Rustic Wooden American Flag How To

[@mprumsey]

I really like the way you did the edges on this flag. It puts a lot more character in it. Thank you for sharing

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks for watching

[@Oh6Torch]

The only thing more impressive than your work, is your concern for your viewers. It goes to show what kind of person you are. I viewed other videos talking about the dangers of grinders. Mostly welding. There is a really good one where the guy shows the aftermath of accidents with grinders. There’s a lot of ground meat and blood. It was really eye-opening for me. Thank you for sharing!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks I really appreciate it. I have a metal working background and have seen what happens to people when they get a kick back.

[@M_A_Double_T]

the patience displayed on the union was absolutely top shelf!

[@tro8191]

Incredible! Seen a lot of the American flags done on KZbin and yours takes the cake. Excellent detail! A true flag!

[@brendaboyce9967]

Thanks for all the hard work you put into making your videos Chris. I learned a lot from this one. It's fun to see what new project ideas you have with each new video. I appreciate all of your safety tips too.

[@bobbyjordan2882]

Before getting my CNC I build the start fields the same way with a chisel and dremel tool. Great video. Awesome flag!!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I’ll start doing the unions on my cnc, but I think I’d like to do a few more with just the chisel. I enjoy that and it doesn’t take too much time.

[@bobbyjordan2882]

Yes. I found it very satisfying as well.

[@1927Scavengers]

My friend pants the union white. The cuts out the stars on a cricut machine. Then paints union blue once it dries you pick up the vinyl.

[@edellafera]

Beautiful craftsmanship !!!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you

[@TheDeaznutz]

Great vid. That's exactly what i was looking for.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you 🙏

[@kirksides7504]

Love your tightening jig!

[@70ccbigdog]

I have seen a lot of beautiful flags made on KZbin but I really like the way years came out I like the extra work you did on the bandsaw to give a nice look to it.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you

[@Dolfan0925]

I've never thought to use a band saw. Thanks!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks for watching!

[@rw1377]

Great video, something you could do is add a 45 to the bottom of the pieces you mounted to the back for rigidity. This could be used as a French cleat for mounting.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

It’s been a while since I made this video, but I thought I did that

[@glenstewart4478]

I just made one just like yours came out great thanks for the video.

[@Tom_M_Riddle]

This guy deserves WAY more subs

[@seadams74]

OMG I love your Woodpeckers speed square LMAO.

[@JkCanvas]

what size lumber did you use for this? looks like a 1x12

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Yes it was a 1x12

[@TenmaFN]

One of the better videos on flag making I have seen ... hooah

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you!

[@TenmaFN]

@@ChrisPowellFSD You are very welcome. Just got a Shapeoko XXL myself, as a disabled vet I been researching alternative income projects, My dad makes swings, I figured I would give Flags and military items like flags , Mil coin displays, flag shadow boxes and such a try. Keep up the good work.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Well let me know if you need any help getting started. I have some free flag files on my website if you need them. fullsteamdesigns.com/maker-resources/

[@TenmaFN]

@@ChrisPowellFSD much appreciated, I will let you know. Hopefully i can help you at some point in the future.. maybe :) lol

[@rawquel]

Beautiful! However, I would have loved to see your completed project at the end of your video, again.

[@vincemoser4636]

Great video, informative and helpful. I like how you showed that there are many ways of doing the same job .

[@cassiejo0012]

Awesome video. This is the first time I seen someone burn the wood after staining. I wanted to add a couple of burn areas to a flag after I stained it and it dried but it caught fire scared the shit out of me. One thing that I do that I actually experimented with is taking some oil based paint and mix it with an oil base clear polyurethane so that I get vibrant color with the perfect transparency to allow the burnt wood come through.

[@mikeledee8786]

Is there any suggestions you can give to why when even when I use stop block I can't get my stripes to come out equal using a chop saw? Thanks.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

You could always leave them long and trim them after it’s assembled. You’d just have to touch up the stain.

[@EddieSpruill]

What size bit did you use could you tell me the name and set size to do the stars

[@jameswestii454]

I have a sealer question. I don’t have a hvlp sprayer so I am stuck between spray can or brushing on a sealer. Since I use the 1/8” thick baltic birch stars on the Union instead of carving the stars into the Union, I am curious your opinion on what to use to seal the whole flag. Brushing on polycrilic is a bit rough because it wants to puddle around the stars when the brush hits them. Then the tedious task of sanding between coats of brush on poly because of having to get in the corners of 50 (1.25”) stars is not fun. Would you recommend a spray can laquer and doing 2-3 coats and not having to sand or another spray can sealant like spar urethane. Not a big fan of the Minwax poly spray cans. Want a good shine and seal but the raised stars make things a bit tough time wise. TY.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I’ve had really good luck with this stuff. Just do a couple light coats and then a heavy one. I try to keep the whole thing wet. Practice on some scrap pieces first. I never sand between coats. It dries pretty quick. amzn.to/3t6Hbg1

[@jameswestii454]

@@ChrisPowellFSD - Thank you for your time. Appreciate it.

