This Flag was made all from wood, it was hand routed with the Correctional Officers Prayer. It is painted with the silver line for Corrections. The flag has all 13 strips and all 50 stars and the Arizona Department of Corrections Badge. Every detail on this flag was hand routed and hand painted. The back of the flag also has hand routing. This Flag is on display at C.O.T.A (Correctional Officer Training Academy) in Tucson. The Flag measures approximately 5FT 4inches long and is 3 feet high. The project took approximately 2 weeks to complete.

Step 1: Prepping the Wood for Routing

1st you cut the wood to the size and dimensions you need for your project. Then you print your design, whether it be a image or lettering. You paste your design onto the wood using a paper mache paste (flour and water). Ensure the paste is not to thick but not to watery. Just enough to ensure the paper stays attached to they wood when you are routing the project.

Step 2: Routing Wood

Next start routing your wood. Used a small hand held router. You can use a Dremel router for the smaller areas of your project or fine details. After you have routed out the wood. Take 60-100 grid sand paper and sand off all remaining paper and paper mache paste. Take the router and touch up any areas that still need attention.

Step 3: Prepping Wood for Painting

After you have done all the touch ups and sanded down the project. Ensure all the sawdust is removed from project. A air compressor works the best for this. If you do not have a air compressor use a tooth brush or paint brush, to cleanse the area of saw dust. Make sure you get in all the little nooks.

Step 4: Painting You Project

Now that the wood is prepped you can spray paint the indented areas. Wait until the paint is full dry, if needed add a second coat. Once that is done now use a small paint roller and roll desired color on the top layer of wood. Do not get the roller to wet as it will drip or collect into the routed areas of the wood. Repeat until you have desired coating on top. Next do touch ups, There will always be touch ups. Anything that dripped into areas that need to be touched up.

Step 5: Sealing Project

Once you have your project painted seal your project with. You can use a clear spray paint or a brush on varnish that is a clear coat. Ensure that you allow each layer to dry completely before applying another coat. Keep applying coats until you get desire level of shine.

Step 6: Piecing the Project Together

Once you have all the wood prepped and sealed, start piecing it together. Get a piece of plywood and screw the wood planks into place along with using wood glue. Then measure your edges and use a 90 degree to piece corners together. Use pocket corners to connect these edges. Then use wood filler to fill holes. Paint the areas that need touch ups. Than reseal the areas that you touch up. Your project is complete and ready for deplay.