Generating Rustic Birdhouses from Salvaged Wood, Reclaimed Lumber and Old Pallets

Building Birdhouses are the Best DIY Projects for Re-Using Old Lumber and Salvaged Wood

This rustic birdhouse was produced from an outdated pallet and pieces of salvaged wood. The ends and bottom pieces of the birdhouse had been cut from a cedar corner board removed for the duration of a remodeling occupation, and I salvaged the milled side pieces from the railings of a cedar perform set. A couple of slats from an old pallet provided the roof pieces and door trim, and the metal stars tacked to every single of the ends are re-purposed Christmas ornaments.

Resembling an old barn or rustic farm secure, the aged wood has a great weathered patina from many years spent outdoors. This desirable nesting shelf is designed to entice robins and in the winter, modest birds will get refuge in the birdhouse from the snow and chilling winds.

Creating a birdhouse needs only standard woodworking expertise and hand resources, and using salvaged wood keeps useable lumber out of the landfill. And since I salvaged all of the wood for this venture, the expense of the lumber is $.

Rustic Birdhouse Pictures and Diagrams by the Author

Clean off the salvaged wood with a stiff bristle brush to get rid of any grime or loose paint prior to bringing it indoors, and allow lumber dry in the store or garage for a number of days to remove any moisture. Most salvaged lumber has previously misplaced its authentic moisture, but the wood could be damp from publicity to rain or snow.

Inspect the wood meticulously for nails, screws or any other foreign objects that can harm cutting edges and result in injuries. A metal detector is quite beneficial for locating and removing bits of steel and iron. Mark the useable sections of lumber, and lower away split or broken sections.

The dimension of the nest box is not essential, and can modify to accommodate the pieces of salvaged wood in your lumber bin. Likewise, the style adapts effortlessly into a platform type birdfeeder to entice cardinals and mourning doves, or into a birdhouse for cavity nesting birds this kind of as wrens and chickadees.

Minimize the reclaimed wood into the following dimensions:

Nest Box:
Ends — 4 ½” W x 9 ¾” L (Qty of 2 necessary)
Sides — 14″ L x 3 ¾” W (Qty of 4 required)
Bottom — twelve ¼” L x 4 ½” W

Roof Sections:
15 ¼” L x 3 ¼” W x three/eight” Thick

Mark and minimize the finish pieces to form the 45-degree gables for the roof. Rip one particular edge of the side pieces to match the 45-degree slope of the roofline. Position the sides collectively with the end pieces. The precise height of the finish pieces is established by the mixed width of the side pieces. In this case, soon after milling the 45 degree bevel, the sides are 7 ½” large.

With weatherproof nails or screws, attach the sides to the finish pieces, taking care to line up the beveled edges at the top as effectively as the bottom edges.

Measure and mark out the opening for the nesting shelf, then use a jigsaw to minimize out the opening. Use s rasp, file or sandpaper to round over the edges and smooth out the curved top of the opening.

Reduce off the ideas of the corners on the bottom piece to allow the birdhouse to drain. Press the bottom piece into location within of the finish and side pieces, and then secure it with nails or screws.

Lay out the first layer of roof slats, beginning at the peak of the roofline and then operating down in the direction of the side. The roof slats should overhang the side by about a one ½” but the actual size is not vital. It is far more critical that the roofline and overhang fits the birdhouse and appears very good to you. Dependent on the width of the slats, it may be necessary to reduce the width of a slat to fit appropriately. Nail the slats into place.

Repeat the lay out of the slats on the 2nd side, overlapping the edge of the best slat on the initial side as proven in the diagram.

Lay out the second layer of roofing slats, making use of care to overlap any joints on the reduced degree. Rip the roof slats to the suitable width to accommodate the overlap, and to keep each sides of the roof even.

Lower the door trim from sections of leftover roof slats. The uprights are cut prolonged sufficient to raise the cross member above the curved opening, forming the recessed doorway detail. Nail the trim pieces in spot.

For a little extra country charm, tack a couple of metal stars or comparable located objects to the ends. In this case, I left the painted white board exposed, and additional a blue and a red star to every end for a patriotic theme.

An exterior cedar trim board was rescued from a remodeling job and provided sufficient wood for the birdhouse, and the roof slats had been reduce from a light-weight shipping pallet.

Locating reclaimed wood is fairly simple but it can take some time and work to convert an old board into useable lumber. The previous wood must be cleaned, metal screws and nails removed, and any split or damaged sections lower away.

Developing this hanging wooden birdhouse requires only fundamental woodworking capabilities and hand resources, and re-employing outdated wood aids to lessen the cost and keeps useable lumber out of the landfill.

Turning Salvaged Wood into Lumber

Clean off previous wood with a stiff bristle brush to eliminate any filth or loose paint, and allow it dry indoors for several days ahead of beginning the wooden birdhouse venture. Most re-utilized wood has presently misplaced its original moisture, but may possibly be damp from publicity to rain or snow.

