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This is a real storage cabinet — a face-framed bookshelf box with a single hinged door — dressed up as a vintage gas pump, flanked by two smaller bookshelf towers built as separate, identical units. Building the side bookshelves as their own boxes rather than one continuous wide shelf is what lets the center cabinet stand slightly proud of them and read as the "pump" against two supporting towers.
The theming details are what make this project: a round disc cut from 1x12 becomes the pump's gauge face, a length of black flex tubing becomes the hose, and a scrap-cut handle finishes the illusion. None of that is structural — build the cabinet and shelves solidly first, then treat the gas-pump details as trim you add at the end, so a mistake on the fun stuff never costs you the carcass.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12 board, 8 ft (11-1/4" actual width) | 2 each |
| 1x12 board, 4 ft (11-1/4" actual width) | 1 each |
| 1/4" plywood, 24" x 48" | 1 each |
| 1x3 board, 10 ft | 1 each |
| 1x4 board, 8 ft | 3 each |
| 1x2 board, 8 ft | 2 each |
| 2x6 or 2x4 scrap wood | 1 each |
| Hinges and magnetic clasp | 1 set |
| Wood filler | 1 each |
| 2-hole strap, 1/2" | 1 each |
| Black flex tubing, 1/2", 3 ft | 1 each |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4" | 40 each |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4" | 80 each |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Main cabinet sides1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 48" |
| Main cabinet shelves1x12 | 5 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 15" |
| Main cabinet back1/4" plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 16 1/2" × 48" |
| Main cabinet face frame, bottom1x3 | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 16 1/2" |
| Main cabinet face frame, top1x4 | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 16 1/2" |
| Main cabinet face frame, stiles1x3 | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 43 1/4" |
| Side bookshelf verticals1x4Two per side bookshelf, two side bookshelves total. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 44" |
| Side bookshelf shelves1x4Three shelves per side bookshelf. | 6 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 9 3/4" |
| Side bookshelf shelf trim1x2Five per side bookshelf. | 10 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 9 3/4" |
| Trim, short vertical1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" |
| Trim, short horizontal1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 4 1/4" |
| Trim, top strip1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 18" |
| Base feet2x6 or scrap | 2 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 5 1/2" |
| Gauge face disc1x12Cut into an 11" circle with a jigsaw. | 1 | 3/4" × 11" × 11" |
| Door1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 43" |
Buy 13 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
3 boards
Build the main cabinet using pocket holes or nails and glue at every joint — both approaches work here because every joint gets reinforced by the back and face frame in later steps. Attach the back with 3/4" nails and wood glue, nailing into every shelf edge as you go.
Build the face frame separately, flat, then attach the completed frame to the front of the cabinet with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue.
Build the two side bookshelves as separate boxes. Nail and glue is fine since each will be reinforced by attachment to the main cabinet, though pocket holes are worth using on the top and bottom 1x2 backs where extra strength matters.
Attach the side bookshelves to the main cabinet, working from the back forward, cutting trim pieces to fit as you go rather than pre-cutting everything. Nail on with 1-1/4" nails and glue.
Cut the round gauge-face disc with a jigsaw and mount it to the top of the cabinet as the pump's dial — this is the single detail that reads "gas pump" from across the room, so take care getting it centered. Attach the base feet. The door is simply the 1x12 board, hung on with the hinges and magnetic clasp.
Mount the 2-hole strap and run the black flex tubing from it to suggest the pump's hose. Cut a handle shape from 1x4 scrap, paint it, and attach it to the door. Fill nail holes with wood filler, sand, and finish or paint as desired — a hand-lettered or stenciled sign on top completes the look.
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1 board
3 boards
2 boards
2 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →