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    Home » pallet projects » Keepsake Old Tools Display

    Keepsake Old Tools Display

    Published by Gail | Published October 23, 2015 | Updated May 16, 2021
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Hi MRL friends! It's Angie from Knick of Time, and it's good to be back again this month with a  tutorial to make rustic display for old tools that are family keepsakes.

    How to display old tools

    Antique Tools Display

    I was given a bunch of old tools that belonged to my husband's grandfather. Rather than keep them boxed up in storage, I created a rustic display for them. So we can enjoy seeing them in our home, and they are a remembrance for my husband of his grandfather. I didn't know him myself, but these tools give me a glimpse into the hard worker he must have been.

    Vintage family keepsakes

    antique tools

    First, I created a basic frame with pallet wood, like the one I made for my Framed Feed Bag.

    Begin with a basic frame

    pallet wood frame

    More pieces of pallet wood were cut to fit behind the opening, and screwed onto the back of the frame.

    Fill in the back of the frame with more pallet boards

    tools 3

    Here's how it looks from the front.

    If you want it less rustic, you can sand the wood , but I wanted mine to be really rustic and old looking. You could also paint just the frame to make it stand out from the background, and match your room colors.

    Pallet frame to hold old tools

    pallet wood rustic frame

    Use wire to attach each piece securely to the wood. You can either drill small holes on both sides of each tool, or use the gaps between the pallet pieces to thread the wire from the front , twisting it on the back side.

    Attach old tools with wire

    old tools 5

    For this small pick with a wooden handle, I screwed it in place from the back side.

     

    tools 6

    This idea could be used for all kinds of keepsakes, not just old tools. Imagine displaying some of your grandmother's cooking utensils, your mother's silverware, or your dad's fishing gear.

    I also have some special keepsakes that belonged to my grandparents, so I plan to create another display like this one, and hang both of them in our bedroom, on either side of our bed.

    I hope to get a small engraved plaque to attach to the display, with my husband's grandfather's name on it, so my kids and future  generations will know these aren't just any old tools - they belonged to their own family member, and they are keepsakes. I'm so glad my father-in-law gifted these tools to me. He knows how much I love old things, and knew I would find something to do with them!

    Rustic display for old tools

    Rustic Tools Display



     

    If you love old tools as much as I do, you'll love this Repurposed Tools Round-up at Knick of Time.

    repurposed tools projects

    See you next month!

    signature

    Click Here for more information about dismantling pallets.

    see more of Angie's projects below:

    [categorythumbnaillist 321]

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    About Angie

    Angie loves celebrating farmhouse style! She shares easy DIY project ideas, repurposed vintage decor and printable antique graphics and more at knickoftime.net

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Beth Nimmons

      November 09, 2021 at 9:01 am

      Thank you for sharing this idea. I have been trying to figure out a way to display old wooden pulleys. I love this idea!!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 17, 2021 at 8:53 pm

        Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment!

        gail

    2. Bliss

      October 28, 2015 at 11:32 am

      That's pretty cool, so I pinned it.

      Reply
    3. girlfromwva

      October 23, 2015 at 10:25 pm

      great idea.

      Reply
    4. Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

      October 23, 2015 at 3:34 pm

      That's lovely, Angie. I hope that we all appreciate the old tools from our past as this is an important part of history. People such as your husband's grandfather spent countless hours making things for their home by hand with tools like that.

      Reply
      • Angie

        October 23, 2015 at 8:24 pm

        Thanks so much, Julie!

    5. gail@myrepurposedlife.com

      October 23, 2015 at 9:25 am

      Angie,

      How sweet this project is! To display a loved ones special tools in such a way just makes me smile. I can see that this is the perfect decor for your home.

      Thanks for sharing a great project with us today!
      gail

      Reply
      • Angie

        October 23, 2015 at 8:25 pm

        Thanks Gail!

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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