Inspect the wood for nails, screws or any other foreign objects which can injury cutting edges and cause injuries. A metal detector is quite beneficial for obtaining and removing bits of steel and iron. Mark the useable sections of lumber, and reduce away split or damaged sections.

Cut the wood into the following dimensions. The cedar board used to develop this birdhouse was 1″ thick (recognized as a five/4 thickness). If making use of a ¾” thick stock, boost the width of the side pieces to four ¾” broad.

Front — 5 ½” L x 5 ½” W
Back — five ½” L x 5 ½” W
Sides — 4 ½” W x 5 ½” L (Qty of 4 necessary)

Roof Sections:
eight ½” L x three/8″ Thick
Widths differ from 1 ½” to four” W and reduce to fit

Entrance guard
three” L x three” W (1 ½” diameter entrance hole)

Assemble the Birdhouse

Position the sides collectively to form a square as shown in the diagram. Nail or screws the side pieces collectively.

Center and drill a one ½” hole by means of the front area and the entrance guard. Place the front area in place, and attach to the sides with nails or screws. Attach the entrance guard on a bias to kind a diamond form. Then attach the back segment of the wooden birdhouse.

Lay out the 1st layer of roof slats, beginning at the peak of the birdhouse roof and then operating down in the direction of the side. The roof slats need to overhang the side by about ½”. Based on the width of the slats, it might be required to lower the width of a slat to match correctly. Nail the slats into place.

Repeat the lay out of the slats on the 2nd side, overlapping the edge of the top slat on the initial side as proven in the birdhouse diagram.

Lay out the second layer of roofing slats, utilizing care to overlap any joints on the reduced level. Repeat with the third layer, once more using care to overlap and joints in the layer under.

Hang the completed wooden birdhouse employing two galvanized eye bolts, screwed into the roof peak roughly one ¾” from every end. Use a quick area of reclaimed and stripped copper electrical wire to hang the birdhouse from a tree or pole.

The ubiquitous pallet is a excellent source of resources that is frequently suitable for making into a DIY projects, but be selective in deciding on a pallet to reclaim. Pallets are filled with nails that are difficult to remove and it frequently takes significant effort to disassemble a pallet so never waste your time with stained, dirty or broken pieces.

Appear for pallets from organizations with shipments from other countries – pallets are manufactured from nearby lumber, and wood that may well be typical in a single country can be desirable in one more.

This basic butterfly home was created from pieces of mahogany that I salvaged from a shipping pallet. The reddish wood was left unfinished to weather naturally and flip to a warm silvery gray

Minimize the board to the following dimensions:

Front: 22″ lengthy x five” wide
Back: 22″ extended x five” broad
Sides: 19″ prolonged x 3 ½” broad (quantity of two pieces required)
Roof: four” x 5 ½” (amount of two pieces essential)
Bottom: 3 ½” x three ½”
Mounting block: 6″ x 3″ x 1 ½”

Mark the center of the front and back pieces, and then lay out the 30 degree angles to type the peaks at the leading. Minimize along the marks to type the peaks.

Lay out the entrance slots. The butterfly boxes in the diagram have 6 slots which are five” extended by three/eight” wide. Making use of a 3/8″ drill bit, drill a hole at each finish of the slot. Then use a jig noticed to reduce out the rest of the slot.

Minimize the best sections with a thirty degree angle on 1 of the long sides as shown in the diagram. The 30 degree cuts on the best sections match up with the 30 degree cuts on the front and back sections, and fit collectively to kind the peaked roof.

Commence the assembly by attaching the front to a single of the side pieces with exterior screws or nails. Align the bottom edges of both pieces ahead of securing them collectively.

Attach the bottom to the front and side assembly, and then attach the back part.

Line up the remaining side with the bottom of the front and back pieces. To create a hinged door, secure the side section to the front assembly with one nail or screw driven into edge about 1″ down from the leading. Then, finish the hinged side by driving one nail or screw one particular by way of the back to form a pivot point. Place the hinge nails or screws in the front and back sections straight across from every other, enabling the door to open effortlessly (refer to the side view drawing).

Drill and counter sink a screw hole along the center of the bottom edge. A single brief screw will secure the door, but permit easy accessibility to the butterfly boxes for cleansing.

Position the roof sections by attaching the pieces to the front and back sections. Do not nail the roof pieces to the side part which varieties the hinged door. The butterfly box is prepared for the garden, or for a brightly colored paint work.

Mount the finished garden butterfly box to a post in the garden. To use a segment of ¾” copper pipe as a publish, attach a little piece wood (about six” lengthy x three” wide x 1 ½” thick) to the inside of the butterfly home, securing it from the back with a couple of nails or screws. Drill a ¾” hole although the bottom and into the block, and then mount the butterfly box on to a section of copper pipe.