Building Furniture with Black Pipe: All You Need to Know

Are you looking for cool and interesting materials to make furniture out of? Black pipe is easier to work with than you think. It also has a surprising number of applications. 

Black pipe is cheap and easy to find. It is also easy to work with. You can use it to create tables, racks, bars, shelves, beds, lamps, and more. However, make sure to clean the pipes first. Black pipes can be cut and threaded at home, provided you have the correct tools. 

In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about building furniture with black pipe, including tips on working with black pipe and some ideas you can use for inspiration. 

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Can You Build Furniture With Black Pipe? 

Yes, you can create furniture with black pipes. Towel bars and clothing racks are some of the most common applications, but you can create many things with black pipes, as you will see later in this article. 

Black pipe is beautiful and fits well in bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, kitchens, and outside. It is easy to work with black pipe fittings. Black pipes are fun and easy to work with. 

Things to Keep in Mind When Working With Pipe

This section will go over some important tips to keep in mind when working with black pipes. 

• Use it together with wood: While some things, like towel bars, can be made with pipe alone, other things are better made with both pipe and wood. For example, you can create shelves and tables with pipes and wood; you will need the wood for the upper, flat part. 
• Clean the pipes: Make sure to clean the pipes using a degreaser before you use them. They are often oily. You can also use simple soap if you do not have a degreaser. However, a simple WD-40 Degreaser is cheap and can be found anywhere. 

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• Protect the pipes: Consider using pipes that have some protective coating. Alternatively, avoid making furniture for your bathrooms or in your kitchen, as wetness and humidity can cause black pipes to rust. 
• Work with the flanges first: You can find flanges on Amazon for cheap. This set is very affordable. However, if you first create the entire bar, it can be hard to attach it to the wall. You may want to consider attaching the flanges to the wall first and then working on the rest of the bar (if you are indeed creating a bar). 

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Reasons to Work With Black Pipe

Why work with black pipes in the first place? There are several benefits of using black pipes to create home furniture, but there are also some downsides you should know about. Here are the reasons to build with black pipe. 

• It’s cheap: Black pipe is incredibly cheap and affordable. You can pick up black pipes of all different sizes at any hardware store or on Amazon for low prices.
• It is versatile: You can build many things with black pipe, as you will see later in this article. 
• It is easy to find: You can pick up black pipes at any hardware store, as mentioned. If you do not find black pipes in the sizes you want, you can usually ask the store to cut it for you, though they may not be enthusiastic about doing so. If you want to create something quickly, black pipes are often the easiest to find. 

How to Cut Black Pipe

If you can’t find the size you want and can’t get the store to cut the pipe for you, you can always cut it yourself. It is easier than it sounds. 

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You can always use a hacksaw or even a hammer and chisel, but a better idea would be to get this Press Snap Pipe Cutter or a similar one like it. Of course, you will also need to thread your pipes, but you can buy a relatively affordable Pipe Threader Kit, so you can do that at home. If you plan on working with pipe often, consider investing in these two tools. They are not expensive, and owning them will make your life easier and open up many possibilities. 

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This short Youtube video will teach you how to thread pipe if you are a beginner: 

Ideas for Building With Black Pipe

In this section, I will go over some ideas for things you can create with black pipes. This list is not at all exhaustive. However, it will give you some inspiration so you can get started right away, even if you never built using black pipes before. 

• Bars and racks: Whether you want to create a standalone clothing rack for your clothes or a towel bar, so you have where to place your kitchen towel, these are some of the easiest things to build with black pipes. Another great idea is to create a hanging rack for your pots and pans. Such racks can be attached to the wall or the ceiling, as shown in this tutorial. 
• Tables: You can create all kinds of tables with black pipes. However, you will need wood as well. You can create a dining room table, a night table, or even a coffee table. Here is an awesome tutorial on creating a table with pipes, along with instructions for attaching the top to the base.
• Shelves: You can also make shelves with pipe rather easily. This tutorial will show you how to make amazing shelves for your books, spices, or coffee. Here is another tutorial on making shelves with multiple layers, which will look great in your living room or bedroom. 
• TV Stands: You can make TV stands just like tables. 
• Benches: Simple wooden benches can be made with a base of black pipe. Just make sure the bench is secure enough for you to sit on it. You can create a workbench, reading bench, or a bench for your bathroom where you can place newspapers, books, or things like soap and shampoo. 
• Beds: Yes, you can create beds with pipes. Just make sure you have a great mattress so you feel comfortable and don’t hurt your back. This tutorial will give you some ideas. 
• Lamps: Black pipe lamps are cool! You can make them in so many designs and styles, and they look fantastic in bedrooms and living rooms. Here is a tutorial on creating a lamp made out of black pipes and a mason jar.
• Handrails: Why not use black pipes to create a handrail for your staircase? Black pipe is sturdy and will help kids and elderly individuals ascend and descend the stairs safely. You can even create two layers of handrails for added security. 
• Holders: You can create holders and racks for shoes, books, and even firewood. 

Suppose you are looking for more tutorials on creating all different shelves, tables, racks, lamps, and more; head over to Instructables and check out their tutorials. Alternatively, for more inspiration, check out this list from Homedit. 

Also, don’t be afraid to come up with your ideas. For example, if you want to create bars on your windows to stop your kids from falling out or thieves from breaking in, you can use black pipes. 

Conclusion

If this is your first time working with black pipes, consider making something simple, like a shower curtain or a towel bar. As you get more comfortable working with pipes, consider moving on to cutting the pipe and creating more complicated fixtures, like wall shelves, shoe racks, and light fixtures.

Sources

• Homedit: A Few Projects You Should Try If You’re Into Pipe Furniture 
• Instructables: Pipe Furniture Projects
• Home On 129 Acres: 8 tips for building furniture out of pipe
• LifeHacker: Build Industrial Furniture with Wood and Pipes