DIY Tutorial: Create Your Own Industrial Furniture Handle
In the world of do-it-yourself and DIY (Do It Yourself), there are no limits to creativity. Today, we're going to show you how to customise your furniture by making an industrial furniture handle from plumbing fittings. It's a great technique for furniture makeovers and for adding a touch of industrial decor to your home.
You can also find our handles already mounted and varnished here and all our furniture handles and knobs here!
1. The Presentation of the Parts
Before you start, make sure you have all the parts you need. For this tutorial, the handle is made with 21mm OD pipes, but the same can be made with .27mm or 34mm pipes.
| Size in inches | Size in mm | outside diameter of Pipes (approx) |
| 1/2'' | 15x21mm | 21 mm |
| 3/4'' | 20x27mm | 27 mm |
| 1'' | 26x34mm | 34 mm |
| 1"1/4 | 33x42mm | 42 mm |
Here's the list of parts you'll need:
Parts list
- 2 x flange floor
- 2 x equal coupling
- 1 x threaded pipe of the desired length (for this tutorial, we're using a 10 cm pipe)
All these parts are available in our online shop. Pipes are available in 20 different sizes, giving you the flexibility to tailor your project to your specific needs.
How do I choose the length of my threaded pipe?
For this assembly:
male plug + tee + tube + tee + male plug
The assembly will make the length of the pipe + 12cm
For example:
| Pipe length | Total Handle Length |
| 8 cm | 20 cm |
| 10 cm | 22 cm |
| 12 cm | 24 cm |
| 15 cm | 27 cm |
| 18 cm | 30 cm |
| 20 cm | 32 cm |
| 25 cm | 37 cm |
| 30 cm | 42 cm |
| 40 cm | 52 cm |
| 50 cm | 62 cm |
| 60 cm | 72 cm |
| 70 cm | 82 cm |
Pre-filled baskets for one handle:
Here are different baskets for the elements you need to make a handle:
| Handle size | Type fittings | |
| 22 cm | Eco | Premium |
| 27 cm | Eco | Premium |
| 32 cm | Eco | Premium |
| 37cm | Eco | Premium |
| 42 cm | Eco | Premium |
| 52 cm | Eco | Premium |
What tools are needed:
For assembling the fittings a spanner may be useful, it will not be essential but will make it easier to tighten the parts to the desired level.
For the final fixing of the handle to your piece of furniture or stand, a drill / screwdriver will probably be necessary.
2. Assembly
Once you have all your parts, assembly can begin. Follow these steps:
- Assemble the tees and the pipe. For easier and/or tighter screwing
tighter, you can use this technique described on the page:
How to manually screw in your plumbing pipes and fittings
You can tighten the fittings until the threads are no longer visible. Be careful, screwing them on is increasingly difficult, so you'll need a little elbow grease and strength 💪
- Next, screw the equal nipples onto the other ends of the Tee fittings and the equal nipples. Help yourself to a spanner if necessary, the shape of these pieces is adapted. Be careful not to damage the square of the plug by exerting too much force, as this part can easily be damaged.
- Now screw on the floor flanges, remember to align the holes according to the desired position.
And that's it, you've assembled your furniture handle!
3. Cleaning
Once your handle has been assembled, it's important to clean it with acetone, F-Petrol or a metal degreaser. This will remove the grease that covers the raw plumbing parts.
4. Finishing
After cleaning, it's time to apply the finish. You can choose between varnish, paint, patina or oil. The easiest is varnish or paint using an aerosol or spray gun to achieve an even finish . Don't forget to protect your workspace well and wear a mask so you don't inhale the fumes.
5. Fixing
Finally, it's time to fix your new furniture handle. This last step is pretty straightforward. You'll need a drill to make the holes in the furniture, then use screws to attach the floor flanges - and therefore the handle - to the furniture.
You can find our black wood screws in 3 sizes on the shop, they go wonderfully with our pieces.
And there you have it, your furniture now has a gorgeous industrial-style handle! Not only have you successfully customised your furniture, but you've also learnt how to create a handle from plumbing fittings, a skill you can reuse for other DIY and DIY projects.
Conclusion
Furniture customisation can really give new life to your old furniture, and furniture makeovers using plumbing fittings is a great way to bring a unique industrial decorating touch to your home. We hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and that it inspires you for future DIY projects. Don't forget, all the parts you need are available in our online shop. Get your tools ready!
Equipment & related guides
Our products: Hooks & coat racks, Black steel tubes, DIY parts, Galvanised steel tubes
Best-sellers: Flange ¾" black iron
Also read: