DIY Mantle Headboards

Place the barn beam on the table of a drill press. Adjust the fence on the drill press to drill through the center of the beam’s 4-inch width and lock it in place.

Center the wall-mounted shelf bracket along the length of the beam. Mark the location of the rods on the shelf bracket onto the beam using a pencil. Drill a 1/4-inch diameter hole to the depth of the length of the shelf bracket rods at each pencil mark, using the drill press equipped with a 1/4-inch drill bit.

Sand the beam lightly with the direction of the wood grain using a fine-grit sanding pad. Wipe off the sanding dust with a tack cloth.

Apply an even coat of spray lacquer to the beam and allow it to dry for four hours. Spray a second coat onto the beam and allow it to dry for 24 hours before handling it.

Slide a stud finder along the wall where you plan to locate the mantle headboard. Mark the location of the studs on the wall with a pencil.

Center the wall-mounted shelf bracket on the wall at the desired height for the mantle headboard. Drive the mounting screws that were included with the bracket through the bracket into the wall at each stud location, using a screw gun.

Cut off the tip of the construction adhesive tube with the cutter on the caulk gun and puncture the seal with the seal puncture tool. Insert the tube tip-first into the caulk gun. Squirt construction adhesive into each drilled hole in the beam.

Align the holes in the beam with the rods on the shelf bracket and slide the beam over the bracket and flush against the wall. Allow the construction adhesive to dry 24 hours before placing objects on the mantle headboard.