I enjoy building bird houses but the most rewarding thing is seeing them inhabited. Like you, my roof always over hangs the front and sides. I put vent holes in both sides protected by the overhang. I also add a donut on the outside of the access. I drill a 1 1/4 inch hole then use a 2 1/2 inch hole saw around that to create the wooden donut. That extends the depth of the access and keeps cats and raccoons from reaching in. I also only use red cedar as it is rot and parasite resistant. I currently have 23 bird houses on my property and get great enjoyment from watching the birds create their nests, bring food to their young, and finally, seeing those fledglings running around my yard trying to figure out what to do with those wings.
Thanks..very easy to follow..You have inspired me to make several boxes..I have a tiny farm in Ireland and from Spring onwards many birds arrive for food ...the Jackdaws nest in the old sheds and the swallows arrive from Africa in another shed...I like the bee sanctuary..tremendous ideas
So much useful information about the construction of the boxes and the birds feeding habits. You have created a new interest for me. Thank you very much.
Toward the end of your exceptional video, you show various bird boxes that you've constructed one being made from laminate, I have been told that laminated wood is not good as the chicks scratch & peck and the glue used to laminate the wood is poisonous, would appreciate your feedback
My hearing is bad so could not under about the bee house. Does it work for Carpenter bees? I live in North Carolina mountains in USA in log home. Would love to make one of these to hang away from home to try to encourage them to leave house alone. Hate to make trap to kill. Enjoyed show!
Been looking at a few of these birdhouse how to's. I have noticed that no-one seems to put a dowel sticking out below the entry hole to allow the bird a landing spot. Every birdhouse I used to see had this feature. Any reason it no longer seems to be done?
Hi Jim Very nice work Two questions please If you don't nail what technique do you use for attaching the birdbox What do you call the DeWalt saw that you use as I cant find it on their site Thank you very much
Carefully cut the bottom out of a biscuit tin. Mark out a few panels on there. Fix it to a piece of scrap wood for safety. Centre punch and pilot drill the five holes. Open up the large centre hole preferably with a hole saw. Remove from the wood and deburr the holes. Cut the plates out and deburr them.
Jim, can you tell me the name of the special chop saw you are using that seems to double as a sort of table saw?? And also your little work bench! Thank you
Hi, it's called a 'sliding mitre saw'. If you didn't get one already you can get a cheap one from screwfix for about £100. If you're just building bird boxs you'll only need a small one. Ask me if you need to.
Not recommended. I think if you could allow the wood to age outside and off-gas the toxic chemicals for a time, it would be ok. I have a couple I made before I learned this and I plan to apply my theory. I figure a year out in the elements should do it. Not gonna put them so can be inhabited, just exposed.
Note the amount of boxes behind him. He's making and selling them so it's not a purist "live in the woods" project, it's semi commercial. Power tools for labour saving it is! Not to mention he did say when using hand tools he's not that accurate. Personally I turn a blind eye to the tools, I'd rather see the boxes made of thicker wood!
edward charles Hi Edward,thank you for the reply. "when using hand tools he's not that accurate" That is my point. When you start a project like a bird box, you can hone your skill and let the birds decide if it is good enough. I agree that he seems to be doing this so he can sell the boxes. I just think, for the beginner woodworker like me, projects like this would be best demonstrated by hand.
to make angled cuts, the power tools are much more accurate. Usually what I end up doing is to look at many videos. The ones which can be done with the tools that I have, are the ones I end up following and doing. I think it's OK if some woodworkers use basic tools and some use power tools. There are many designs and ideas from all these videos. Additionally, we may not follow some design exactly but like you said, let's build the bird box out of the things we can, however we can, and let the bird decide to live there or not.
I Nice looking bird houses. It would be better to advise never using plywood. varnish the edges all you want, it'd going to delaminate. That goes for any kind of compressed composite, such as Oriented Strand Board (OSB), even if it is rated for exterior use.
As usual some guy telling us how easy it is to make your own bird box and expects the average person just happens to have a professional table saw with stand which most likely in the region of £1500 that makes nice 90 degrees clean cuts so butts up nicely. Even if you were to hire would well be £70 a day. Jim lets see you use an old rusty saw that maybe someone like me uses once a year which is quite blunt to cut the pieces and about £10 Hole saw cutter which in my years doing DIY around the house have never needed to use, thus one time to make the entrance for the bird. Great what you are doing for keeping pathways open but be credible most of us bodgers go would go out and buy one, as I have just done.
Would have been a fantastic video if you’d let us see where you said you were making marks. All a bit rushed for me but lovely that you bothered to make this for people.
Nice video. Maybe you should think about wearing safety glasses when you are operating electric saws of any kind.......eyes are so difficult to replace Jim.
Grover895 can you give me some statistics for eye injuries when carrying out DIY, before the trend for safety glasses? Then we can compare if they actually do save sight or is their contribution imagined? You simply won't know without the research and numbers! Now, as you seem such a fan on safety can you tell me how all this started? No! Then I'll tell you. Like most things in the UK, it was copied from the US, introduced in the 70,s by President Nixon as health and safety. We took it on after realising we might be sued, just like they do in America. It's more ACE than anything else. Example: how can a paper label stop you from being electrocuted? It can't! But if you are electrocuted and there is a paper label on the plug, (PAT test) you won't be sued, it was just an unfortunate accident. NO pat test you will be sued! It's all about ACE. ACE? The Arse Covering Exercise! The pat test label won't stop you from electrocution but with one, it will stop you being sued for not having it! ACE! As far as safety glasses go, it's required for the health and safety at work act. Note the word WORK. It DOES not apply anywhere else. The same as the grinding regs. You can't change a disc in work without having been on the regs course. But you can go into B&Q and buy a 240 volt 9" grinder and do what you like with it. Why? Because you're not going to sue yourself so there's no need for risk assessments, pat test etc. No need for ACE! His eyes are as safe as anyone else's, just consider, however did we all manage before H&S? Well without your figures you won't know and won't convince me it's more than ACE.
edward charles hang on there Ed. As a professional landscaper who operates construction saws, hedge trimmers etc, I can assure you that eye protection is essential. On many occasions, while using different power equipment, a piece of wood or masonry flew at my eye, which, thankfully, was protected by safety glasses or mesh mask. All it takes is one unfortunate accident to convince you otherwise. Better safe than sorry.
edward charles I run the welfare advise service for a disability charity and I can instantly think of three people who lost an eye - one of which also had brain damage. I can also think of two people with early onset dementia due not to wearing proper respiratory equipment and it’s impossible for me to start counting all those with lung damage. If you ever want to know what damage can be done by not wearing proper protection go to your local Headway meetings. A massive proportion of its members have head injuries that could have been prevented by wearing the correct protection.
@@edwardcharles9764 A very long winded way of proving you are an arse! Just get some safety glasses, inexpensive and basic common sense. You not need statistics to prove the point.
What safety precautions? The saw is a standard one with safety cap. What else does he need? Crash helmet? Full face mask? Biohazard suit? Toe enforced shoes? Yeah he probably hammered on his fingers once or twice in his life
