Reproducing a Classic

Interested in building a reproduction of a wall cabinet that you can customize to your liking, practice case construction, and develop your eye for design? James Krenov’s pipe cabinet is a great option. His first iteration was made in 1968 and was constructed from oak, had adjustable shelves, and a unique door that allowed for air to circulate. In this article, I’ll walk you through designing this cabinet to your liking and give you tips on how to build the iconic parts of this piece. Just remember, this cabinet is small in stature so making mistakes and changing your mind won’t cost a fortune so you can adjust this piece to your heart’s content.

Planning Lumber Layout

The look you want to give your cabinet starts at the lumber store. You should take your time and sift through the available stock, looking specifically for straight, tight grain or other patterns pleasing to the eye, doing your best to avoid knots, checks, and other defects.

With your wood selected and back in the shop, you don’t want to start milling your lumber and cutting pieces as they occur to you. Since I work from 8/4 stock, I try to book match a lot of my symmetrical parts, so the sides of the case are ripped from a board and then