You all know I love junk right?  On any given day you can find me at a thrift store, flea market or estate sale.  In the summer, you will see me with a truck bed full of garage sale finds.  A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending JunkStock in Omaha, Nebraska.  I love going to events like this because there are so many talented artists and an unlimited supply of DIY inspiration for my next thrift store find.
The first item that caught my eye was this Bike Wheel. Â They had it hanging on the side of a barn. Â I loved it’s rustic look and of course I thought to myself… “I have some bike wheels” from a previous thrift store find outing…
and here they are!  I had already spray-painted a couple of them to use as photo holders for an event.  You all know I have a hard time parting with my treasures so of course I still have them.  Now I am going to repurpose them for this fun project.
All 3 of my bike wheels were different so I took them to my local hardware store to get the parts I needed to make my thrift store memo board.
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Supplies Needed for the Thrift Store Bike Wheel Memo Board:
Note: Â These supplies will vary depending on the center of your bike wheel.
- Floor Flange
- T-Nut (This is an even better option than the one I used)
- Spacer
- Nipple
- Cap
- 90-degree street elbow
- Coupling
- Pipe
- Welding Epoxy (This product is life-changing)
- picture hanger (like this one)
- Rustoleum Spray paint (optional)
Thrift Store Bike Wheel #1:
Let’s start with the easiest of the bike wheels. Â The unpainted wheel already had the center completely removed so it was just a matter of finding the right nipple to fit in the hole (Sorry…I didn’t name these supplies lol).
Step 1) Â Attach flange to wall or board using the appropriate length screws. Â I, personally would attach the flange directly to the wall using anchors. Â If you want fewer holes and less permanency, use the board and a picture frame hanger.
Step 2) Â Screw the nipple into the flange.
Step 3) Â Set the center of the bike wheel over the nipple.
Step 4) Â Screw on the cap to hold it in place.
Thrift Store Bike Wheel #2)
This wheel was simple as well, once I figured out how I was going to attach it. lol
Step 1) Â Drill a hole in your block of wood just slightly smaller than your T-Nut.
Step 2) Â Using a hammer, pound the T-nut in until it’s flat. Â
Note:  Revision since I made the project….I originally used a pronged T-nut (see pic above) but I had a problem with it holding the weight of my large bike wheel.  Use this T-nut instead for a much stronger hold.
Step 3) Â Attach a spacer if needed. Â This will depend on how long the screw is in your bike wheel.
Step 4) Â Thread the screw of your bike wheel into the T-nut (remember use this one) on your block of wood.
Step 5)  Attach a picture hanger to the back of your wood.
Thrift Store Bike Wheel #3
This was the trickiest one to figure out because they didn’t actually have anything at the hardware store that would attach to this particular wheel. Â Well there is always more than one way to skin a cat and this is how I did it:
Step 1)  Remove the nut that is attached to the center of the bike. Â
Step 2)  Find some type of pipe fitting (this is what I used)  that has a hole just big enough to hold the nut.  The next step is where the magic happens…
Have you ever hear of welding epoxy? Â If not, you need to learn about it. Â It will weld metal together without even welding!
Step 3)  Mix 1 part steel with 1 part of hardener on a flat disposable mixing surface. Make sure it is completely blended.
Step 4)  Using a disposable applicator, place the mixture on the outside edge of the nut you removed from the bike and insert it into the coupling.  Let it harden per manufacturer instructions.
Once the nut has been “faux welded” into the coupling,  you are ready to screw it on to the bicycle wheel.
The rest of the project is up to you. Â Here are some options:
- Attach it to the wall like Bike Wheel #1 using a nipple and a flange.
- Attach it to a board like Bike Wheel #1 using a nipple and a flange and hang it with a picture hanger.
- Create a stand for it by using a 90-degree street elbow (like this), a pipe and a flange.
I came up with this last idea while trying to find a way to display them on Kansas City Live. Â I really liked the way they looked on the stands and made me thing of other things I could use these for like…the cutest repurposed flower decor for my garden!
I can’t tell you how many times I have started making one project and ended up with 2 or 3 projects from one inspiration. Don’t be surprised if there is a bike wheel garden decor tutorial coming up in the future. My wheels are spinning as fast as these bicycle ones! Be sure to sign up for our exclusive Diva newsletter so you don’t miss out on any future tutorials!
Each and everyone of you inspire me and I LOVE to see the work that you’ve created. Feel free to share with me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. And as always, be sure to follow Diva Of DIY on Pinterest and sign up for our FREE Newsletter to receive the latest projects delivered straight to your inbox!
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