How to Hang Oars on a Wall

Boat Paddle Hooks - Oar Hooks - Brown County Forge - Terran Marks the Blacksmith
Our original oar hooks.

How to Hang Oars On a Wall in 4 Steps

After hammering out hundreds of pairs of boat oar hooks, I have some tips and tricks for how to hang oars on a wall.

My name is Terran Marks and I’m the blacksmith at Brown County Forge. If you have an oar to hang, here’s how I would do it.

Step 1: Measure Your Oars to Find Your Hook Width

Oar Circumference - Brown County Forge
Measuring Circumference

Not all boat paddles are the same size so you’ll need hooks that will fit your particular oar.

The easiest way to measure your oars is to measure across the oar for a diameter measurement.

Using a ruler or tape measure, rest your measuring device on top of the oar.

Where the edges of the oar handle hit is your rough diameter.

That’s the measurement we’ll use to make the hook.

The most accurate way to measure your oars is to wrap a string one time around the oar handle to find the circumference.

Then, with a little math we can find the diameter and then the hook width.

Step 2: Research Hooks Online to Find Some that Will Fit

Now that you have your measurements, you’re ready to venture into the world of hooks and hangers online.

I’m consistently amazed at the variety of ways people have come up with to keep things off the ground.

Make sure your oar hangers come with screws and that they’re the correct size and length.

  • You don’t want to have to run around to five hardware stores trying to find the right screws.
  • You want a little bit of space around the oar shaft so it doesn’t get scraped as you put it on the hooks. I recommend looking for sizes at 1.5 inches, 2 inches, and 2.5 inches.

Step 3: Your Hooks Have Arrived. Now Let’s Hang Them!

Hooks to Hang Oars on the Wall
Some of my original oar hooks with hammered texture.

For the most secure mount, you will want to screw your hooks into studs.

Depending on the construction of your home, your wall studs will be either 16 inches on-center or 20 inches on-center. That just means that every 16 inches (or 20), you will hit the center of a wooden stud.

Using a stud finder is a safe bet to be sure you’re mounting into solid wood.

That last thing you want is to mount your hooks in plain drywall and risk your heavy oar coming crashing down.

I recommend drilling pilot holes first to make it easier to place your screws when it’s time.

Before you drill ANY holes, make sure your two hole heights from the floor match! Unless you want your oar to tilt, it’s best to use a tape measure to measure from the floor up to your desired oar mount height.

Mark lightly with a pencil. Then drill your pilot holes.

Step 4: Mount Your Oar or Paddle on the Wall

And that’s how to hang oars on a wall in 4 simple steps!

Now you can enjoy your securely mounted oars for years to come.

Maybe your oar is from your college days of rowing crew.

Maybe it’s an antique store find.

Or maybe it’s an authentic gondola oar from Venice to remind you of your honeymoon!

No matter the size, weight, or length, there’s a custom pair of oar hooks waiting to be made for you.

Brown County Forge’s Oar Hooks

Throughout this post, you’ve seen examples of the oar hooks I make as well as more budget-friendly options.

Steel hooks are typically the most popular. Most oars will fit in 2 inch oar hooks.

I’m Happy to Answer Any Questions

I’m always happy to answer questions about hardware and hooks.

Please email me directly at:

browncountyforge@gmail.com

Blacksmith Starter Kit

Blacksmith Starter Kit - Brown County Forge

Looking for a blacksmith starter kit with exactly what you need and nothing you don’t?

You’re in luck!

I talk about the basics of blacksmithing every week in class at Brown County Forge.

We go over skills and techniques, but spend real time talking about essential equipment. That’s what we’ll cover in this post and where to buy it.

For your own kit, you have two great options:

  • Option 1: Work with us to configure a kit that works best for you. Get your new blacksmith starter kit shipped directly to you. Pricing includes name brand equipment and material to get started. We take care of all the details so you can start forging faster.
  • Option 2: Go the DIY route and use the resources below to build your own.

