Thoughts for wall displaying old tools?

[tym]

For tools that are small and mostly display pieces, how do folks like to display 'em? I have a spare room with a work table in it, but I keep that pretty neat. The "shop" is in the basement.

I was thinking of mounting some sort of board on the wall and hanging the tools (a few old wrenches, etc.) on it--but that feels a little uninspired.

What says the hive mind?

 

[Farmer J.]

I think for a display they will look best mounted on a nice board as a background. Here's a pic of my sons blacksmith course end of first year exam 'board pieces'. Mounted on a hand made wood door with mortice and tenon frame they make an interesting wall display..
These hang in our farmhouse kitchen. Coated with linseed oil.

 

[snapmom]

 

[Jim C.]

Here's my thoughts.

 

[f66]

My tools are more "vintage" used to work on my old cars. I used a wall cabinet and then made tool boards made from HDPE sheets.

 

[jd_1138]

I'd probably just install some pegboard and hang them up that way. It'll give you flexibility for the future. You can also hang up everyday tools.

 

[Duct Tape Man]

I'm not one to really talk, since my tool "collection" of old vintage tools is dumped into a bunch of plastic totes with 10W30 sprayed all over them to prevent rust, then crammed into a corner awaiting my dream shop.

I did find this idea while searching through Google images, guy got a handful of tools, then mounted them on a piece of plywood board approx. 2x4 feet in size, then displays them in the shop. As he gets more tools, he gets another 2x4 foot piece of plywood, stains is a different color for antique look, then mounts more tools. A coat of BLO over the tools will ensure they don't rust up over time.

 

[Apache3057]

Wow nice displays!!

 

[tym]

Great displays! Great suggestions, too--thanks, everyone.

I'm attaching a couple of photos of the room. As you can see, something very "industrial" would probably not fit with the room. I like the idea of the wooden boards. In the past I made a backboard for a dartboard by covering a piece of plywood with felt, then mounting the board to the wall. Perhaps I'll do something similar here, as covering the wood with cloth will be pretty easy to do.

 

[pendragon1998]

Just don't screw them into the wall like freaking Cracker Barrell, for crying out loud.

 

[tym]

Just don't screw them into the wall like freaking Cracker Barrell, for crying out loud.

Goodness no! I think you go to tool jail for that.

 

[uncwstudent]

I don't mean to be Martha Stewart here but I think that if you are displaying a few ratchets or wrenches that they would look great in a shadow box with pins. I'm going to try that with a few of my vintage ratchets and I'll upload a pic when I can.

 

[tym]

I was thinking about that too, but wasn't to ensure took for future expansion... ;-)

 

[subroc]

In a restored classic tool box right sized for the tools you want to display. When you get more tools to display, track down a bigger box for restoration.

 

[3baygarage]

Can't see Snapmom's post.

Photobucket

Jim C., is that your plane collection?