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My friend Mindi My Love 2 Create put out a challenge to come up with a project that uses materials that are repurposed, and I had just the building supplies to accomplish that challenge! It is an easy way to add a little farmhouse style.
A few years ago when this old and unsafe hay barn needed to come down, I begged my Dad to let me dismantle it to use for projects.
One of my favorite projects that I have used the hay barn for is my son’s barn wood bed. Not long after I built the bed, my son decided that he really really wanted me to paint his walls and do a Star Wars room. I was not about to give up the barn wood bed, so I’ve been trying to add elements that are kind of rustic and industrial to hopefully tie the two together. Arrows have been quite the decorating rage for a couple of years. It’s an easy item to make rustic and industrial. This arrow can be made with the center open like a shadow box, or fill it with corrugated tin, wire mesh, wood slats, material, or anything you want.
How to Build a Rustic Arrow
Materials
- 1 – 1″ x 3″ x 70″ (actual 3/4″ x 2 1/2″)
- 1 1/4″ brad nails
- wood glue
- corrugated tin – optional
Cut List
- 2 – 18 3/4″ long
- 1 – 5 1/2″ long
- 2 – 3″ long with a 40 deg miter on one the end
- 2 – 9 1/8″ with a 40 deg miter on one end and 50 deg miter on the other.
Step 1
Add wood glue to the flat end of the 3″ piece, nail to the 18 3/4″ piece, flush with the end. Repeat for other 18 3/4″ and 3″ pieces.
Step 2
Add wood glue to the ends of the 5 1/2″ pieces and glue between the other end of the 18 3/4″ pieces. Secure with nails.
Step 3
Glue and nail the 9 1/8″ pieces together, and onto the 3″ pieces.
Let the glue dry. Here’s the look of the open arrow.
I decided to see what it would look like with old corrugated tin in the middle. I traced the inside of the arrow onto the tin.
I attempted to cut the tin with tin snips. My snips are shaped a little funny, so I gave up and used an angle grinder with a cut off wheel…much faster and louder :-). I had to trim the tin some, but got it to fit. 
What’s your preference, tin or no tin? Pin it!
Make sure to check out the other projects on the Build It Blog hop – Repurpose it challenge #repurposeitchallenge
linked to: link parties, remodelaholic, savvy southern style, homestoriesAtoZ
Amy it’s perfect and fits great above the bed (which I’ve been in love with since the day you posted it!). Nice work with the angle grinder, that is one tool I have never used.
I LOVE it Amy, and I vote tin all the way! So glad you told me how you cut it too, because I have some old tin that I plan to use soon, now I just need an angle grinder! Ha ha! Thanks so much for participating in the challenge! 🙂
I am totally an arrow, reclaimed wood AND metal fanatic. How did you know you tailor made a new project for ME? 😀
Amy, this is so cool! And looks perfectly in your son’s bedroom! I think I need a gigantic one for a magnetic board! Whoo hoo!!
Awesome project!
Wonderful tutorial, love the pattern and it came out so perfect! LOVE!
It is the perfect industrial/rustic mix! I love it above the bed. ( and I have a confession.. I once tried to build and arrow box like that I wasn’t bright enough to get the angles right.. so I applaud your mad math skills!)
<3 K-
While I have had my fair share of math classes, I have a confession too – Sketch up. SU makes it easy to draw things out and mess with the angles until it ‘looks’ right and you can measure what they are. 🙂 Or you can use some trigonometry, either way!
I too (like Kim) struggle with angles, so I’m happy to have this tutorial Amy!
I love the arrow both ways, but I have to say WITH the tin.
beautiful job,
pinning!
gail
Thanks Gail, sketch-up is really handy for planning out my angles.
Amy, another stellar job. I love combining metal and wood. Makes me want to use that corrugated metal in the house SOMEWHERE!
thank you for sharing!!! Love it!!!