Scavenger Chic

Nautical Pallet Wood

• By Joan
• August 26, 2017
• 2 Comments

Hi everyone, I’m late posting this week as I was dropping off my youngest at college.  He’s all set and I’m finally back at my computer.  Today I have another pallet wood project.  It’s easy construction with all straight cuts and super easy painting.

I pinned these Nantucket Call Letters from One Kings Lane a couple years ago.  I don’t think they are available any longer, but you’re in luck, instead of paying the $429 price tag you can make these practically for free.  

Did you notice that $429 was the sale price, regularly $600.

Unfortunately I don’t have any other information.  I don’t know if that was the price for one, for three, or what size they were.   

Start with a supply of pallet wood.  I used both thick and thin widths aged a nice dark gray. I’m showing you an unaged piece of pallet wood for comparison.

Middle son has had these pieces sitting in his backyard for a couple years thinking he was going to put up a pallet wall.  He  changed his mind and offered me his stash. Usually my pallets don’t sit around long enough to get that beautiful gray color. 

For the background I used two of the wider width pieces.  Squares were marked and cut.

Cut scrap plywood as backing for each of your nautical signs.

Use construction adhesive or finish nails to attach the pallet wood to the backing.

I used the thinner pallet wood for the frames cut to the exact height of the squares.

Finished the frames with two longer pieces of the thin pallet wood cut to fit.

I attached the frames using my handy dandy PORTER CABLE Finish Nailer/Compressor . I’ve mentioned before that I gave this to my hubby for Christmas one year.  It’s the best present I ever gave to him (me).  🙂

I’m just using a  scrap piece of wood to mark a square in the center of each of the boxes.  That square is my entire pattern.  So easy!

These are the various signal flags that  ships use to communicate with each other.  Each flag corresponds to a letter of the alphabet but each one also has a secondary meaning.

For instance, the A flag, or alpha also means I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.  F, or Foxtrot, also means  I am disabled; communicate with me.

You can find the full list of maritime flags and their meanings here.

I’m veering off my One King’s Lane inspiration piece and not including the letter associated with each flag.

Pick your signal flag letters and start painting.  Since I’m doing nautical flags, I’m spelling SEA.

Freshly painted. Leave as is or…

… hit the signs with sandpaper to age the flags a bit.

Last step was to cover up the freshly cut frame ends.  This concoction, shown in the inset, was vintage wax (brown),  tan and just a couple drops of black.

Great for hanging vertically or horizontally.  Use a name, a word, initials, prettiest flags,  it’s up to you.

This was not the first time I’ve used the signal flags. Do you remember my signal flags with the vintage windows?

Or these signal flags also made of pallet wood?

Have a great weekend, stay inspired.

Shared at Salvaged Junk Projects, Metamorphosis Monday,

Wow us Wednesdays,  Talk of the Town,

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DIY Pallet Signal Flags/ Beach Decor Easiest Pallet Wood Project ever…. Primitive Junk Angel One fish, two fish…house numbers