Simple Bird Feeder Project: Instructions and Blueprint

This particular feeder is designed to take bird seed, rather than the more typical left-over food scraps. The advantage of this style is that it can be filled up infrequently as it can store several weeks’ worth of food at a time. The bird feeder is made out of pine and is stained to suit its locale. You can also paint it to fit your style and taste.

Construction: Bird Feeder

Tools required: jigsaw, drill

Wood list (Pine):

Description	Qty	Depth	Width	Length
Sides	2	3/4"	6"	6"
Roof parts	2	3/4"	5 1/2"	7"
Base	1	3/4"	8"	12"
Corner pieces	4 (dowel)	3/4"	3/4"	4"
Pole Stoppers	2	3/4"	3"	3"
Pole	1 (dowel)	1 1/2"	1 1/2"	6'
Plastic glass	2	1/8"	2 7/8"	6"
Hinges	2	1/2" deep

First, the four corner pieces must have a quarter of the length cut out. The easiest way to do this is to clamp the corner piece in a vise and saw along the length until the saw cut is half way through the pole. Then rotate the corner piece by 90 degrees, re-clamp, and then cut through again until the waste quarter is loose. Repeat this procedure for all four corner pieces.

Glue a corner piece to each end of the side piece, ensuring that the base of the corner piece is aligned with the base of the side piece. However, there must be a thin gap between the corner piece and the end of the side piece that will allow the plastic glass to slot in (see diagram).

Once this is dry cut the side pieces to the correct shape for the roof. The roof should be at a 45 degree incline, reaching to a point in the middle.

Now cut the roof pieces to the required size. The apex of the roof should be angled by 45 degrees so that the two roof pieces rest snugly against each other. Then attach two small hinges between the two rood pieces (cutting a small slot so that the hinges do not cause a large gap between the roof pieces).

Cut the base piece to the desired shape. An irregular shape works well rather than trying to cut a geometrically-pleasing shape. Cut a hole in the middle of the base piece that is just large enough to accept the main pole.

Now it is time to fasten everything together. Slot the plastic glass into each end of the side pieces and attach this four-walled construction to the base by screwing up from the underside of the base (two screws in each side piece should be adequate). Then rest the roof on top of this construction, and screw one side of the roof into the side pieces. The other roof side is obviously not attached as this should hinge up to allow for the bird food to be added. Finally, stain the wood to the desired color and varnish. As said before, you can also paint the feeder to your own style.

To attach the main pole, make a hole in the pole stoppers that is just large enough to accept the pole. Then place one pole stopper on each side of the base hole, and pass the main pole through these three pieces. Screw through each pole stopper into the main pole and this adequately fix the pole to the base (see diagram).

We promised you a plan to make a workbench for your shop. This next plan is for just that.

Next article: Simple Workbench Project: Instructions and Blueprint

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