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Gifts & Small Projects

Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag

Step-by-step build — 17 steps. Also available as a print sheet.

  1. 1Cut 1x2s

    Start by cutting your 1x2s down to 36" (13 pieces). Cut 2 18" pieces from the leftover wood.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 2
  2. 2Organize wood strips

    Lay your 36” strips of wood on a flat table or wood clamps and organize them however you like. I like to keep the knots on the stripes that will be painted.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 3
  3. 3Glue up

    Glue your strips of wood together and clamp them down. Allow it to dry for at least an hour.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 4
  4. 4Add pocket holes

    • Take the clamps off and flip the board over.
    • Take your pocket-hole jig and add 4 pocket holes on the top and bottom and 3 on each side.
    • Space them out evenly.
    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 5
  5. 5Glue brackets

    Take your 18” strips/brackets and glue one to each side of the flag. Make sure you don’t cover the pocket holes.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 6
  6. 6Nail brackets

    Add nails to the 18” brackets (1 nail in each strip, 13 total).

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 7
  7. 7Sand front of flag

    Turn the board back over and sand first with 80 grit and finish with 220 grit.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 8
  8. 8Add stars with stencil

    • Wipe clean and add the star stencil on the upper left corner. Tape around the stencil and add some cardboard over the board.
    • Take the stencil back off before spraying the blue paint. Spray the blue paint and let it dry for an hour.

    Tip: See Extras tab for a link to the star stencil.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 9
  9. 9Add red stripes

    Tape up all the white stripes and the Union (star area) Paint your stripes red and allow the paint to dry for 1-2 hours.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 10
  10. 10Paint white stars

    Remove the tape and add your star stencil back to the upper left corner. Tape around the sides and put cardboard over the rest of the board. Use the white spray paint and lightly spray the stars. Let dry for 20 minutes and add another slightly heavier coat.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 11
  11. 11Burn "white" stripes

    Use your propane torch and burn all of the white stripes.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 12
  12. 12Cut 4 pieces for frame

    • Take your 1x3 wood and cut 2 pieces at 36” and 2 at 19.5”. These will be cut at 45 degree angles on each side.
    • Measure from the heel/short part of the angle.
    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 13
  13. 13Secure frame with pocket-screws

    Put the 19.5” pieces on each side and the 36” pieces on the top and bottom. Secure them to the flag by using the pocket holes from the back with 1 1/4” screws.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 14
  14. 14Burn frame with torch

    Use the propane torch to burn the inside/outside of the frame.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 15
  15. 15Add hanging cord

    Turn the board around and add your hanging cord. Cut the cord to desired size and secure it to the flag using 1/2” screws with washers.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 16
  16. 16Add polyurethane

    Last step is to add 1-2 coats of polyurethane.

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 17
  17. 17Enjoy

    Enjoy your flag!

    Box-Framed Rustic Wood Flag — step photo 1