How can I adhere tobacco sticks together instead of using nails?

Hi Molly, I would personally use nails to make sure the branches stay put. Looking at the picture it looks like the branches are odd shaped and there may not be enough surface area for glue to grip onto. Nail holes are also easier to fix than trying to get old glue off of the walls if you ever decide to replace the headboard.

I don't think liquid nails would work very well. It takes to long to dry. Nails would be a good idea. You could also try a test run using a hot glue gun. I used a hot glue gun to glue all these pieces on, and they dont budge.

Molly

You could use a staple gun that would work - glue will dry out and the branches will come off- there are small nails you could use as well. Good luck

I don't understand why so many say no to glue on this project. The pros use glue all the time and works well. Technology has come a long way in adhesives. (I have a relative in the construction industry). You just need to make sure you use the right type for the job.

Try Loctite construction caulk. It is great stuff. It adheres immediately but gives you a ton of time to adjust and move what you are gluing to where you want it. It comes in all purpose which is great for everything except REALLY heavy items. It also comes in a heavy duty tube. Home Depot carries it.

Hi ! That is so cool looking !!! Very unusual & unique !!!

I would screw the wood boards , that are the base , directly into the wall studs . This is important !!!!! Then use a glue like E6000 to attach the vertical pieces of wood . You might need painters tape to hold the wood in place while the glue dries . It dries pretty fast . Please take pictures and post this as a tutorial !!!!!!

I think that something such as E6000 would be perfect. If any don't hold, you can then nail them in. I would construct the entire headboard flat on the ground so you can glue the sticks in place and leave them to dry. Once completed, screw the back board to studs.

Any good construction adhesive would work. Just use painters tape to hold in place till the glue dries.

I would use wood glue and tape it in place until it dries.

Trying to attach these sticks with staples would be ineffective. If you could find staples that are long enough to perforate the width of the sticks plus the backing, they would likely cause the sticks to crack and break.

Use glue and tape (painters tape that comes off easily) to hold it in place while the glue dries.

Have any of you ever tried to nail or screw into tobacco sticks? Those things are super hard. I was doing a garden project a while back, making trellises out of tobacco sticks. It like pounding into concrete. I had to use a small drill bit and drill holes in the sticks and then use small, thin nails or tacks to put them together.

My suggestion would be to lay out your sticks to your liking. Get some rope twine or jute and using an over-under pattern, bind them together. If you repeat it several times it will make it stronger and give additional visual interest. Then you could try gluing or attaching sticks to a 1x6 or 2x6 piece of lumber. You’d have additional support for the headboard and could use the piece of lumber as a way to attach to the wall. Looks like some lighting was used. Rope lights or a strand of lights behind the sticks would be very pretty.