Scavenger Chic

Upcycled Wire Spool Compass Rose

• By Joan
• March 16, 2022
• 3 Comments

Upcycled Wire Spool Compass Rose

I’m so excited to finally use this wire spool end I had scavenged from a farmhouse way back in 2017. 

I believe I’ve upcycled everything else from that trip that was going to be upcycled but this particular piece got buried in the garage…and once you get buried in the garage it may be a while before you get unearthed again.  It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since he came home with me but it is time for his makeover.

I’m picturing a compass rose.

I was considering using the same stencil I had used for this compass rose on pallet wood back in 2018.

You can see the stencil on the right in the previous picture.  It was too small for my 30″ wire spool.

My last wire spool end from the same farmhouse, turned into this giant, 53″, clock face.  The wire spool is the center of the clock face with a surround of pallet wood.

My inspiration for this wire spool was this vintage sign I found somewhere on the internet.  I cannot tell you where because I can’t find it anywhere. 😥 

That’s why I always tell people if you like something you see, pin it now because, chances are, you’ll never find it again.

I don’t believe this is a compass rose because it doesn’t have the direction signs, more likely a Pennsylvania Dutch hex sign.  I’m calling mine a compass rose just because I’m including the directions.

Luckily, I did save the picture and converted it to black and white (to save my colored ink), imported it into Block Poster where I printed the compass out on 4 sheets of paper.  

I did a couple steps that I don’t have a picture for.  To cover up the large center hole of the wire spool I used builders adhesive to attach a craft wooden disk to the center.  I also painted the entire spool with a background color of dark gray.

I taped the picture back together and covered the back with white pastel.  Could also use chalk but it does have more dust.

Tape your image onto the wire spool and go over the lines with a pen to transfer the pastel to the wire spool.

Fill in the image with paint colors of your choice.

Painting is complete.  The N, E, S, W make the image more of a compass rose.  I used the lettering from the original compass rose stencil.

I can’t leave well enough alone.  I had to sand this guy down, to give him some age and to get rid of all the splinters from the wire spool.

This is where I ran into some problems, the new craft wood I had glued on to the center didn’t have any of those splinters, and  it certainly didn’t sand down like the rough wood of the spool.

I tried gouging and scratching  the new wood disk but it still didn’t match the background.

I ended up cutting another level of star and gluing that to my scratched and gouged wood circle.

The entire compass rose was finished with a coat of antique wax.

I know I hurried over the instructions for transferring the image to the wire spool,  but I’ve made so many vintage style signs and the transfer method is all about the same.  Click on the link for the giant clock or any of my other enlarged signs if you need a few more pictures and instructions.

Until next time, stay inspired.

Related posts:

Upcycled Wire Spool Ottoman Big, Huge, Pottery Barn Inspired, Wall Clock Easy Pallet Wood Outdoor Side Table DIY Shiplap Arch Headboard