Cedar bird houses

[allen levine]

When you're locked up for a month or so with covid and it's nasty after effects one must stay busy

Built these cedar birdhouses from a picture
I made an extra part of each part so I can just trace and cut for more

Definitely not fine woodworking but fun to make
I still have alot of outdoor rated ply so used it for the back and the black lucite as a bottom
Bottom slides out to clean out bird house

Want to see if I have some deck sealer then I'll attach some eyes

 

[Mike Stafford]

Allen, those are really cute. I am going to have to be very careful when I look at these birdhouses to make sure that the wife is not around because she will insist on one.

 

[allen levine]

Fun and easy to make
I have to make 2 more but lack the cedar and not in the mood to deal with st Patrick's day traffic on Long Island today or tomorrow

 

[allen levine]

A coat of sikkens or proluxe as it's called now

 

[David Johnson]

those are really cute. Birds will love them. What size opening for the front? The bird houses I built call for a 5/8 hole for blue birds but sparrows still manage to find there way in and evict the good birds.
David

 

[allen levine]

I looked at a chart and decided it didnt look right. I believe I went with 1.5 inch, or 1 and 5/8 th....I could look at the bit tomorrow. how can a bird fit in a 5/8th hole....that seems reallly tiny.my pen is half inch round, cant imagine any bird fitting in a hole that size


just thought more about it, I think I went with closer to 2 inches. made the mouth porportionate with the rest of the face. I dont know if people look at a birdhouse like this as an actual home for birds or more like a yard or garden ornament. like putting a gnome in your garden, whether you believe it brings luck, some just like the look....

 

[Ted Calver]

I made mine with a slightly oval hole and the bluebirds seem to like it. Took the hole size tip from this article.

 

[Sayer Fancher]

Those look great! Might need to copy these, my wife would love them.

 

[David Johnson]

My bad 1 5/8 inch. Finger slipped. Just know the sparrows like "em. But birds are birds so love most of them.
David

 

[allen levine]

1 and 7/8th Just came out to start the day

2 are ready to go

I'm just waiting on brackets I ordered to make hanging simple and quick
I sent out some pics and already got several requests for purchase and I think I might be swayed this one time to make them for purchase
But I don't know what to charge
I will never get what my time is worrh
I figure 2-3 hours each one
12-13 dollars each one cost me in materials
The brackets are 7 bucks each

I mentioned 60 to someone and told them the bracket is 8 bucks more and they said they will come today so I'm thinking 60 is fair
Disgusting I can't make 25 dollars an hour for what tiny skill I have and I'm not claiming I'm a craftsman but I have the tools and patience

Once I post them I'll see how many requests I get

Elen says too cheap but I'm torn between getting what my time is worth and giving a gift to someone who really appreciates the piece only friends and I hate charging friends

And I can offer any color eyes and if a beard isn't liked I can put a red or any color bow tie on him
Do you think I can get an extra 25 for customizing it to someone's preference?hehehe

 

[allen levine]

I ran out of cedar so used pressure treated for sides outdoor plywood for backs and pressure treated for sidewalls
Last 2 and I'm done with these
That's a total of 8 birdhouses and 8 bird feeders
I have 2 bird feeders I haven't let go of yet in case my nieces or nephews want one
I'm not up to making some for a local charity they don't seem to think my time is worth anything and of course they will sell way too cheap

I did have a request for a Barbie birdhouse



I don't know if it's possible with my lack of artistic flare but I have just enough pine and I'll use pressure treated for none painted surfaces

If it doesn't come out usable it's fire pit wood
No harm no foul I have little else to work on the next few weeks

 

[Bill Arnold]

For those building birdhouses, I found the protectors posted below to be real beneficial. We had a problem with squirrels and other birds pecking around the hole, making a mess of it. Have had no problem since using these.

Protector

 

[allen levine]

instead of purchasing a protector, as all it seems to be is a hole 1.5 inches wide, why not just cut the hole 1.5 inches?

I dont sell anything, and I like to not spend money especially when I make so many things....Im guessing people who purchased oversized holes on birdhouses this is an easy fix.

 

[Jim DeLaney]

instead of purchasing a protector, as all it seems to be is a hole 1.5 inches wide, why not just cut the hole 1.5 inches?

I dont sell anything, and I like to not spend money especially when I make so many things....Im guessing people who purchased oversized holes on birdhouses this is an easy fix.

The 'protecter' is the metal ring that goes around the 1½" hole. It keeps the squirrels from chewing it.

 

[allen levine]

Failure
I won't throw it in burn pile as I'm sure someone will take it from me
Elen says it's too scary for the birds

So I'm calling it scary barbie

Nothing is glued
Hair isn't set
Need a pink barrette for hair
And I have eyelashes to out on once I glue and pin it all together

I'm a bit embarrassed to post this but it is what it is for lack of anything better to say

Please don't insult me I know how funny and amateur it looks

I tried and I'll stick to the other 2 cedar styles

My daughter wants to know if I'd make 6 cedar birdhouses for charity money raising for student council
The wooden dog planters I made her auctioned off well at over 50 bucks each
Originally I thought she didn't raise enough but I misunderstood

I'm thinking about it

They will cost me somewhere around 15-18 bucks each and she thinks she will get at least 50-60 bucks each

I'm thinking about it

I've done woodworking for charity 4 or 5 times
All for local school districts once for a little kid who had rare disease



Don't laugh it was all from scrap and leftover spray paibt

 

[allen levine]

A family member said it looks like a blow up doll
Maybe I should toss it into fire pit

 

[David Johnson]

That'll get the neighbors talking. Nice?? job.
David

 

[Ryan Mooney]

Well I’ve made worse that’s for sure, but yeah you’d have to find the right customer for that one for sure. OTOH who knows maybe they’d sell like hot cakes to the right crowd.

 

[allen levine]

Eh a little comedy on the board won't hurt anyone

I'm still waiting on 70 degree weather to melt down plastic in my oven so I can open up all the windows

No projects on the horizon
My wife wants a design wall for her quilting
2 foam insulation boards hung up with felt covering and a frame
An hours worth of work
So I guess I will start cleaning every square inch of the shop wax all beds
Toss a lot of scrap

Not sure if I can tolerate nothing to do besides babysitting till summer

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

A family member said it looks like a blow up doll...

I guarantee they weren't the only ones thinking that. Don't be discouraged...the "old man" pattern you posted earlier was a home run. Even Babe Ruth had a few strike outs along the way.