OPTION 1: Have Your Blacksmith Starter Kit Shipped to You

NC Tool Co Whisper Baby Forge - Starter Kit - Brown County Forge

The starter kits we provide include:

  • Single or Double Burner Gas Forge – A single burner option pictured above from NC Tool Company. Other options include Atlas Forge’s single burner forges and Forgemaster forges.
  • 69 lb.  –  150 lb. Anvil – Happy to discuss pricing on sizes and different brands. Atlas, NC Tool Company, Texas Farrier Supply, and more.
  • 2 – 3 pound Cross Peen Blacksmith’s Hammer
  • Wolf Jaw Tongs
  • Access to Professional Blacksmiths for help with questions and tips.
  • Optional: Safety glasses, hearing protection, aprons, steel bar stock.

Contact us to discuss your kit and pricing!

Email: browncountyforge@gmail.com

Option 2: The DIY Option

The equipment you need to get started blacksmithing comes down to 4 items:

  • Forge – How you heat the metal.
  • Anvil – Where you shape the metal.
  • Hammer – What you shape the metal with.
  • Tongs – How you hold the metal.

How Much Should a Kit Cost?

Let’s break down the items in the DIY blacksmith starter kit by price.

Forge – From $160.50 (free shipping) to $375 (plus shipping)

Blacksmith Starter Kit - Brown County Forge

Your forge will be one of the most expensive pieces to buy.

The forge I use is the Knifemaker Economy forge by Majestic Forge (seen above).

It costs $375 (the price recently went up $50) and ships for around $50 depending on how far you live from Sugar Grove, Ohio.

Why I like it:

  • Two burners – It gets up to heat quickly.
  • Compact – It doesn’t take up a lot of space.
  • Easy to set up – Takes about 10 minutes right out of the package.
  • Ships fast – I ordered it on a Tuesday and had it 2-3 days later.

A second, less expensive option is this Double Burner from Laredo Blacksmiths:

Blacksmith Starter Kit Forge - Brown County Forge

  • 2 Burners
  • $160.50 (price recently reduced by $23) with Free U.S. shipping
  • Compact size for easy setup and storage.
  • See more details, testimonials, and reviews on eBay
  • As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase through the above link.

Anvil – $345 – $450+ (varies by retailer)

Hammer and Anvils - Brown County Forge

The anvil I use in the shop is a 70 pound NC Tool Company brand anvil.

I own two of them and they’re each responsible for thousands of projects.

Why I like them:

  • Movable – You can move one of them on your own. No need to call a friend.
  • Inexpensive – At under $350 or $5 per pound, it’s a great deal.
  • Durable – Mine have seen heavy student use over the years.

Hammer – $28 – $35

Your hammer really doesn’t need to cost a whole lot.

Blacksmith's Hammer - Brown County Forge - Terran Marks

If you find a hammer that weighs between 2 and 3 pounds at a flea market or yard sale for a dollar, buy it.

Your main concern is overall weight and then handle length preference.

For my money, and the hammer I use every day, I go with a 2.5-pound Vaughan Cross Peen. I bought the one you see above on Amazon for $28 in 2011.

I could lose all of my other equipment, but if I lost that hammer I’d be very sad.

Tongs – $40.50

I use Centaur Forge’s 3/8-inch V-Bit Bolt Tongs nearly every day.

They’re good all around tongs useful for flat stock, square bar, and round bar.

Total Kit Cost (before shipping): $574 – $984.94

Where to Buy Each Item

Your Laredo Blacksmiths forge can be securely purchased on eBay through the photo and link above.

For the Majestic Forge double burner forge I use professionaly, go to: majesticforge.com.

For a great single burner I use at home, go to Atlas Knife and Tool: atlasknife.com

Your anvil should be purchased from Centaur Forge to get the best price on shipping – centaurforge.com.

The hammer can be picked up at these blacksmith suppliers:

BlacksmithsDepot.com

BlacksmithSupply.com

CentaurForge.com

Your tongs will come straight from Centaur Forge as well – centaurforge.com.

Want to Learn How to Use It All?

I’m happy to answer any questions you might have: browncountyforge@gmail.com

Cheers!

Terran Marks - The Blacksmith - Brown County Forge

Terran Marks – owner, Brown County Forge