How To Make A Large Wooden Cross

I was honored when my niece asked me to come back in December to get her married. That gave me a lot of time to plan and build this project. The ceremony took place on July 14, 2018 and what an amazing wedding. In this tutorial, I will show you how to make a wedding cross. I will document my steps so you can make your own wooden cross. Perhaps you have an upcoming wedding. Or you can make one for your church or your own yard.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links included below):

Contents

West Cedar Red Board (or board of your choice) Hand drill & 1/2 bit DEWALT 12-inch dual sliding angle saws notch Speed Square Layout Tool notch angle grinder (Optional) 1 inch chisel and hammer 3 inch wood screw (box) 2 – 5 inch delay pin Danish Dark Oil (optional)

Material cost: approx. $400

Total time (without texture): 4-6 hours

Total time (add textures): 12 – 14 hours

Difficulty: Beginner

Step 1 – Choose the wood

I used Western Red Cedar because it is light, strong, and resistant to rotting. And it’s so easy to make, you might have to specially order the western red cedar board. Check with your local home improvement or building supply store. You can also use another wood like pine.

Step 2 – Dimensions

I used a 4″ X 6″ X 120″ board for the longitudinal beam, and a 4″ X 6″ X 72″ board for the horizontal beam. You can also buy 6″ X 6″ beams, but the larger the beam, the heavier the cross will be. This is a latin cross, so pay attention to the proportions. The top view should be equal to 2 horizontal views. My proportions may not be perfect, but I think they look good. I think the biggest goal is to get the top 3 projections of equal length. Click here to download FREE wedding combo plans Read more: Scissor Care and Organization Ideas

Step 3 – Cut the notches for the half-ring joint.

I used a half ring joint to join the horizontal and vertical beams together. Hand-held circular saws work well for cutting out nicks. Simply adjust the depth of the blade to 2 inches and make a series of cuts in the wood. Use a chisel to remove the cuts and clean the notch. Make a groove about 6″ x 2″ deep for both beams. Use the actual width of the board you buy, that’s why I say the groove should be about 6″ wide and 2″ deep. I put one beam on top of the other, and made a pencil mark. You may have to make some adjustments to get the perfect fit to the joint.

Step 4 – Drill holes for the delay bolts.

Two 5-inch delay bolts are used to hold the beams together. Just insert the delay bolt into the hole and use the wrench to tighten the nuts on the other side. I put the ends of the lag bolts on the front of the cross. Using delay bolts makes the cross easy to assemble and disassemble for transportation. I do not recommend glue. A corded drill works well for this. Use a 1/2 inch drill bit. You may have to drill some holes to make it accept 1/2 diameter late bolts. Two bolts are enough to connect the beams together.

Step 5 – Sand or Add Texture (Optional)

You may decide to leave the wood as it is and not sand or refinish it. I wanted my niece’s cross to have a solid look, so I used an angle grinder to add a rough texture. GameThis took the longest time for the whole project. Your hands will get tired afterwards. Please wear a dust mask!!

Step 6 – Add Finish (optional)

Adding an ending is really unnecessary. Western red cedar will last a long time without any finish. However, I want my niece’s cross to be a darker color. So I added a dark Danish Oil to get this effect. One or two layers are many.

Step 7 – Build the base

Please refer to the FREE plans for base building details. Click here to download the FREE wedding cross plans I used western cedar for the base support pieces. The bottom part is actually a countertop item that I found at my local home improvement store. You can also buy a 1-inch or 3/4-inch section of plywood and cut a circle or leave it square. The cedar supports are fastened together with wood screws and then screwed onto the base board. My base is 3 feet in diameter, and it’s very stable. Obviously, the wider the base, the more stable the cross. If the ceremony takes place outdoors, you may be allowed to place the cross on the ground. My niece’s ceremony was in the house, I strongly recommend placing the cross the day before the ceremony. And have someone else help you lift and set it up. Make sure it’s stable and doesn’t tip over. You can take extra steps to anchor the base down or add sandbags to weigh it down. Depending on your particular situation, make sure the wedding room is the right height for the cross. Coordinate with decorators if they want to add flowers or foliage to the cross. I hope you enjoyed this guide. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions. If you’d like to receive more tutorials like this in your inbox, please subscribe to my newsletter. See the registration form below.Read more: how to create a trail in minecraft