Donal Harris Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 I am wanting to reproduce this in steel. The slats from 3/4” x 1/8” flat bar. The shelves from 3/4” steel cut as valentines. I am thinking of connecting the slats to the shelves using blind copper rivets. The shelves will not need to hold anything weighty. Just personal hygiene items, tooth brush, razor, beard cream, manly moisturizing items, brush and beard comb. Perhaps a small copper bowl for pocket change and keys. Will copper rivets hold? I forgot, it is 24” high Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Why 3/4 inch plate? That stuff gets heavy. Rough calculations puts the total weight at 35 pounds or so, if my math is correct. How to you plan to attach it to the wall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 If I were making this I would consider cutting the shelves out of sheet stock (probably something on the order of 16 GA) and using bar stock for the uprights I would bend a pair of large rectangular tabs for the "flat" side of the hearts and weld or rivet that to the uprights (blind rivets not required and the heads could be a nice accent). There are a number of options for the "curved" side of the hearts depending on your equipment set, skills and aesthetics. Probably the most difficult would be to try to raise them out of the sheet stock (unless you would accept a ruffled edge, which might be a nice touch). You could form them out of 1/8" bar stock and either weld or rivet them to smaller tabs bent down from the shelf material as well. A rolled edge might also be an option, but I don't know too much about doing that. If I wanted a rolled edge I might try to get the hearts fabricated by a sheet metal shop and assemble the rest myself. Good luck. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Frankly I would use oak for the hearts and metal for the straps---allows you to woodburn sappy sayings in the shelves, carve dishes, drill a cup holder, etc.. Also; in a bathroom I'd go for stainless if you can find it at scrap price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donal Harris Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 It won’t go on the wall. I plan to sit it in the corner by my sink. i had considered oak, but it seems a bit plain. i have plenty of copper sheet. I had considered forming the copper over the oak. I may do Osage Orange. I have plenty of that. And I have an old Delta bandsaw to cut the hearts 3/4 inch plate was just because it was what I have. But I was concerned about my ability to cut it into hearts. i have no stainless, so mild steel it will need to be. How can I connect the straps to the wooden hearts and still have the copper riveted look I was wanting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Get some copper screws and peen the heads after you run them in. (expensive) Take copper grounding wire and epoxy it into the oak and peen the protruding portion before the epoxy sets. (cheap) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Easier and cheaper than either of those options would be to forge copper nails. Drill or punch through the straps and then pilot drill undersized into the oak. Then hammer the copper nails in! You can put whatever sort of decorative heads on them that strikes your fancy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Note that work hardening the copper will make the nail section drive better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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