Saw this cabinet in Fine Woodworking Oct.Nov. 2025 issue. Have never done a coopered panel and decided to try it. Did not have a coopering plane so the decision took a bit of time to finally decide to do it. Used the article as the basis and followed it fairly close. The Cabinet is of Mahogany with Spalted Maple boxes and Yatoba for the door handle. First step was to make the door. Slats 1.75 wide with the sides tapered 7 degree angle. 5 slats 9/16" thick glued together for the curved door. The outside of the door was planed, scraped and sanded to get a smooth curved surface. The inside was sanded using a block cut to the curve wanted and sandpaper of various grits used to smooth it down. Took a bit. This was set aside to be used after the cabinet was made. Basic cabinet was then built to be 21" tall, 8" wide and 5.75" deep out of 5/8" Mahogany. The back is 1/4" Mahogany with a keyhole slot for hanging the cabinet if wanted. The sides connected to the top and bottom with 7 1/4" dowels at each location. Inside the cabinet dividers and shelf were installed with 1/4" thick mahogany. 1/16" Splines were used to connect the dividers to the case and each other. The top shelf has its own mounting pegs cut from Mahogany with 1/8" pegs. The boxes were made with 3/16" thick Spalted Maple Boxes are 3" wide by 3 5/16" deep. Top box is 1 7/8" tall the other is 1 7/8" tall. Small magnet was installed to keep the door closed. 3/16" box joints on the corners. Bottom is same 3/16" Spalted Maple. The handle was made by turning a Yatoba pencil blank round to about 3/8" diameter and then a 1/8" slot 3/4" long routered into the side. The same 1/8" slot also cut into the door. The two slots connected by a piece of 1/8" thick Yatoba to finish the handle. Sanded with 320 grit and then 3 coats of MinWax Antique Oil Finish. Hand buffed some. The Coopered Door was the time consuming part. Happy to answer all quetions.
No idea what the cabinet will be used for or where it might go. Just the challenge to build it was the motive. One could use to to keep his coffee cup safe or to hide it. ????
Nice work Ron 👍 At first I couldn't see why you called it coopered, then I finally (barely) saw the planks on the inside door view. Great job with the grain alignments!
Has that cool styling without crossing over to non-functional, very nice wood combos.
Splinter,,, not bed sheets. Cover for equipment, magnets on the corners. Keeps moisture off table saws etc. Obviously I use it for back drape for camera. Works both ways, sorta.
This is really good work! I recognized the Mahogany right away. The door must have been a challenge it came out great. Those little drawers make it really interesting. Weird but those shelf pins are really cool! Details make a difference.
Mr 987, I like the way you made this for the challenge of the door, great way to increase skills, plus the satisfaction obtained on when it's completed this well. As for the door and it's continuous grain pattern, it couldn't have come out any better. A+ on the door. Looking for a use for this cabinet, how about a bottle of your beverage of choice and a couple of glasses directly below? Great work Ron, two thumbs up on this.
