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How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Looking to fill our walls and tabletops with handmade items we've started our focus on the bedroom first. It's definitely the coziest of all of the rooms and I love that it's getting so much of our design attention. So far in that room we've made a wood shim starburst mirror and wood and glass cactus terrariums that you can get the tutorials for here at iLoveToCreate. Now I'm so pleased that we're bringing metal, wood and geometric awesome-ness all together to start decorating the main wall in our room.

What you need:

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

So the idea of making triangle shaped shelves seemed amazing but trying to actually, physically make them without any particularly fabulous math skills proved to be a bit difficult! Wanting 3 equilateral triangle shelves we had to put on our thinking caps to make things work. Once we figured out the math things came together quite well. 

To form each of our triangle shelves we cut 3 pieces of 2x4 pine boards into 11 5/8", 12" and 13 1/8". If you have a simpler way to form the triangles we'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

To make 3 shelves the same size as ours you'll need to grab 2- 2x4x8 wood studs. The cost should run around $2.50 a board.

To achieve the proper shape you'll want to cut each board as Rob has above. Each end is a 30 degree angle. We used a power mitre saw but you can easily use a hand saw and a mitre box to keep this project incredibly budget friendly.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Once your boards are cut they should piece together to make a triangle. If you find that one side is a bit too long to fit, simply use a sander to take off a small amount of wood at a time until the pieces sit fairly flush.

If making multiple shelves it's a good idea to mark the backside of each set with the same number, letter or symbol to keep each set together. Piecing the shelves perfectly might be difficult if you have to keep grabbing piece after piece trying to make it work like a puzzle!

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Once all boards are cut you'll need to sand down the cut edges to make them nice and smooth. 

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Place a healthy amount of Aleene's Wood glue on the end of your first cut piece.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Place your pieces together to form the first part of your triangle shape.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Add glue to your last piece and finally form the triangle shape. 

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Continue for your other shelves and allow each to sit upright and dry at least 24 hours without being moved.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

To reinforce the glue's hold use a staple gun on the 3 corners attaching where the two pieces meet.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Apply wood putty to where your pieces join to hide the seam. Allow to dry completely and then sand smooth with your sanding block.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Stain your wood and allow to dry 24 hours. This color is fabulously neutral Special Walnut and currently my favorite color for wood.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

This is a decorative metal sheet purchased at Hobby Lobby using a half off coupon. There is enough metal here to back 3 shelves and will cost around $7.20 with a 40% off coupon. They also sell these sheets at the hardware store but they are sturdier and more difficult to cut and much more expensive.

Trace the outside shape of your shelf onto the metal.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

If you're a ding dong like me you can use alcohol and a clean rag to remove any permanent marker lines you might accidentally get onto your wood! Oops!

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Using metal snips (these are from the craft store) cut out the shape of your metal backing. Cut just inside the mark you made so that the triangle will fit on the back without overlapping the sides.

FYI - this metal is sharp and will cut you. It is advisable to wear protective gloves and eye-ware.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Apply The Ultimate glue around the back side of your shelf.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Press your metal onto the glue and use weight to help hold into place. Allow the glue to dry a few hours. 

If using heavy items on your shelves it is a good idea to further attach the metal using a staple gun tapped in each of the corners.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

There are many ways to hang your shelves but I'd like to suggest Monkey Hooks. These hooks are taken and pushed through the sheet-rock on the pointy side leaving a hook sticking out of the wall. 

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

The shelves can then be hung by  the hooks as they come out of the wall. I love this partially because it's so forgiving. If you're slightly too high or too low, just move the piece up or down a slot in the pattern of your metal!

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

Since the shelves are made from 2x4 they are fairly shallow. And, to be honest we were looking at them more as decor items with a strong emphasis on the metal backing on their own than hugely helpful shelves.

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

The shelves work so well in the space with our lime green sofa and mid-century modern inspired furniture...

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

... and of course that cactus terrarium I made, too!

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves

For less than $13 in materials we have 3 shelves that you'd pay top dollar for in a store like Pier 1 or West Elm and we couldn't be more pleased with them!

Picture of How to Glue Metal to Wood - DIY Triangle Shelves