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Cabinet by James Krenov

Krenov on Grain: The Story of a Cabinet

James Krenov is a cabinet maker from California. He has written a lot about the craft of cabinet making and is considered a giant in the field. Hi thoughts on working with grain remind me of many other crafts, including writing and facilitation, both of which I do. Here he writes about making the cabinet pictured above.

“When I saw that the side of the cabinet created a forward curve, I decided to change the stand to one with front legs that swept forward. Making this change is an example of observing what’s happening with the wood as you work. But while you sometimes let the wood guide you, you shouldn’t let it dictate. You have to refer to the wood without abandoning your intentions. There has to be a cooperation, a partnership between the two. The idea is to follow, but be careful.

It’s a matter of getting acquainted with all of the properties of each wood you choose to work — a wood’s colors; its hardness or lack of hardness; whether its grain is ornery or not. It’s a very personal thing, and not everyone pays such close attention. But if you do, you are more in harmony with the wood and the work. And the results seem to flow from this harmony, even though it is connected with periods of stress and doubt. In the long run, knowing about these things will help a person.”