Reclaimed Wood D.C. Flags
Various dimensions; see below. Available in two finishes: painted with interior flat white and red paint or natural and red-stained wood. These flags are a great way to show your support and love for the District. The two red stripes and the three stars (made of cast iron) literally stand out from the white background. The flags are made from reclaimed pallet wood, and because of the variability in the wood and the finishes, no two flags are exactly alike. Note that although the flags have a rustic look, they should be displayed indoors, not outdoors. Hang one in your home, your office, or your commercial establishment. The first one I ever sold hangs on an exposed brick wall in Rocklands Barbeque in D.C. Each flag comes with two D-rings mounted on the back, so all you need to hang it is a hammer, a couple of nails, and a wall.
The Story
I’ve always liked the simple design of the flag for D.C., my home since 1990. A few years ago, it occurred to me that I could make a version of the flag out of reclaimed wood from pallets, along with some newly purchased cast iron stars. I find discarded pallets in many places, such as in alleys behind private homes or next to dumpsters behind businesses or at construction sites. I take two different approaches to making my flags, depending on the wood. When the boards are made of oak (more common than you might expect), I (1) cut them to the desired length, (2) sand them until smooth, (3) stain two boards and three stars with Minwax “Sedona Red” and leave the other pieces natural, (4) attach them to backing pieces with glue and nails/screws, (5) finish all the wood with three layers of Minwax water-based clear satin Polycrylic, and (6) attach the stars using different techniques depending on the stars. When the boards are not a beautiful hardwood, I (1) clean them with a stiff brush using a mix of water and bleach, (2) roughly/quickly paint the visible boards either Behr flat “Ultra Pure White” or “Fire Cracker” red, aiming for a look like you might see on the side of an old barn, (4) carefully paint the stars red, (4) attach the boards to backing pieces with glue and nails/screws, and (5) attach the stars using different techniques depending on the stars. Dimensions vary based primarily on the width of the boards used for the red stripes, as dictated by the official design specifications of the D.C. flag. Price variations reflect the amount of work that goes into making them; sanding and staining the wood takes a lot more effort than just painting it and, obviously, the bigger the flag, the more work required.