Birdhouse tips and tricks

[Salvatore Buscemi]

Any tips and tricks for turning a functional birdhouse? My wife has commissioned me to make one for her parents. A link to a good tutorial would be greatly appreciated. I've searched some, but most posts seem to be about birdhouse ornaments.

Sal

[Paul Douglass]

Here is a good thread on regular birdhouses. Shows how to fix the top so it can be removed for cleaning. Hole size is important depending which birds you are trying to attract.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?150347-Bigger-real-bird-houses&highlight=birdhouse

[Salvatore Buscemi]

This was a fun little project. I'm pretty new to turning, and other than a bunch of bottle stoppers over Christmas, my first real project. I made a bunch of mistakes, but I have to call it done. My wifes family is coming into town today, so it has to go! Dimensions are 5" x 7", woods are sweetgum and mahogany, finish is spar urethane. Thanks to Jeff Nicol for his post! I think I'll try a few more of these, they are pretty cute!
http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac100/fishman76_2010/2d002e46.jpghttp://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac100/fishman76_2010/f11ed589.jpghttp://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac100/fishman76_2010/b309ea8b.jpghttp://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac100/fishman76_2010/108fb3f5.jpg
Sal

[Jim Underwood]

Just wondering how the spanner is attached to the sides of the birdhouse? Jeff was asked the same thing in the other thread, but he never really answered that question. I could have missed it...

So I'm still wondering.

[Salvatore Buscemi]

I cut and ground it to make it a tight fit, then glopped (technical term) some epoxy around it.

Sal

[Mark Hazelden]

Sal,

If you go to the Golden Horseshoe Woodturners Guild website and then to the techniques section, there is a tutorial on a cedar staved birdhouse. It is the 3rd project on the list.

I made one for my wife and Blue Birds were checking it out yesterday. It was fun to make.

Mark

[Greg Just]

Here is what I have been doing. I glue up 8 pieces of whatever wood I have that have been cut at 22.5 degrees. Square up the bottom and glue a piece on. Shape the birdhouse, drill a hole to the proper size for the bird, glue in a dowel with a hole in the center to accept the cable, turn the top, assemble and finish. Here are a couple of pictures. I make them all different sizes.

[Salvatore Buscemi]

Thanks guys, the staved idea would save me some wood!

Sal

[Ron Fleice]

Here is a great one made of cedar and staved ...I Have several in my yard and they are occupied
every year
Turned Bird House_Rev1.pdf (http://forum.canadianwoodworking.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23216&d=1260156862)

Ron