of our legs. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.