amateur eric Posted November 19, 2015 Report Share Posted November 19, 2015 I'm making several wooden flags for a local store to sell. I'm making them all with pine stripes and oak as the union. They wanted 5 and the one I showed them was as shown in the picture, burned pine for the red stripes, lightly toasted pine for the white stripes, and oak that was lightly burned for the union with the stars. They liked how that looks but they want one to be full color like the flag, but they want it stained, not painted. They want to be able to see the grain in the wood. Now, I have red oak stain for the red stripes. I've seen white stain at Home Depot before. Now for the blue, I can't find a penetrating stain that will compliment the wood grain and still give that look of the actual flag. My tips on where to look? Sherwin-Williams didn't have any penetrating stain. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missioninwood Posted November 19, 2015 Report Share Posted November 19, 2015 Behlen has Sea Blue Solar-Lux, as well. Love this stuff with it's five minute dry time. miw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Quick and dirty, try some liquid RIT dye from the laundry section of your local grocery store. Shake well, wipe on, wipe off right away. Test on a scrap, but I've used it to good effect for bright colors. And its really cheap. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missioninwood Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 liquid RIT dye from the laundry section.This is a good suggestion. Solar-Lux is not cheap.miw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prov163 Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 Check out the Minwax water-based stains. They have some interesting colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enclosed spaces Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 If your looking for a blue stain that allows the grain to show through, try India Blue Ink. Beautiful dark blue colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 lee valley has blue aniline dye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted December 5, 2015 Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 I have used trans tint with great success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 Not related to your question, but could there be a wood movement issue with your flag? The grain in the stars section is oriented 90 degrees from the stripes and if it is glued to the stripes at the bottom, its across-the-grain movement would be restricted on that side. Same for the stripes glued to the right side of the stars. Not sure if that would pose an issue or not, since they are not bound on all four sides. Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur eric Posted December 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 Not related to your question, but could there be a wood movement issue with your flag? The grain in the stars section is oriented 90 degrees from the stripes and if it is glued to the stripes at the bottom, its across-the-grain movement would be restricted on that side. Same for the stripes glued to the right side of the stars. Not sure if that would pose an issue or not, since they are not bound on all four sides. Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid. I'm gluing everything on the backside to 1/4" ply. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted December 30, 2015 Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 9 hours ago, amateur eric said: I'm gluing everything on the backside to 1/4" ply. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Ouch! Wood movement will surely be an issue then. When humidity goes up it'll curve convex, when it goes down, it'll curve concave. Except for the part with the stars, it'll try to do it's own thing. The only way I can think of to make it work is use a backer of 3/4" plywood or MDF & use veneer to make the flag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur eric Posted December 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 If I stapled everything from the back do you think that would prevent movement? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I really dislike the idea of using MDF, simply because how it can easily fall apart over time if it gets wet. Not to mention, the original design of these flags are much more rustic than this one, so a little warping of the wood wouldn't do it much harm, unless it decides to twist very badly Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted December 30, 2015 Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 It depends. If you shim between each piece leaving a bit of room, then yes. Not even talking a nail width, more a piece of thick construction paper or two. If you butt them all together, then the combined force of expansion could easily overwhelm a 1/4" ply backer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted December 30, 2015 Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 1 hour ago, amateur eric said: If I stapled everything from the back do you think that would prevent movement? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk You can't prevent wood movement. It will move with changes in temperature and humidity. The only thing you can do is account for it in your design. As Brendon said, one way to do it is to leave space between each piece to allow for expansion and contraction. Another way would be to just orient the grain of the stars in the same direction as the stripes and don't use a backer at all. When all glued up, the wood could expand and contract across the grain there would be nothing restricting it. If you must have the grain oriented the way you have it in the picture, the only other thing I can think of would be to run tongues along the bottom and right side of the stars, and corresponding grooves in the stripes, and only glue or nail the stars into the stripes near the bottom right corner. It would basically be like a captured panel, but with a frame only on two sides. This should allow the wood to move freely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur eric Posted December 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 Well on my future flags I will be sure to orient the grain to go along with the stripes Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted December 30, 2015 Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 If you used a wood with little grain, such as poplar for the field behind the stars 7 then oriented it the same direction as the stripes it would look great & no movement issues. Back to the veneer idea; if you don't like MDF (I hate it too) then use Baltic Birch plywood. It's great stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur eric Posted December 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2015 TBH, I just used the cheapest 2'x4' plywood Home Depot had Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I think it's either birch, or just cheap sanded plywood. Can't remember honestly Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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