If you are hyped about a DIY project involving shells and wood, you can easily glue shells to wood in just a few simple steps:

1. Preparing the selected shells 
2. Preparing the surface of the wood 
3. Applying the glue (we will tell you which are the best adhesives to use for this specific project)
4. Letting the glue work its magic

Continue reading this guide to learn how to implement each step, which is the best adhesive to glue shells to wood, and everything else you need to know. 

All The Items You Will Need

So let’s start here. 

You have a fun project in mind that includes shells and a wooden display surface. You need to take only a few steps, and your project will come alive. 

So what are all the items you will need to start this project and finish easily?

Here is all you need:

• Shells 
• A wooden surface 
• Adhesives (more on this a bit later)
• Clean paintbrush 
• Acrylic paint
• Glue gun 

The acrylic paint and the paintbrush are optional, depending on what you have in mind for your DIY project. 

Usually, these types of projects happen when the shells get painted in different colors and will be glued to the wooden surface. 

And even though our area covers everything glue, this shell project usually looks pretty spectacular. 

So now that you have all the items, you need to start here. 

Step One: Preparing The Shells

This step may be necessary, depending on where you collected or purchased your shells. 

Some or all of them may still have shellfish remnants, so cleaning and preparing them properly is essential to prevent an unpleasant odor down the road. 

To clean the shells, you will need:

• ¾ cup of water
• ¼ cup of muriatic acid 
• A larger bowl for immersing the shells in the mixture
• Fresh, clean water
• A second larger bowl
• Protective gloves or clamps (either option works fine. The goal is to avoid direct contact with the skin)

Here is what you need to do:

1. Mix the water and muriatic acid in a larger bowl
2. Add fresh and clean water into a second larger bowl that will fit the shells
3. Immerse the shells into this mixture, making sure they are fully covered
4. Keep the shells in this mixture for about 3 seconds 
5. Take the shells out using protective gloves or a kitchen tool to avoid direct contact with your skin
6. Add the shells into the bowl with clean, fresh water
7. Let them sit in the water until all odor is neutralized 

Step Two: Prepare The Surface Of The Wood

This step is also important because if your wooden surface isn’t the way it should be, then the glue won’t be able to create a strong and long-lasting bond, keeping the shells glued to the wood. 

If the surface is dirty or has undetectable dust particles, this will prevent the adhesive from forming a tight bond. 

You may be able to clean the surface of the wood with warm soapy water. 

If the mission is a bit more complex than this, use solvents to clean the surface. 

If the wooden surface has a glossy layer or is extremely smooth, use fine-grit sandpaper to rough it up. 

If the wood is too smooth or has a gloss coating, the glue will have a harder time creating a strong bond. 

After sanding, use clean soapy water to wipe it down with a clean towel or rag to remove all dust particles from it. 

Step Three: Choose Your Glue And Apply It

Gluing the shells to wood requires a very simple method. 

Follow these easy steps:

1. Choose the points on the shells that will be glued to the wood
2. Apply the glue with a margin
3. Connect the shell to the wood and apply pressure 
4. Keep the shells secure until the glue fully bonds (this can take up to 24 hours)

Here are the best adhesives you can choose to glue shells to wood. 

Acrylic Gel

The huge advantage point of acrylic gel adhesive is that it is clear, so if you accidentally apply a bit too much, it won’t be as visible. 

You can also choose from two types:

• Glossy 
• Matte 

So if the surface you will be gluing your shells to has a matte finish, go with a matter acrylic gel adhesive. If you have a shinier surface, choose the glossy clear acrylic gel. 

Epoxy Adhesive

Epoxy adhesive bonds quickly. 

Depending on which epoxy adhesive you choose, each should have specific instructions for mixing. Only mix the required amount and not more. 

You won’t need to glue shells to wood as shells are quite small. But of course, it also depends on how many you will be gluing. 

Hot Glue Gun

The hot glue gun is a well-known and common DIY glue tool that has been around for a while. 

It is an easy tool to use. You have the gun, and you have the glue sticks. 

As soon as you plug in the glue gun and add a glue stick, this will start to melt. If you have a bigger glue gun and a thicker glue stick, you will only need to squeeze the handle slightly to avoid adding too much glue onto the shells. 

Hot glue sticks usually harden very fast. As soon as you add the needed amount onto the shells, press the shell onto the wooden surface and secure it in place until the glue bond is done forming. 

Various Super Glues

Various super glue adhesives will work effectively to glue shells to wood, such as Moment Glue or Shells Glue. 

Yes, now you can find glue specifically made for gluing shells. 

The only thing to remember with several superglue adhesives is their smell. Some of them have an intense one. 

The pro of these adhesives is that they usually come in handy tubes that are easy to squeeze out of a thin nose, making this job easy and convenient. 

Final Step: Let It Dry

Regardless of which of the above-mentioned adhesives you choose to glue your shells to a wood surface, you will need to allow them enough time to dry. 

Some of the best adhesives can take only a few seconds to start drying, but even with these, the bond does take up to 24 hours to fully complete. 

Conclusion 

Gluing shells to wood isn’t just a fun idea. It is a very easy project, and the results always look amazing. 

Once you have all the necessary items, the steps you need to take are very simple:

1. Preparing the selected shells 
2. Preparing the surface of the wood 
3. Applying the glue (we will tell you which are the best adhesives to use for this specific project)
4. Letting the glue work its magic

You can also work with several glue types to get this project done. You can choose either of the following adhesives:

• Seashell glue
• Acrylic gel adhesive
• Epoxy adhesive 
• Hot glue sticks and hot glue gun 
• Several other superglues