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Mark Hulette
10-22-2005, 6:14 PM
Here are a couple of ornaments I have turned for the upcoming Christmas season hoping to make some $$ for my church. Your comments and critiques are requested.

The 1st one is approx 2.75" x 2.25" - box elder; the 2nd is about 2.25" x 1.75"- spalted birch roof and maple body.

Thanks for looking!
Bruce Shiverdecker
10-22-2005, 6:18 PM
Those are cute! Hope they sell well for you.

Bruce
Harry Pye
10-22-2005, 8:53 PM
Mark,

Most of the birdhouses I have seen have a small perch under the entrance hole. Some people turn them out of ebony. I use a round toothpick and turn it down to fit the hole and then color it with a marking pen.

There is a really great book on making these ornaments, probably more detail than any of us want to know! :) It is "Dick Sing Turns Miniature Birdhouses."
Jim Ketron
10-22-2005, 10:56 PM
Nice Job!
I think you will do well with your sales.
Mark Hulette
10-23-2005, 12:46 AM
Most of the birdhouses I have seen have a small perch under the entrance hole. Some people turn them out of ebony. I use a round toothpick and turn it down to fit the hole and then color it with a marking pen.



Harry- That's my plan on the actual ornaments that I sell but I hadn't thought of using toothpicks! Great idea! How far below the hole do you place the perch and what size drill bit do you use for the perch hole?

Thanks guys for all the input!
Chris Barton
10-23-2005, 7:29 AM
The birdhouses are great! Now I will have to try my hand at some...
Ernie Nyvall
10-23-2005, 8:01 AM
Very cool Mark. Nice designs.

Ernie
Keith Burns
10-23-2005, 5:21 PM
Very nice, add the perch and you will have some winners. As far as placement just put them where you think they look good.
Harry Pye
10-24-2005, 5:47 PM
Mark,

Sorry to take so long getting back to you about the birdhouses. I drill the opening for the bird 5/32" and the hole for the perch with a #53 bit. That is a tad smaller than 1/16". More important than the size is the location. The perch hole should be in line with the opening. They just don't look right if the perch hole is off to the side. I put them where ever they look best. The attached picture is of three finished ornaments and several bodies waiting for roofs. The bodies are about an inch in diameter.

Please ignore the stand. It was something I knocked together in about twenty minutes just to show the ornaments at a club meeting.
Mark Hulette
10-24-2005, 6:05 PM
Harry~

Thanks for the reply!

I really like the grain pattern on the one on the far right! Looks like you've done a few of those!!

I'll post some of the ones I complete soon... off to the shop! :)
Jeff Sudmeier
10-25-2005, 8:20 AM
Mark, I think they look great! I really like the roof on the one on the right!
Mark Cothren
10-25-2005, 9:31 AM
Very nice! My wife and FIL would love these!

Thanks for the pictures!