[@BlueLine-BBQ]

By far the best flag video I've seen

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you!

[@ChristianCMC]

Great video. I wish I had a band saw.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks. Find a cheap used one.

[@mikeledee8786]

Do you ever have an issue were the boards have a gap or are bowed? If you do how do you fix? Thanks

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I try to start with the best pieces, but if I do have any bowed pieces, the braces on the back usually take care of them.

[@tommills9753]

Awesome video!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks Tom

[@Comin_at_U_Live]

How much can you charge for a really beautiful flag of your best work.. Start to finish, how many hours are you looking at per unit.? If you did 10 at once how much time are you knocking off & saving by doing a higher production all at once?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I usually just sell the smaller 21x11” flags. They’re around $70

[@davidboston4574]

Amazing!! Great video

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you

[@andylore6833]

Chris did you ever make the video on the clamping jig you made?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

No, I still haven’t got it working the way I wanted. Gotta figure out the cauls.

[@BBQGuru1008]

Another great video! Really looking forward to seeing your video on the clamping jig. I'm getting ready to make a jig based on others that I've seen out there, but now I'm curious to see what you'll be adding to this jig. Thanks.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks! Trying to come up with the best way to do an overhead clamp that is adjustable to many sizes with just one hand.

[@BBQGuru1008]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Can you tell me what you used to adhere the PVC board to the plywood? Thanks

[@everythingrusticwithbrian9590]

Great job sir! Your work is great....

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks!

[@KevinWestwood9]

I think you should have links to the tools you used in the description so people could buy them. Like an amazon affiliate link, so people can get the same stuff as you, and at the same time you are getting a little money everytime someone buys something. Like the stains, brushes, torch gun, bandsaw, miter saw, dremel, angle grinder, etc.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I’ll try to get all of the part numbers together and do that. Thanks!

[@larrymays5413]

Nice Job Chris, look great. did you ever do a video on your flag jig? Thank you

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks. I never got around to finishing it. It needs some improvements.

[@kraigkettler4904]

Did you happen to release the build video of your jig that you made? Can’t seem to find it

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Sorry, not yet. I found some things I wasn’t happy with, so I need to reevaluate the design a little.

[@mattschorr1666]

Great video. Learned a lot. Did you ever do a video on the glue up jig?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Sorry not yet. I found some things I want to change, and haven’t gotten around to remaking it.

[@mattschorr1666]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Thanks. I like what was shown in the flag video (which is great). I may start there. I make lots of cutting boards and I like that idea.

[@davycrockett4395]

Hitachi love the brand. I'm an American guy that loves to use American products however Hatachi has always been of great quality. I have the 4 drill set with the saw saw ect. Been very surprised how the drills offer so much more power then the avg. Ryobi or Kolbolt.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I was close to switching to their power tools, but at the time they didn’t have the options available locally like they have now. Nice looking stuff though.

[@BigDaddyRob1309]

What grit do you use for the flap disc? 60? 80?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

That one was either 100 or 120.

[@countrysideworkshop]

Did you ever do a video on that flag mounting jig?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I still need to finish it. Never got around to figuring out the overhead clamps. There’s probably some changes I’ll end up making to the design too.

[@AndreMercado]

what happened with the jig?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I haven’t gotten around to messing with it anymore. There’s some stuff I want to change, like the t track.

[@cwm125]

Absolutely terrific video, now I need a Band saw lol

[@jamesjfromli]

I’ve searched my local Home Depot & multiple Lowe’s locations. Can’t find True Blue in their stain selection. Any suggestions?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

They’ve made a change to their stain selection lately. Check out this comparison I did. It has all of the part numbers in it also. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oneUZKyljdOFmKs

[@jamesjfromli]

Chris Powell Thanks man. Appreciate you getting back to me.

