Add decorative corbel without screws?

15 years ago

I just bought a brand new condo. I have a breakfast bar which is from the kitchen into the living area and all finished in the same formica I have on the kitchen counters.

The cabinet installers left me two corbels still sealed in plastic which match the cupboards. OK here's my problem.

I would like to install only one of those corbels for appearance only. It doesn't need to support anything. When you walk into my front door, you are looking at the end of this bar counter and one corbel on this end would be pretty. The other end hits a wall and won't be needed.

Now, the problem is the corbel cannot be screwed onto anything. It is small, it is lightweight wood. Can I glue it and clamp it under the formica bar which appears to be masonite or similar. Then, what do I do where it comes down the wall. They tell me I cannot glue wood to drywall.

Someone else suggested I drill a small slight hole in the back of the arm and glue a brad (head) sticking out. They said after I glue the top to hit the corbel at the nail and drive it into the drywall. I think the nail would just wiggle and do nothing.

Maybe I don't even need the nail and just glue it underneath the bar itself. It would be decorative only and it is lightweight. If glue is my best bet, can you suggest a brand? I do have a bar clamp somewhere I think.

Thank you, Donna

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Comments (5)

TracyO
15 years ago
Could it have a keyhole screw? Or do you just not want to make a hole at all?

Keyhole option:
brickeyee
15 years ago
If it is just for appearance gluing it in place is fine.

If the underside of the counter is exposed wood (or wood product) and the corbel is also, Titebond will make a good joint.

If anything is not wood, try an epoxy.
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qmarker
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to both of you. The keyhole could be put there ?

Right now on the back (raw) top or side,(I'm not sure which it is.

It has 2 tiny holes as if they are marking where screws should go if it were being installed from the inside toward it.

The other back or top side has 2 elongated oval holes. No doubt for some kind of hardware. They are like a stretched out 'dime' for lack of a better way to say it.

None of this goes through to the front of the wood. Obviously this was to be installed prior to the bar top going on. Hmmm, they came from the cabinet mfg. and maybe they actually belong to a cabinet setup but none of my cabinets would need them or look better with them.

The Titebond has me curious because I was reading about it on the web. I never thought about epoxy for the drywall.

I never opened the plastic seal. I am going to do that to see if there is any directions or paper tucked in there. There isn't any hardware because the pieces are tight together.

I found the web page with the cabinets I have. The corbel I have isn't there but it is very plain and similar to the 4th one down on the right side called Victorian Plain. Mine is just a tad not so plain.

Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: Merillat Corbel picture
brickeyee
15 years ago
Titebond will stick to drywall (even painted) just fine.

If the underside of the counter is laminated you might need epoxy there.
annzgw
15 years ago
I attached some corbels by drilling and screwing them on from the inside of the cabinet. It takes two people to do this and if you don't have the tools, just use the adhesive mentioned above and set them in place. Then use duct tape, or some other strong tape, to hold them in place until the glue dries.
If your counter is long enough to handle two corbels I would add the second one for visual balance. Place it a few inches away from the wall, not up against it.