Comments on: Germain’s Shadow Box

By: David

David — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:21:50 +0000

Excellent workmanship! Is this available for purchase? Is it possible to have one made by 30 NOV 2011? What will be the price? Thank you for your time and consideration.

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:54:01 +0000

I would be interested in purchasing as well…looking for husband’s retirement! Beautiful work!

By: kelley

kelley — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:04:47 +0000

Are you still making these for purchase? I am looking for one for my husband’s retirement.

By: CMSgt C

CMSgt C — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:48:04 +0000

I have been in the military for 24 years and have seen many shadow boxes presented to retiring service members. This is, undoubtedly, the nicest work I have ever seen. Wow! Thank you sharing these wonderful photos.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:23:56 +0000

This looks great! I am getting ready to retire from the Navy and was thinking about making my own shadow box. What an inspiration this is! Thank you Germain!!

By: James

James — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:40:04 +0000

Very nice!! A great way to make a shadowbox much more personal.

By: Todd Jacobs

Todd Jacobs — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:37:17 +0000

Very nicely done!! I have been sitting here for quite some time now just admiring your project. You should be very proud of supporting the men and women of the active and retired armed forces. It is a pleasure to hear such care and forethought taken for such a noble gift.

By: Germain

Germain — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:32:53 +0000

As I understand it, marquetry is is making pictures with inlay. The rank insignia for this shadow box isn’t marquetry or inlay. I simply made a base from alder and stained it. I then glued the maple pieces to the top of the alder base. Thus, the maple pieces actually sit proud of the alder base about 1/16″.

By: Germain

Germain — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:54:52 +0000

Basically, it’s a rectangular box which is 4″ deep. I machined grooves on the inside and a slot all the way through at the bottom. This allows a piece of glass, or plexiglass in this case, to slide in. Some brass hardware holds in the plexiglass at the bottom.

The rank insignia is a completely separate piece. It attaches to the lower part of the box where I cut reliefs allowing it to fit in. It’s attached with figure eights to allow for wood movement. Most of the rank insignia hangs below the bottom of the box.

Obviously, the biggest challenge was the rank insignia. I downloaded an an Air Force E-6 graphic from the ‘net. I then took the file to my local office store where they printed it at the exact size I needed. I used the printout to make a template from MDF.

Does that help?

By: Jim Crockett

Jim Crockett — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:41:16 +0000

I guess I don’t understand. You said that the TS insignia is not marquetry, so is the red separation between the stripes accomplished with the cherry stain? If so, how on earth did you mask off the maple sufficiently to prevent the stain from bleeding over? This is excellent work and it’s obvious that you spent a considerable amount of time on the shadow box. Great job!!!

JimC