Crafting Crude: Oil Derrick Centerpiece

Dust off your cowboy boots and reignite a chapter of the wild, wild west with those towering titans of industry, the iconic oil derrick.

Here’s to living large, drilling deep, and celebrating the undying, gritty spirit of an era gone by.

• 13.5" Metal Oil Derrick Tower
• 12-Foot Simulated Barbed Wire - Rusty or Silver
• Fancy Cowboy Boots Place Card Holder (per setting)
• 7-8" White Birch Natural Wood Disk Slice
• 5-6" White Birch Natural Wood Disk Slice (x2)
• 3-4" White Birch Natural Wood Disk Slice (x2)

• Sand the sides & tops of birch disc slices
• To simulate liquid oil, irregular shaped birch discs work best

• Arrange slices to create the oil derrick base
• Medium slices on the left and right
• Small slices above and below
• Large slice centered on top

• Capture the layout by tracing the outline of the top slice onto the slices underneath
• Label the position of each slice in the layout
• Mark the 12 o'clock position on the top slice

• Round-off the visible top edges using coarse sandpaper
• Reassemble layout and hot glue slices together

• Cover with clear pouring topcoat, varnish, or similar
• Sand with fine sandpaper
• Paint with glossy black spray paint

• Center tower on painted base

• Cut a 1/2" long piece of 3/8" clear vinyl tubing (1/4" inside diameter)
• Tubing should fit over the top of the oil derrick
• Use the tubing to hold two ostrich feathers in place
• An extra small zip tie should also work

• Use the top 6-7 inches of ostrich feathers that are 6-18" long
• Longer ostrich feathers have longer barbs and a more dramatic effect (pictured right)
• Shorter ostrich feathers are less expensive (pictured left)

• We built our oil derrick scene on a bright red bandana
• Encircled with simulated silver barbed wire

• Make mini oil-gushers for each setting with black napkins
• Cowboy boot photo holder/balloon weights make fitting placecard holders
• In keeping with the theme, we used compression connector conduit fittings as napkin rings
• But there are endless possibilities at any home improvement store
• Gaskets, nuts, connectors, & clamps to name a few
• Check out the plumbing, electrical, & hardware sections

Incorporate unexpected and unconventional décor elements to captivate and intrigue guests.

Check out more country & western themed decorations here...

Have fun!

• Pinterest
• Instagram