Framed Map... sort of

Just a quick and dirty “scrap wood” project I put together as a thank you gift for the instructors at the 3-month military training class I’m finishing up. They’re prepping us for assignments throughout the world. There’s foam core behind the map, and color-coded map tacks (different color for each branch of service) that we’ll all stab into it to show where we’re going.

Sadly, this is the last bit of “real” woodworking I’ll do until I’m reunited with my tools in 2014 – unless I extend where I’m going or take another assignment away from the states, that is.

The frame is walnut with curly maple inlay/stringing & splines and purpleheart keystone blocks. The background/mat board is koa-veneered baltic birch ply. I got some cheap brass corner protectors, bent them flat, stripped off the lacquer and did a quick patina on them with salt water and ammonia fumes. Bought the map (actually a vinyl wall decal) from cafepress.com.