5 Must-Have Pipe Components for Every Workshop

A well-stocked workshop saves time. It saves trips to the store. It keeps your momentum going when inspiration hits.

DIY pipe furniture projects are like recipes. You can’t build if you’re missing the basics. Stock the right components and you’ll move faster, build cleaner, and avoid last-minute substitutions that throw off the fit.

This guide covers five must-have pipe components worth keeping on hand. These are the pieces that show up again and again in shelves, racks, tables, carts, and custom storage.

1) Pipes (Your Build Starts Here)

The pipe is your foundation. It’s the backbone of frames, rails, legs, and supports.

Keep a mix of lengths in your workshop. Short pipes help with tight spaces and small braces. Longer pipes handle spans and rails without extra joints.

This is the component you’ll reach for first. It sets your dimensions. It sets your layout. It sets your whole build in motion.

Keep a few “standard” lengths you use most often, plus a couple longer options for custom cuts or bigger builds.

2) Nipples (The Small Part That Solves Big Problems)

Nipples are short threaded connectors. They bridge fittings. They add spacing. They help you fine-tune a build without redesigning the whole thing.

They’re perfect for standoffs. They’re perfect for shelf supports. They’re perfect when you need just a little extra reach between fittings.

Most workshop builds need at least a few. Many need a lot.

A variety pack of short sizes is gold. When you’re troubleshooting a fit, nipples give you flexibility fast.

3) Elbows (For Corners, Turns, and Clean Lines)

Elbows let you change direction. They’re the go-to fitting for frames, corners, and right-angle transitions.

You’ll use elbows in shelf brackets. You’ll use them in clothing racks. You’ll use them in rolling bar carts and under-shelf supports.

They also help you keep builds looking intentional. Corners feel sharp. Lines feel deliberate. The project looks finished.

Keep several 90-degree elbows ready. They disappear quickly once you start building.

4) Tees (When You Need a Branch or a Support)

Tees create a junction. They’re what you use when your build needs a crossbar, a mid-support, or an extra leg.

They’re a must for longer shelves. They’re a must for wide tables. They’re also great for building frames that need stability without bulky bracing.

Tees make projects stronger. They make layouts more flexible. They make it easier to add features later.

Stock-up tip: If you build anything longer than a quick wall shelf, tees will pay for themselves immediately.

5) Flanges (The “Mount It and Trust It” Essential)

Flanges are how you anchor a build to a wall, floor, or tabletop. They’re the finishing move that makes your project feel stable and permanent.

Use them for wall-mounted shelves. Use them for desk legs. Use them for racks that need a confident stance.

Flanges are also one of the easiest ways to upgrade a basic DIY build. They look clean. They look industrial. They hold everything together.

Stock-up tip: Keep extra flanges on hand for “I can mount that” moments—especially for quick storage upgrades.

The Workshop Checklist That Keeps You Building

When you have these five components ready, your workshop becomes faster and more creative.

You spend less time hunting parts and spend more time building.

Stock the essentials. Keep a small back-up supply. Your next project will thank you.

Ready to stock up? Browse PIPE DECOR® pipes and fittings and never run out for your next DIY project.