How can I attach horseshoes to a wood planter w/o nailheads showing?

Patty Tillman
by Patty Tillman

The planter I'm making will have 8" square wooden legs painted to match the box. Instead of using the horseshoes for feet, I'm using them for handles, like the bottom photo. The problem is...How do I attach where the nail or screw heads won't show? Is there an industrial glue I should use? Should I just suck it up and deal with the exposed heads? (Yes, I lined the inside of my box, so the wood rot is kept to a minimum.) Also, I'm using a repurposed dresser drawer for my "box."

This was my inspiration.

But, I want handles like this.

What my planter box looks like, sans legs. They're still wet with paint.

  10 answers
  • Brenda Brenda on May 20, 2019

    Maybe you could find some old vintage nails or bolts to use to attach the shoes?

  • Ruby Ruby on May 20, 2019

    Can you use some type of glue??

  • R Walter R Walter on May 20, 2019

    If you have a tractor supply or a farm store near you they carry horseshoe nails that could be painted to match the rusted shoes then just use a cold chisel on the inside to cleat the nails. Also a farrier in the area might have a few extra if you know of someone that has horses.

  • Darlene Williman Darlene Williman on May 20, 2019

    I don't know if there is a glue that will work for you but what about seeing if you can get the horse shoe nails and use them? Would look authentic and original.

  • Pamela Pamela on May 20, 2019

    I have 2 ideas , first of you want to glue it , use E6000 . Another thing that might work are command hook hanging strips , they are strong holding removable velcro strips . Good luck !

  • Bonnie Bonnie on May 20, 2019

    Fasten them with wood screws and then use Rub-n-Buff to make the screws match the color of the horseshoes.

  • Columbia GB Columbia GB on May 20, 2019

    Cool project.


    Use citric acid. You can buy it ( cheap) online, walmart, etc. Throw a tablespoon in a small tupperware or container, add water, add screws and wait. It's fast. I let mine sit for longer then required, about 30 mins. Then rinse and set aside. The shiny is gone and you can either paint or leave them. If you leave them, they will darken and rust over the course of a few days or weeks. Here's some hardware for a project I'm working on, everything had the citric acid treatment. The hardware was painted, the screws left as is to rust.


    FYI: If you want to stop the rust and fix the look after the bath, just spray them with WD40.


    Have fun!



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  • William William on May 20, 2019

    There is no glue that will hold for handles. Use screws and paint the heads.

  • [re]FɄB19 [re]FɄB19 on May 20, 2019

    I don't understand why you don't want to sew nail heads. If you want it to look authentic, they really use nails on horses... Find square nails. It would look really authentic and it even could had some real interest and character to your piece!


    https://www.amazon.com/slp/square-nails/jq4h3owm5h5k6xz

  • Patty Tillman Patty Tillman on May 20, 2019

    Here's how it ended up. I used screws and painted the heads. Looks good. Thanks everyone!

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