Cedar Bird feeders

[Jimmy Tallent]

:) I have made some cedar bird feeders,what is the best thing to seal and protect the wood with? Thanks Jimmy Tallent sawdust635@msn.com

[Jim Becker]

Nothing. You should leave bird feeders natural. Bird houses should be natural, too, at least on the interior.

[Greg Heppeard]

I think I'd go for either some marine varnish, General Finish's outdoor oil, clear epoxy, or just let them age naturally for a couple of years before finishing.

[Dick Parr]

Cedar is good just by itself. No finish required, it weathers very well.

[David Wilson]

I've built about 20 of this design. finished on the outside only with interior/exterior spray poly. This pic is from july on in-laws feeder which has been outdoors in Wisconson for 4 years.http://master.mx-targeting.com/mx/servlet/MXTarget?adcontext=http://www.sawmillcreek.org/newreply.php?do%3Dnewreply%26noquote%3D1%26p%3D101 681&contextpeak=16943&contextcount=16943&countrycodein=US&lastAdTime=1096248315|1096223561|1096209697|109621 3652|1096124386|0|0|0|0|&lastAdCode=1&cookie1=capdate%3D2621%26capdatedy%3D0926%26lupgtr y%3D1%26lupgid%3D157%26lupgdt%3D1096208959081%26lf lshdt%3D1096224392%26lstkywd%3Dfree+porn%26

[Craig Colvin]

I've built about 20 of this design. finished on the outside only with interior/exterior spray poly. This pic is from july on in-laws feeder which has been outdoors in Wisconson for 4 years.http://master.mx-targeting.com/mx/servlet/MXTarget?adcontext=http://www.sawmillcreek.org/newreply.php?do%3Dnewreply%26noquote%3D1%26p%3D101 681&contextpeak=16943&contextcount=16943&countrycodein=US&lastAdTime=1096248315|1096223561|1096209697|109621 3652|1096124386|0|0|0|0|&lastAdCode=1&cookie1=capdate%3D2621%26capdatedy%3D0926%26lupgtr y%3D1%26lupgid%3D157%26lupgdt%3D1096208959081%26lf lshdt%3D1096224392%26lstkywd%3Dfree+porn%26
Well the link didn't work which is probably just as well since it had the words "free porn" in it. :eek:

[Arnie Grammon]

I wouldn't touch cedar.....God made it weatherproof already. I have made many bird feeders with western red cedar and they just age gracefully.

I grew up in the rainy Cascades of Washington State. I remember walking around in the 70's finding old cedar logs 3 to 5 ft diameter right out in old clearcuts from the 40's and 50's. Back then, cedar was considered a junk tree with little commercial value. They would cut them down to make room for doug fir. What was amazing is that the logs were as solid as the day they were cut.

The problem I find is not the feeders......it's the seed. I have been working with the State Weeds Extension Specialist (I am the Regional Noxoius Weeds Specialist) and evaluating many grab samples of bird seed......most are contaminated with noxious weeds. True story. Watch your source of seed.

AG