C-Purlin Steel Picnic Table Plans: 6' Welding Project with Lesson Plan & Rubric (Ag Mechanics)

📦 Instant digital download • PDF files • Licensed for classroom/personal use, not for resale

Give your advanced students a welding project they’ll be proud to carry out of the shop. This full-size, 6-foot steel picnic table is built from 1 ½" x 3" x 14ga rectangular tubing and 4" C-purlin, the same framing used in metal buildings. Formed 1/8" flat-strap end straps cover the purlin ends for a clean, finished look.

Students cut 82° (8°) parallel and opposing angles, lay out and tack two matching A-frame end frames, check for square with diagonal measurements, MIG weld thin-wall steel, and form strap to fit 45° purlin ends. The finished picnic table is a real, usable product, a good fit for chapter fundraisers, shop furniture, or a build-off competition.

What’s Included

• 6-sheet dimensioned drawing set (isometric, overall, side, front, and top views)
• Step-by-step project instructions (16 steps) with cut list, tools, safety reminders, and “Check Yourself” checkpoints
• TEKS-aligned lesson plan (§127.43, §127.41, and General Employability Skills, PEIMS N1270153)
• 100-point project rubric with student self-reflection
• Student reflection questions for exit tickets or a project summary

Project Details

• Finished size: 6'-0 ¼" long x 4'-11 9/16" wide x 2'-8" tall
• Skill level: Intermediate
• Estimated time: 4 class periods
• Materials: 1 ½" x 3" x 14ga steel tubing, 4" x 1 ½" x 14ga C-purlin, 1/8" flat strap
• Tools: chop saw, MIG welder, angle grinder, bench vise
• Format: instant digital download

Why Teachers Love This Project

• Teaches angle layout and fit-up skills that carry over to trailers, gates, and equipment frames
• Built-in checkpoints make it easy to manage multiple teams in the shop
• A popular build for FFA and booster fundraisers
• Fully TEKS-aligned paperwork saves prep time

Disclaimer

This resource is an independent classroom resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National FFA Organization. "FFA" is used only to describe the agricultural education programs this resource supports. No official FFA emblems are used.