Bird House - Woodworking Talk

Robocop · 03-29-2009, 12:55 PM

Hi
Finished turning this Bird House today, the top and rest is laburnam and the body is Japanese maple, finished with Eeeezyshine polish from Australia it sands as it shines has some fine abrasive in it apparantly.I really value the comments from u guys, do you think the top should hav been finished with a taller/ thinner finial? I need to find some model birds to sit on the perch.

PTownSubbie · 03-29-2009, 01:54 PM

I like it. It looks really good. The only thing I can think is maybe the perch should be a little bit higher.

If you get some really small finches or something like that, they may like it a bit closer to the hole.

Pretty fancy piece. You have designer birds in your area?

Jeff4woodturning · 03-29-2009, 03:39 PM

great job, i like your bird house design and finish. maybe i would have move my perch just a bit higher but i think it depends on hole size and what kind of bird you design it for. very nice.

The woodsman · 03-29-2009, 08:05 PM

BEAUIFULL,now make sur the birds keep it clean

slatron25 · 03-29-2009, 08:34 PM

I think it looks fine just like it is. Very nice work.

firehawkmph · 03-29-2009, 09:17 PM

Robo,
Check your local craft stores. Around here we have Pat Cataans. You can buy a couple of different sizes of the little birds. They come 3-5 in a pack and are about 89cents. I have also used 1/8" brass rod for the perches. I round the end over on a sanding drum and then hit it on a separate buffer I do metal on. Makes for a nice contrast. Experiment with the shapes. You will probably end up with no two houses alike.
Mike Hawkins

Robocop · 03-30-2009, 08:04 AM

Thanks for the comments

Cant source the birds in this country, but i have a friend going to Texas in late summer i'll ask them to get some "from Hobby Lobby"
Your right about the perch next time i'll move it up a bit.
Just read in my woodturning mag that "Ishley Iles" are giving away their new 2mm parting tool unhandled to readers for £10!, good price

. are tools expensive in the U.S.

Robocop · 03-30-2009, 08:09 AM

Nice Bird Houses Mike, Just shows that the designs are endless, do you draw it first or do you CUT WHAT YOU SEE! I do the latter.

firehawkmph · 03-30-2009, 08:38 AM

Robo,
I normally wing it (pun intended) on the birdhouses and many small turnings. I just noticed you are not located in the US. If you can't find the birds at home, I think Craft Supplies still sells them. I use medium CA glue to attach them to the perch and usually a little dab where their body touches the birdhouse. One other thing to remember on the birdhouses; if you are making them to hang on a Christmas tree as an ornament, you want them as light as possible. So that's when it gets fun, thinning out the walls to less than 1/8", hollowing out the tops, etc. If you do go for the thin bodies, you might want to drill the access hole by the perch before you get it all the way thin. I have had some bust apart from the drill bit while drilling them after they have been thinned out.
Mike Hawkins