Nautical Cast-Iron Anchor and Frame

Cast Iron Nautical Display and Coat Hanger

Nautical Cast-Iron Anchor and Frame

Are you a Navy veteran? Are you into Nautical themes? Well, this DIY might be just the project for you. Here’s a fun way to display your navy and nautical pride, by making a Nautical Sign Display.

We decided to display a wall-mounted, cast-iron coat hanger, on a 1/2″ piece of plywood, and framed it with a stylish rope-looking moulding. We then hung the frame utilizing two sawtooth hangers. Continue reading below for step by step instructions on how to build your own in under an hour.

Materials

  • 1/2″ plywood measuring 6 x 9″
  • 3″ inches of moulding
  • Cast-iron anchor (search online stores like Amazon or local hobby and craft stores)
  • 1/2″ or 5/8″ finishing nails (brad nails)
  • 1/2″ or 3/4″ screws (to mount the anchor)
  • Saw-tooth picture hangars

Tools

  • Hammer
  • Circular Saw or table saw (to cut plywood to size)
  • Handsaw (to miter the 45-degree angles on the moulding)
  • Screw driver
  • Wood glue
  • Painter’s tape
  • White paint
  • Blue paint
  • Stain color of choice (we used Min-Wax Early American)
  • Ruler
  • Pencil

Step 1 Cut a piece of plywood into 8-1/2×11

  • Purchase a piece of plywood at your local Home Improvement or Arts and Crafts Store. Using a circular saw or table saw,  cut the plywood to size

Step 2 Draw Vertical Stripes

  • Using a pencil or your painter’s tape, measure and draw vertical stripes on the plywood.
  • Paint the white stripes, remove the tape.
  • Paint the blue stripes, remove the tape

Step 3 Cut the moulding

  • Using your saw, miter 45-degree angles on your pieces of moulding. You will need two pieces measuring 10″, and two pieces measuring 8″.

Step 4 Stain or paint the moulding

  • Stain or paint the moulding to your color of preference

Step 5 Attach the pieces

  • Using wood-glue, attach moulding to the frame and nail in place
  • Screw cast-iron anchor with supplied screws. The screws should be between 1/2″ to 3/4″
  • Nail the sawtooth picture hangers in the back of the frame

Having trouble locating the cast-iron anchor or want to create an alternative piece? Instead of using a cast-iron anchor you can draw an anchor or cut one out of felt.

  1. Purchase an 8×10 picture frame with fancy moulding
  2. Grab an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of card-stock paper, and cut it down to 8×10″
  3. Use a ruler or other straight edge and draw your stripes
  4. Paint the stripes alternating colors between white and blue
  5. Cut a piece of black felt paper in the shape of an anchor
  6. Once the paint dries on the background piece of card-stock paper, glue your anchor in the center of the piece
  7. Remove the stock picture (and maybe the glass) from your frame, and replace it with your anchor design

Just like that, you have a Nautical and Navy-inspired frame display!

Optionally, you may add two or three J-hooks by screwing them at the bottom of your picture frame. Now you can hang the frame by the door and use it as a custom key hanger. This makes a great gift for you or others.

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Until next time,

#HappyCrafting!

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