Flag case

[BB1]

Thought I would share another project from a couple years ago that is veteran related.

 

My dad passed away in 2023 and, as a veteran, he had a flag folded on his casket. My nephew was interested in the flag from the funeral, and I offered to build a flag case. I had initially thought of using white oak but ended up with my favorite – walnut. I watched many videos on YouTube and wasn’t comfortable with the 22.5 degree angle cuts for the lower corners, so just went with 45s onto the base. I added splines to the top (used a no-jig method as I hadn't yet built my spline jig). Used Odie’s Oil which is easy to apply and really brings out the beauty of walnut IMO.

 

For anyone building one of these, I recommend having the flag when doing the build. I did not receive the flag (I live in a different state) until I was finished. I had looked up the general size, etc. of a funeral flag and was relieved with the fit. Still, much less stress to have the flag for the final dimensions. Watching the various YouTube on building these cases was helpful and many of these include very touching stories. Thankful for all those who were willing to share.

 

As long as I can remember, my dad had an American flag flying proudly and building this was an honor, and quite emotional at times. He would have loved to hear about all the new techniques I learned over the course of the build, and would have smiled to see the finished product as he always my biggest fan in whatever I have done.

[MrRick]

Very touching Barb! My dad was a retired Air Force veteran and I also made a case for his flag. My daughter has it. 

It's a beautiful thing to honor his memory! Good on ya! 

[BB1]

11 minutes ago, MrRick said:

Very touching Barb! My dad was a retired Air Force veteran and I also made a case for his flag. My daughter has it. 

It's a beautiful thing to honor his memory! Good on ya! 

Thank you. Loved having it in my office until we traveled to see family and delivered the case.

[Grandpadave52]

Very well done Barbara. Great tribute to honor your father and "our" veteran. Thank-you for sharing the project and especially the back story.

[Gunny]

Excellent work, beautiful way to Honor a fallen comrade.

[lew]

Beautiful piece! Love the "feet".

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

Love the case, and the story. Wood magazine had published a plan for a flag case quite some years ago, and they got around those 22.5° miters the same way, use 45° on the bottom. Really makes things a little easier. As Lew mentioned I love those feet as well.

[BB1]

Actually, the "feet" design came from a miscalculation on a solid base. I forgot to take into account the face frame for the width so that wasn't an option. I wanted to use wood from the same board as walnut can have quite different colors. Some others suggested a split base and that lead to the feet version. Ended up looking fine, although was stressful in the moment having to pivot from my initial plan.

Edited Sunday at 06:46 PM by BB1
Typo

[lew]

We don't make mistakes, we have happy accidents 

[BB1]

4 minutes ago, lew said:

We don't make mistakes, we have happy accidents

Often these "craftsmanship opportunities" end up being better than my original plan. Of course, my plans are typically drawn on some scrap paper with details floating around in my head!

[Gunny]

2 hours ago, BB1 said:

scrap paper with details floating around in my head!

 

Would venture a guess that describes a good many of us.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

Barb, wait till you hear Newman (AKA Bandit) talk about his "single brain cell sketchup" plans. (insert laughing emoji here)