DIY Birdhouse Strategies: How To Make A Driftwood Birdhouse

The Cutting Listing:

1″ x 5-one/two” W x 12″ L Board
For Circular Cutouts

three/4″ x 3/four” x 7″ Posts
Qty = three

Climate-Resistant Screws

Tons of Driftwood Pieces! The materials list for this project is short, and I identified the few small pieces of pine that I essential in my scrap bin. The precise size of the birdhouse is not critical, particularly if you plan to make a decorative piece for display, and you can adjust the diameter of circular pieces and the length of the posts. I developed my birdhouse for use outdoors, and hope to appeal to a pair of birds seeking for a place to nest. Birds can be fussy when seeking for nesting web sites, so I utilised dimensions that appeal to small cavity nesting birds such as chickadees. The two circles are five-one/2 in diameter, which is a good floor size and produces a roomy interior. The 7″ height of the posts permits the placement of the entrance hole about four-1/two” over the nest box floor.

Even though I utilized many electrical power resources to lower out and form the pieces, the straightforward building of this birdhouse lends itself to basic hand tools.

The unusual shapes and sizes of the driftwood branches designed a building problem: How can I attach the pieces together to kind a sturdy construction that seems like a birdhouse?

Following a minor considered, I came up with the notion of creating a simple frame for the major area of the nesting box. The pine wood circles used for the bottom and prime of the nest box give a strong base for attaching the driftwood pieces to kind the sides, with the 3/4″ x 3/four” posts delivering a lot of strength for help.

Start by marking the circles on to a piece of 3/four” stock. I utilised a compass to draw the 5-1/2″ circles, but you could also trace the outline of a coffee can or comparable round object. Cut out the circles, trying to keep the blade of your noticed just to the outside of the line. The circles do not have to be properly round, and you can sand or file the edges as necessary.

Drill a pilot hole by way of the center of a single of the circles. This will be the best piece of the cylinder that forms the main part of the birdhouse. Minimize a stout piece of driftwood to generate the center submit for the roof. The piece I employed was eleven-one/2″ lengthy and just over one-1/two” in diameter. The decorative end was chewed by beavers just before drifting down to the sea, and tends to make for an fascinating finial on leading of the finished birdhouse. Attach the center publish to the wood circle with a screw. It is easier to attach the center publish to top circle ahead of assembling the rest of the fame.

Following, position the three posts equally around the base to type a pillar. Mark the areas and pre-drill the holes to lessen splitting the posts. Then safe the pieces with each other with screws.

Drill a few one/four” holes through the bottom of the cylinder for drainage.

It requires quite a few pieces of driftwood to sheath the outdoors of the birdhouse: I utilized over 25 pieces to enclose the 5-1/2″ diameter cylinder, plus more pieces to fill the gaps. One more 20 or so pieces were utilized on the roof.

I sorted the pieces of driftwood by length, diameter and shape. Locating ample straight sections to sheath the outdoors of the birdhouse was difficult, but it was also a whole lot of exciting to match with each other the various pieces of driftwood to produce the siding. Each and every piece employed is reduce to length, with the lower finish nailed to the best of the cylinder. This way, the naturally weathered ends of each and every piece are noticeable, extending below the bottom of the cylinder. Soon after adding the roof pieces, you are not able to see any of the minimize ends of the side sheathing.

I commenced the sheathing procedure by deciding on a piece of wood to use as the primary segment of the birdhouse with the entrance hole. I drilled a 1-1/2″ hole through the center of the piece, positioned so that the entrance hole is about 4-one/2″ over the interior floor. I nailed the first section in place utilizing a pneumatic brad nail gun, but you can also nail the pieces collectively making use of finishing nails.

Doing work about the perimeter of the birdhouse, very carefully choose and fit every single piece of driftwood. I picked the straightest sections, and attempted to maintain the pieces as vertical as feasible this is a bit of a challenge with all-natural twigs and branches. Each weathered twig was tacked in spot with brads, and a dab of water-resistant glue helped to safe the driftwood pieces.

To cover the modest gaps amongst the pieces of sheathing, I added another piece of driftwood. Making use of thinner or shorter pieces to fill the gaps additional dimension and further variation to the sides of the birdhouse.

The side sheathing took far more straight pieces than I expected. To stretch the provide of driftwood, I utilized a band-noticed to rip some of the bigger pieces appropriate down the center. This produced two usable pieces from every area of driftwood, with the flat-sawn edges match tightly against the interior frame of the birdhouse.

[ Note: the band saw guide was raised over the function piece for the photo. Constantly reduced the guidebook to just over the piece while cutting stock on a band noticed. The machine was off when I took the photo. ]

To stay away from a uniform appear, I separated the split pieces and utilised them in diverse areas of the siding. I did not want to place two pieces from the same branch side-by-side on the birdhouse.

Soon after operating all of the way close to the frame, the sides of the birdhouse was wrapped in driftwood. Incorporating a number of more twigs covered the gaps. Confident, there are a few exact same cracks and gaps remaining among some of the pieces, but this will allow some air circulation and the total development is tight enough for the birds.

The roof is formed by including layers of driftwood. I started out with the wider pieces to develop the framework, cutting and fitting every piece to match snugly towards the center post. The naturally weathered ends lengthen down and above the side of the birdhouse for a rustic look.

I beveled the cuts on each and every piece, striving to hide the lower ends and maintain a organic appear, and a handful of pieces took quite a bit of shaping. After I was happy with the fit and placement, I glued and tacked each piece in spot.

I continued cutting and fitting every single piece for the roof, using distinct lengths for selection and working close to the birdhouse. Smaller pieces were lower and shaped to fill the gaps, and to produce the layered seem of shingles on a rustic roof. A number of choice pieces have been placed strategically for visual influence.

The completed roof should shed most of the rain, but the roof is not waterproof. The wood circle utilised for the prime of the cylinder frame will safeguard the baby birds from the poor weather.

My driftwood birdhouse is now prepared for the garden. I could drill a hole by way of the prime of the center publish and hang the birdhouse from a tree branch but alternatively, I feel that I am going to mount the birdhouse on leading of a cedar post in the backyard. A driftwood submit would be ideal!