[@matthewjason5330]

Why you didn’t use the cnc one the stars?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Not everyone has a cnc

[@matthewjason5330]

@@ChrisPowellFSD oh you where showing different ways. I thought maybe something else. Cool

[@brianleabo6295]

Love cuts. How you like that 18v Ridgid angle grinder

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

It’s not bad. Probably wouldn’t put a lot of faith in it for doing a ton of metal work, but it works ok for quick jobs and wood. I recently started switching to Makita for all of my cordless stuff.

[@jamesbarlowjr.3762]

Chris absolutely love how you took the edges off the strips and the Union, it almost looks like it’s waving. Now when you got to the Union and you said, Don’t forget to put it up? If you have the same Amount of stars on the top row as you do the last row and you know we can’t go the other direction then what do you mean by making sure that it’s up? Hope you can understand that. Lol. Love It Bro! 🤝

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks. I just mean make sure the stars ⭐️ are facing up. Some people have accidentally put the union on upside down, and the stars are pointing down. A good way to make sure you don’t mess up is to stain only the edges that won’t be against the stripes.

[@jamesbarlowjr.3762]

@@ChrisPowellFSD That’s a good tip. Thanks. Lol sorry re read my message to you... and yea. Ha. And You Very Welcome. I’ll definitely have to try your style there. I like it. Yes its time consuming but I think the outcome is worth it and looks awesome! 🤝 Thanks Again for getting back to me.

[@Comin_at_U_Live]

Speaking of upside down stars aka. Pentagrams.. what year did the Republican party change their mascot's emblem by flipping the stars upside down essentially turning the elephant's stars into the devils pentagram? Pretty wild for the conservatives party 🥳 🎉 😜

[@mattymeets5007]

Hey man nice tutorial! Can I ask what size lumber you are using??

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I start with an 8 foot long 1x12.

[@alankreifels6445]

what glue did you use to glue the pvc to the plywood for your jig?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

3m spray glue.

[@Comin_at_U_Live]

Just use melamine..

[@goodwinml]

Love the band saw way but for the stars I prefer CNC.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Yea I don’t think I’d have the patience to do them like this all the time. Just wanted to show some different techniques to people without a cnc. I actually enjoy using the gouges the most, but it is pretty time consuming.

[@aarona.6394]

So what’s the thickness of the boards u used

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

3/4”. They’re off the shelf 1x12’s.

[@kevinchapin50]

Awesome Skills there, amazing work.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you

[@akaDanGray]

What size and what type of wood are you using?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

3/4” pine

[@akaDanGray]

@@ChrisPowellFSD thank you!!!

[@michaelconder8859]

Nice job! Grinders hurt! :)

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

That’s a fact.

[@michaeljrcp]

Excellent! I love your work. What kind of wood did you use?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you. Mostly pine, but sometimes I use oak.

[@YESSLEEP42]

Great work Chris!!

[@BigDaddyRob1309]

Chris, I have watched a lot of KZbin videos on how to make these flags, and I have to say I like your design the best. Quick question - in most of the videos I’ve seen, almost everyone burns the wood before they stain it. I noticed you stain first, then burn. Do you get better results that way? Does it look any different?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you. I just feel like I can get a better read of how it will look by torching after. I feel like I would go too dark a lot by torching first. I did a comparison of some different stains, and also tested torching before and after for each. It does look a little different. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oneUZKyljdOFmKs

[@cam7724]

As a fellow wood worker my friend this is fucking impressive. Excellent work!!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you!

[@fyerfighter11]

What an outstanding flag design, you definitely taught me so much in this video. Can you share what size board that was you started with? I’m going to make one this week. Thank you!!!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you. I think it was just a single 8 foot 1x12

[@fyerfighter11]

@@ChrisPowellFSD awesome thank you Chris. It looked like 1” in the video but I couldn’t tell the width on it. Thanks again for taking the time to respond I appreciate it.

[@stephenross9883]

Is it white 1/2" white pine?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

3/4” premium pine

[@stephentross2877]

where did you get the PVC sheeting? specs?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Home Depot

[@leslietompkins3461]

AMAZING THANK YOU EXACTLY WHAT I ASKED FOR!! THANK YOU!

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thanks for the inspiration!

[@christopherthomas5400]

Great work. Awesome flag. How do you keep your boards from cupping after glue up when you stain or paint finish your flags? I’m having a terrible time with it using pine. Only thing I can find suggests using better woods. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all the great videos and info you give us

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I torch the back just enough to straighten everything out.

[@christopherthomas5400]

Chris Powell thank you! Do you do that even when you do not torch the front?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I pretty much always torch the front. Usually I don’t notice much warping until I do that part.

