I want to build a liquor shelf similar to this:
I've seen metal piping and flanges like this at my local big box store, and it usually comes in two flavors: galvanized steel or black iron pipe.
The problem with the black iron pipe though is that its always coated in some type of grease, which would obviously be problematic for us in furniture such as what I want to build.
So I ask: what type of black metal could I use for this, where could I find it, and does it come with fittings (such as the elbow joints and the flanges) that I could use to reproduce this liquor shelf? Also, any suggestions about attaching it to the wall?
Best Answer
The black iron ( carbon steel ) pipe comes with "mill varnish". I have never seen an ASTM specification for it. I understand it can be anything a mill wants . Very long ago it was probably creosote from coke ovens. You just need to try things like naphtha, paint thinner, etc to see what works. When oil companies purchase pipeline pipe, they order it bare ( no varnish) then clean it and coat it with their own material before putting it in service.