How-Tuesday: Plumbing Pipe Candlesticks

BrazenAnglerFilms

Story by BrazenAnglerFilms

Published on Feb 01, 2011 in Make

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Love dining by candlelight but hate the sight of those chintzy candlesticks you’ve had since your Indigo Girls phase in college? Brooklynite Stephen Antonson has the cure for what ails you. In this month’s edition of video How-Tuesday, we ventured to Stephen’s Gowanus-based workshop to learn how to turn spare plumbing parts into an array of industrial candlesticks that are guaranteed to set the mood for any occasion.

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Materials
Plumbing parts can be found at most hardware stores or plumbing supply stores. Here’s a breakdown of all the plumbing parts you can use in this project:

•  Bushings — a threaded exterior on one side, and a threaded interior on the other.
•  Couplings — each end of a coupling connects to other parts.
•  Unions — two identical interior threadings on either side, unions “unite” two other parts together.
•  Nipples — aside from a funny name, nipples have two identical threaded ends on either side.

Plumbing parts come in either black or galvanized silver, both of which are quite striking. You have the option of leaving them bare or painting them (See Step 3). You’ll also need:

•  Candles
•  Mineral spirits
•  Spray paint (optional)

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Directions
1. Thoroughly wipe down the plumbing parts with mineral spirits and a clean rag. The parts come with grease and oils on them to prevent corrosion, so you want to make sure to give them a good once over. If you’re planning on painting your candlesticks, wait for the parts to fully dry before you break out the spray paint.

2. Now it’s time to assemble your candlesticks. There are endless combinations of parts you can try, so let your creative candlestick vision guide you. If your union-bushing-coupling combination isn’t looking quite right, try a union and four bushings. Or maybe add a nipple. There’s no wrong way to make a candlestick, so have fun!

3. As we mentioned, if you prefer the original galvanized or black finish your plumbing parts, skip this step. If you do want to customize your candlesticks with paint, pick a color and start spraying. After ensuring that your candlesticks are completely dry and free of residue, apply your paint in short, even bursts until your surface area is fully covered.

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4. Pick a candle that complements your creation and you’re ready to go. Now you’ve got a great piece to spruce up your kitchen table or a romantic evening you’ve been planning.

For more information on this and other great DIY projects, check out Stephen’s book, Home From the Hardware Store, available on Amazon or from an independent bookseller near you. About the filmmakers: Soo Kim and Marcus Ricci are founding members of Brazen Angler Films. They live and work in Brooklyn, NY.

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