Bird Feeders?

[Jason Silva]

I often sit out on my deck and enjoy the trees while sanding my many turning projects. Lately i have noticed many different species of birds coming around my yard. Does anyone have plans, pictures or ideas on how to turn a bird feeder? I'd love to try something out.

 

[jschnell1203]

Jason check out http://www.woodbowlalaska.com/bird-feeder.aspx . I was up in Fairbanks, Alaska a few years ago (My Son is going to FBU) and I visited the bowl company while I was there. Check out their website for lots of ideas.

 

[john lucas]

Jason I'll have to dig a little but there was a fantastic article in American Woodworker I believe about making a stave construction birdhouse. This was about 20 years ago or so. I made one for my dad and have been thinking about building another one for me. I'll go dig through my stash in a little while and see if I can come up with it.

 

[Wayne Spence]

John Lucas-Birdhouse

That stave construction birdhouse sounds interesting, hope you can find it.

 

[Jason Silva]

Thanks for the feedback. I've found quite a bit of info about bird houses, just not much on bird feeders. Thats what i'm really after.

 

[Mike Brazeau]

I have plans for a staved bird house posted at our guild website http://www.ghwg.ca/techniques/Turned Bird House.pdf and at my picture trail site www.picturetrail.com/mikebrazeau It could easily be adapted to a feeder by making a different base with a heavy wire going up through the roof to hang it. That would allow the roof to be raised to fill it. Would also have to cut some holes at the base to allow seed to get out to tray and perhaps turn a cone for the inside to disperse. Have just talked myself into Mod One.

 

[john lucas]

Jason I did find the article. It is in the April 1990 American Woodworker. It is similar to the PDF Mike posted except the roof and bottom are stack laminated instead of stave. It is a birdhouse not a bird feeder, my bad. I will be glad to copy the article and mail it to you if you send me a personal email with your mailing address. As Mike said it would be pretty easy to convert. Just make the middle section smaller without a hole and then make a wire cage to go outside that to hold the bird seed. At least that's my guess as to how you could do it.

 

[Steve Worcester]

Sounds like a new article brewing.

 

[Betty Scarpino]

I hear you!


Betty Scarpino, editor, American Woodturner

 

[John Torchick]

Turned Birdhouse

Awesome! Many thanks for the detailed tutorial and pictures. My wife is after me to turn some stuff for Christmas gifts. I'll add this to the list.

 

[allen jay]

birfeeders-birdhouses

dick sing has a book out that craftsupplies carries.
turning miniature birdhouses. it alss says it covers birdfeeders as well

 

[Curt Fuller]

I've made several of these for feeding whole peanuts to the scrub and stellar jays in my backyard. I included a template for the dowels. If you stretch or shrink it to 5.5" diameter and use 5/16 dowels it's just about right to keep the peanuts from falling out but still allow the birds to get them out. There is a piece of nylon parachute cord that's in the base, threaded through the lid, that it hangs on and also keeps the lid centered in the top.

 

[Jason Silva]

I would like to thank everyone on this forum thread for their comments. I have just started utilizing the forum for information and am stunned at how willing everyone is to help. Thank you all. Love the staved house and doweled feeder by the way.