Workshop
Ask a question

The Bunnings Workshop community can help with your home improvement projects.

How glue metal to wood?

Judith2
Cultivating a Following

How glue metal to wood?

Hi- I’m attaching a wooden base to a vintage metal table lamp.
I’ve inserted a screw thru the wooden base and into the central column of the lamp, but it’s still a bit wobbly, so I think I need to glue the central column to the base for stability.

what is the best glue to use? Or, any alternative ideas?

Thank you in advance!

Judith

IMG_0386.jpeg

IMG_0387.jpeg

IMG_0388.jpeg

 

Jewelleryrescue
Kind of a Big Deal

Re: How glue metal to wood?

Hi @Judith2 

 

I would use araldite super strength  found at bunnings  it is about as strong as glues can come and will remove the wobble for sure.

I have used it to glue metal  car starter motor soleniod casing back together once and it worked just plain arildite.

 

It looks like the metal bowl supported on  several points as a bonus so unless that stand  takes a  big fall you should have a winner.

Looks like  some hot glue? there already you would be best to take that off to give the aradite a nice clean surface to bond to.

 

Hope this helps.

JacobZ
Bunnings Team Member
Bunnings Team Member

Re: How glue metal to wood?

Hi @Judith2,

 

As @Jewelleryrescue has mentioned, Araldite is a great option for gluing metal to timber. It will give a nice strong hold that should stop some of the wobble.

 

Ultimately, the best way to stop wobbling is to create tension, which can be done with a screw or bolt like you have done.

 

Can I ask if there's a thread where you've inserted the bolt?

 

Or is it simply going up into the metal acting more as a rod than a bolt?

 

If so, a better option might be to attach a nut to the inside of the metal cavity with Araldite and then screw the bolt into the nut to create that tension.

 

Let me know what you think.

 

Jacob

 

Judith2
Cultivating a Following

Re: How glue metal to wood?

Thank you Jewelry Rescue and Jacob-

both suggestions are very helpful- good old fashioned arose to the rescue (once I’ve removed the current messy glue! 

Jacob, you’re right that the rod doesn’t have a thread inside- and I can see your suggestion to put a nut inside would be very helpful. 
cheers,

Judith 

JacobZ
Bunnings Team Member
Bunnings Team Member

Re: How glue metal to wood?

Hi @Judith2,

 

Let me know how you go, I'm happy to help further if you require it along the way.

 

Jacob

 

Judith2
Cultivating a Following

Re: How glue metal to wood?

Hi Jacob-

The bolt coming from the base and into the rod is relatively short, as I don’t want it near the internal wiring of the lamp. 

unfortunately the diameter of the bolt is nearly, but not quite the diameter of the inside of the rod, so the whole thing wobbles! I tried the glue, and then I tried using double sided mounting tape to try to pad the thread and fill the gap, but that didn’t work either. I fear I’m up against various laws of physics here, but would welcome any additional suggestions you might have!

thank you!

judith

Judith2
Cultivating a Following

Re: How glue metal to wood?

… should have added- couldn’t find a bolt with thin enough external surface that could fit over the bolt and then into the rod… 

Re: How glue metal to wood?

Hi @Judith2 

 

A question from your  original photos

Is that copper colored stem hollow with a power  cord through it?   The top  photo shows inside the  hub cap as sealled.

 

So not so  where power is running.

 

But i have afurther idea that may  work.

 

If you disconnect the  copper shaft from the black  hub  cap lol

 

Look at the copper shaft now I am proposing a over sized flat washer  like  item out of your junk draw, 10mm thick approx with a  diameter approx 40mm  be inserted  over the copper shaft then  glued onto the shaft glued.

 

The whole goal is to glue on a base plate on the shaft for the black hub cap to sit on.

 

Thus increaing the glue surface area of the hub cap and copper washer base and  this  allows  wire through the middle of the copper tube if this is whats happening.  

Hope this makes some sens I dont have a good  drawing program currently.

 

Why join the Bunnings Workshop community?

Workshop is a friendly place to learn, get ideas and find inspiration for your home improvement projects