[@markwhitlock2696]

Amazing work! How many hours do you think it took you to make it?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

It’s hard to say, because recording stuff always makes it takes 4 times as long as normal. I could probably get one done in 3-4 hours, not including drying times for glue and stain.

[@KevinWestwood9]

Good job dude, awesome!

[@mikeledee8786]

What size wood are you using to make this flag? Thanks.

[@veterancustomwoodworx9858]

Damn. 39k views and Ive made multiple flag build vids nowhere close to this. Congrats man.

[@michaeldilbert5150]

Did you use a French clear mounting

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Yes. I used 2 separate ones because I wanted to put vertical supports in the middle.

[@matthewcorrales7624]

What size is it?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

37x19.5”

[@matthewcorrales7624]

@@ChrisPowellFSD thanks

[@atomcooper]

Great video 👍 as always! What was the lumber that you started with?

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

It’s a single 8 foot long piece of 1x12. You’ll end up with a 22” long piece left over that can be used for one of the smaller flags.

[@pnoel4936]

@@ChrisPowellFSD Pine?

[@GregoryKThomas]

Chris, I'm so glad I stumbled upon this video. It's by far the most informative and detailed video I've seen so far. I've been custom flags for about 6 months now and I've learned a lot but I learned so much more in this 23 minute that it will help take my business to the next level. My biggest disappointment so far has been the inconsistency of my stars. I've been using a Dremel but trying to carve them too deep almost like a CNC. I think I'll get better results going a bit shallower. I use the newer Minwax in the Island Blue color for the union and love it. I tries the Crimson red and felt that it had too much orange in it for my liking. I really like the Valspar semi-transparent in the bright red color and the ultra white for the stripes. It's a lot thinner like the Varathane in your other video and it looks really good. For the union I don't mind that the blue goes on a little thicker, I like a really solid deep blue color there so I apply 3 coats and don't wipe it off. I also don't wipe off the red and white as the wood absorbs it perfectly and still shows that great grain from the burn. Thanks again for such a great video.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Thank you. I’ve started doing 2 coats of the Varathane. I like how thin it is, but it looks a little pink with only one coat.

[@GregoryKThomas]

@@ChrisPowellFSD I do have a question if you don't mind. I'm experiencing an issue when i cut the stripes on my table saw and it's quite frustrating. After facing and planing my boards I cut them on the table saw but every time I end up with strips that have a bow in them where I just cut. I'm at such a loss for why this is happening. Any ideas or suggestions?

[@jiwbink]

GRINDING/CLEANING UP EDGES INSIDE 2'BOXES,3/8" PLATE, I GOT COMPLACENT WHILE WORKING.BEFORE I KNEW WHAT HAPPENED THAT GRINDER DID ABOUT FOUR END OVER END FLIPS,JAILED ME DIRECTLY IN THE FAMILY JEWELS!! LESSON LEARNED. PAY ATTENTION,EVEN TO THE SEEMINGLY MUNDANE!! BTW,IT WAS AN ELECTRIC GRINDER,NOT A BATTERY OPERATED JOB.THIS WAS ABOUT 1989-90. SOME THINGS ONE NEVER FORGETS!!

[@doncrist2012]

How much money would that go for?

[@frankfuller8195]

Chris- followed your technique and it turned out really well, thanks for making the video. I found out Lowe’s doesn’t mix the same color of blue, but I duplicated well. I did get the same crimson, mine doesn’t look as brilliant. I used strips of reclaimed pallet wood as a practice wood- that’s probably the difference. Embarrassing- I flipped my wood when gluing and realized I did it backwards! It’s hanging in my shop as a reminder to slow down.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

I have a messed up one that I was able to do both sides hanging outside my door. The side sticking out looks decent, but the back side is a disaster haha. It’s also a reminder to slow down and of the progress I’ve made.

[@technicaltrucking8704]

i dont understand the overkill on the backer board.

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Are you talking about the backing strips? They hold the stripes into alignment.

[@jimking9646]

nice

[@guillermojimenez310]

Can u please give me the # of that blue

[@Comin_at_U_Live]

Why not glue all the pieces, the entire flag into a sheet of 5/8 ply or particle board

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

You could, but that wouldn’t allow for any expansion or contraction in the wood and could cause cracks or gaps between the stripes. It doesn’t really have much of a benefit. I guess assembly is slightly easier.

[@michaelrussell499]

I see that Palmetto tag on the vw. YORK County here

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

Berkeley here

[@ชนบทเรินธานี]

🪵🪵🪓🪓

[@ChrisPowellFSD]

That’s right