A classic tale of “Geez, I could do that…”
While wandering a furniture store for some end tables for the basement, I saw a neat looking shelf/buffet unit made of rustic wood and iron pipes … but it was $700! (and it was 50% off!) At this point I decided (a) this is the “look” I like, and (b) ain’t no way I am paying that – I should be able to make them myself. It’s just a bunch of piping and boards.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180120_123350_resize-1.jpg)
To make matters more interesting, I was looking at potential shelf boards at Lowes when I found that they were now selling live edge slabs of wood. Awesome – but they are not cheap and only a few look okay (I’m picky). I best be doing a test project first.
Test project – the stair table.
For the test project I am finally going to get rid of that janky drink holder that I slapped together during the basement reno years ago. The top couch is next to a step, so there was no place to put a table and no place to put your drink/popcorn. So I threw this ugly thing together that wedges under the couch:
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180127_172456_resize.jpg)
So I assembled some bits and got the basic structure down. (yes – some trigonometry was involved to get the correct lengths!). For this table i will be using 1/2″ pipe and the associated 1/2″ connectors.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180127_152121_resize.jpg)
I am not going to use the live-edge wood for this, so I chopped off the end of a pine 2×12, drilled some holes for the pipes, and gave it a rustic staining…
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180129_174941_resize-1.jpg)
Dang – that looks great !
I am going to suspend the wood from the pipes – this will give me a nice iron-pipe-railing to keep things from falling off the small surface, and also will save on pipe.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180131_105431_resize-1.jpg)
And putting it all together I am very pleased with the results. Much better than the previous thing. And since it has some weight to it, it is actually very stable.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180131_105143_resize.jpg)
“Nipples”
A few comments on buying parts. I am not able to cut and thread raw pipe (nor do I want to) so I am at the mercy of the pre-threaded sizes available at Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. (there is great selection at the plumbing stores, but as soon as they find out you are not a contractor they add an extra $50 – just cuz – or deny you service and say bad things about your mother.) Each hardware store had their own collection of size and lengths, so I had to calculate exactly what I needed and keep a list on me everywhere I went.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/pipe-measure-copy.jpg)
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/parts.jpg)
For some reason, the straight lengths of pipe are called ‘nipples’. Not sure why, but made for interesting interactions when you walk into Canadian Tire and ask “do you have a 5 inch nipple?”
Main end tables
Once I had assembled all the pieces, then came the big job of cleaning, de-greasing, and de-labelling them. To be fair, the people who make this stuff are expecting them to end up in a wall, not on furniture. I also had to wax and/or paint them afterwards otherwise they will rust (because I removed the protective grease).
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180127_155505_resize.jpg)
Even though they sold boards with live edge on both sides, I had rather particular width requirements, and also there really wasn’t many pieces with good clean edging on both sides. So here I am gluing the two edges together (skipping over the Quest for finding the specific pocket screws they are pre-drilled for)
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180129_174953_resize.jpg)
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180211_141302_resize.jpg)
Assembling and painting the legs…
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180202_094909_resize.jpg)
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180202_155617_resize.jpg)
Quick test that everything is okay. Since I was in the cutting and staining mode I quickly made secondary shelves that fit between the legs. I probably won’t use them, but now is the time to make them easily.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180212_202159_resize.jpg)
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180217_155325_resize.jpg)
We use an android tablet to run our TV etc, and keeping track of the power cord is always a pain. So for one of the tables I will have the power delivered right to the surface. (I have all this piping … it should be easy!)
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180218_181224_resize.jpg)
Here I am glue-clamping a USB hub into an LRL Conduit Body. Yes, this is what it has come to. I am now an expert in conduit fitting nomenclature.
I like the industrial pipe+wood look of the power station.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-11-01-16.38.05-1_resize.jpg)
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180219_160428_resize.jpg)
And here is the other end table. In the end I removed the lower shelf so you can see the piping, but I still have it on hand just in case.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180225_131301_resize.jpg)
The Leftovers Project
Okay, whenever I am doing a project with custom materials and there are bits leftover I am like …” I should be able to use these for something…”. (I hate throwing stuff away). This project is not different. I have left over wood and piping …. how about a little shelf unit to hold my craft beer sample glasses !
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180211_181219_resize.jpg)
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180219_162043_resize.jpg)
Thanks for reading !