Okay, so I’ve been seeing these cool wooden medal displays all over the place, and I finally decided to make my own. I’ve got a bunch of medals from races and stuff just crammed in a drawer, and it seemed like a waste. Time to show them off, right?
Getting Started
First, I gathered my materials. I had some scrap wood lying around from a previous project – a nice piece of pine, I think. You could totally use any kind of wood, though. Even an old pallet board would look awesome for a rustic vibe.
- Wood (duh!)
- Saw (I used a hand saw, but a jigsaw would be faster)
- Sandpaper (various grits – coarse to fine)
- Wood stain (optional, but I wanted a darker finish)
- Hooks (the kind you screw in)
- Drill (with a bit slightly smaller than your hook screws)
- Pencil and ruler
The Build
I started by measuring and cutting the wood to the size I wanted. I went for a simple rectangle, about 2 feet long and 6 inches wide. Nothing fancy, just a basic shape. Then came the sanding. Oh boy, the sanding! I started with the coarse grit to get rid of any rough edges and splinters, then moved to finer grits to make it super smooth. This part took a while, but it’s worth it for a nice finish.
Next, I applied the wood stain. I chose a dark walnut color because I like how it looks with the metal of the medals. I just brushed it on, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wiped off the excess with a rag. One coat was enough for me, but you could do more if you want it darker.
After the stain dried (I gave it a good few hours), I marked where I wanted the hooks to go. I spaced them out evenly along the bottom edge of the wood. Then I drilled pilot holes at each mark. This is important because it makes it way easier to screw in the hooks and prevents the wood from splitting.
Finally, I screwed in the hooks. Super easy, just make sure they’re nice and tight. And that’s it! The display was ready.
Hanging it Up
I used some picture-hanging hardware on the back to hang it on the wall.
It is easy to find some picture-hanging hardware in store.
You could also use those command strips if you don’t want to put holes in your wall.
Now all my medals are proudly displayed! It’s so much better than having them hidden away. This project was pretty simple, even for a beginner like me. And it feels good to have made something with my own hands. If you’re thinking about making one, go for it! It’s a fun and rewarding little project.
