I've got no furniture. I could fix this situation like a normal person a just buy some furniture, but I got it into my head that I should build some. I got the idea from some home built steel furniture by jwz. After his last steel furniture project (before he became a multi-millionaire) he decided that rather than threaded pipes it might be better to use Kee Klamps.

I decided to take that advice about the Kee Klamps, but I didn't know they'd be between $8 and $11 each -- ouch!. Maybe if this page gets enough hits the Kee Klamp company will send me some free samples. Still, I can't imagine what a pain it would be to have to use threaded pipes.

Rather than the galvanized finished pipes that jwz used, I decided to go with black steel. I like the dark finish of the black, unfinished steel more than the "I'm metal!" look that the gavanized pipes have. I did put a coat of polyurethane finish on all the pipes to account for the rough surface which added a little shine. I went with the same 1/2" pipe that jwz did because anything bigger cost too much for both the pipe and the fittings (not to mention the weight).

The steps I took in pipe preparation were as follows:

1. Wash pipe with concentrated citrus clenser
2. Allow to dry
3. Remove any rust with steel wool
4. Wipe dust from pipe with a dry cloth
5. Apply a coat of clear (low-gloss) polyurethane
6. Allow polyurethane to dry
7. Apply a coat of clear (low-gloss) polyurethane
8. Allow polyurethane to dry

For the surfaces I want to use darkly smoked (nearly black) glass. I've priced it, and it's pretty spendy, so I'll probably have surfaces of plywood until the next month with three pay checks (love those!).

The full collection to be:
Desk	Coffee Table
Entertainment Center	Futon
Bookshelves	End Tables
Liquor Cabinet	Lamps