Metal pipe étagère

The old vanity contained everything from health and beauty aids to cleaning products. The space's new look offered no place for those things. So a local artist turned plumber's pipe and acrylic plastic into an étagère to display accessories and store necessities.

Materials

* adjustable pipe wrench
* channel-lock pliers
* 40 (1/2-inch) galvanized tees
* 8 (1/2- x 18-inch) galvanized pipes
* 16 (1/2-inch) galvanized closed nipple fittings
* 4 (1/2- x 2 1/2-inch) galvanized pipes
* 8 (1/2-inch) galvanized caps
* 12 (1/2- x 12-inch) galvanized pipes
* 12 (1/2- x 6-inch) galvanized pipes
* 12 IPS galvanized compression unions
* 4 (1/2- x 4 1/2-inch) galvanized pipes
* 16 (1/2- x 5-inch) galvanized pipes
* acrylic-plastic cutting tool
* acrylic-plastic sheeting

Step 1: Assemble the étagère unit, starting with the bottom. Begin the process by attaching galvanized tees on either end of the 8 (18-inch) galvanized pipes with an adjustable pipe wrench.

Step 2: Mount another tee on the top of that one using a closed nipple fitting. This tee faces 90 degrees from the other tee that is attached to the 18-inch pipe.

Step 3: Screw a 5-inch pipe into the top tee using galvanized closed nipple fittings.

Step 4: Repeat Steps 1 through 3, and join two (5-inch) pipes with a union. You now have one shelf and are ready to build up.

Step 5: Before building, use four (4 1/2-inch) pipes and caps to make the feet. Screw the caps on the pipes, and then screw the pipes into the bottom tees.

Step 6: Screw four (12-inch) pipes into the top of each tee.

Step 7: Repeat Steps 1 through 4 to assemble another shelf.

Step 8: Screw four (6-inch) pipes into the bottom tees on the new shelf.

Step 9: Join the second and first shelves with four compression unions between the 6- and 12-inch pipes. Tighten all unions and joints.

Step 10: Repeat Steps 1 through 4 to assemble another shelf.

Step 11: Screw four (6-inch) pipes into the bottom of the tees on the new shelf.

Step 12: Repeat Step 9 to join the third shelf to the second. Tighten all unions and joints.

Step 13: Repeat steps 1 through 4 to assemble another shelf.

Step 14: Screw four (6-inch) pipes into the bottom tees on the new shelf.

Step 15: Repeat Step 9 to join the fourth shelf to the third. Tighten all unions and joints.

Step 16: Screw four (2 1/2-inch) pipes into the top of each tee, and attach caps to the pipes.

Step 17: With a cutting tool, cut acrylic plastic sheeting to fit shelves, and place shelves in the unit.