A method for making a heat pipe panel comprising the steps of forming parallel furrows in a sheet metal plate, covering the sheet metal plate with another plate, bonding the plate together around the edges and between the furrows, to form parallel cavities between the plates, charging the cavities with working fluid and sealing the cavities to form individual heat pipes in the panel. The furrows may be filled with wicking material, and capillary grooves may be cut in the furrows before bonding the plates together. The cover plate also may have furrows formed therein. A header furrow may be provided for the fluid charging operations.