Projects

How to Repurpose Wooden Cable Spools

My family in Illinois have been using spools as tables around their fire pit for a couple of years.  They are handy to have around to hold drinks and S’more supplies.

Cable_Spools_as_tables_around_Fire_Pit_How_to_Repurpose_Wooden_Cable_Spools

I of course wanted them too after seeing the different ways they could be used on  Pinterest.   So after several attempts a couple of them made their way to Florida.

Deciding what to do with them was the next challenge.  I settled on using them as nightstands, since my fire pit is currently not in operation.

Sand and Stain

This is not a tutorial on what to do.  This is just what I did to get the desired look for my spools.  I am not a handy person by any means and I do not always follow directions.

The first thing I did was sand them down with my Craftsman Mouse sander with the first sandpaper I could find.  I do not know what grade of grit it was or what to use.  This is why I do these little projects when my husband is at work, with less interference.

Sanding_Wooden_Cable_Spools_How_to_Repurpose_Wooden_Cable_Spools

I personally liked the numbers and letters stenciled on the spool, so tried to keep them as I sanded.  After I finished sanding them down, I  dusted off the spools with a rag to get rid of all the sawdust and have a nice clean surface.

I then opened my can of Briwax that I found on Amazon.  I love this stuff.  It takes a dull finish and brings it to life.  It gets into the little nooks and crannies and brings out the character of the wood.  I used Light Brown, but it comes in different shades for a darker look or more natural.  It does come with directions on how to use it properly, I did not quite follow them.  You can find it here.

Using_Briwax_on_Wooden_Cable_Spools_How_to_Repurpose_Wooden_Cable_Spools

If you do use this, don’t be stingy with it.  The wood absorbs it fast.  But the look is so worth it.

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Here is a picture of the difference this stain makes.

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I love the way my spools turned out.  They will look fantastic in my bedroom.  And this was quick and simple project to do.

Other Ideas

Here are a couple of other ways to refinish spools, other than staining them, that my older sister did.  My mom has two of these around her fire pit like these below.

Project_Idea_Flower_How_to_Repurpose_Wooden_Cable_Spools

My sister did this one as well.

Baseball_Theme_Wooden_Cable_Spool_How_to_Repurpose_Wooden_Cable_Spools

This makes for a great weekend project for when you can’t get out camping.  Hopefully next week!

Happy Camping!

Disclaimer:  There a few things with affiliate links above.  If you use the link to purchase through, thank you very much!  I may receive a small percentage for my recommendations.

Ideas_On_How_to_Repurpose_Wooden_Cable_Spools
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