Cedar Bird Feeders

A Good Plan, and Good Lumber

Ye Olde Signage to The Workshop

Introduction:

The shop is closed due to COVID-19 so I am posting some of the hundreds of photos re the 100s of projects I pursued when life was a bit easier.

Old cedar form a dock works well for feeder. The grey tops provided good 

lumber and the bottom slabs made good camp fires

Before I got down to work I held a Christmas party in the shop. 

I like feeders with a wide, over-hanging roof in order to keep snow and rain out of the feeder box.

I worked both indoors and outdoors to keep up with orders : )

More photos to follow from The Workshop.

Please link to Swap Boxes and a Squirrel Nesting Box

Photos by GH

A Busy Workshop and Basement

Feeder, Log Cabins, Rustics and More.

A Mourning Dove likes hanging out on board a pine feeder

My last entry, re the last workshop project for a client in 2019, said a few words about cedar feeders. And recently, while reviewing and organizing deep, digital photo files, I came across three photos of a dove hogging space inside my own feeder.

Doves are like cows. They really like to graze for a long while before moving to a nearby shady spot.

I must have taken the three photos just before entering the workshop because the next 7 photos reveal birdhouse projects "in progress" just a few feet away from the feeder:

 Parts for a log cabin; sanded, stacked and ready for assembly

 My own design; a small house w side apartment

Faces and roof slats ready to attach to tiers of logs

 Old-style cabin, with butt ends jutting out 3/4 inch approx.

 Bottom left roof slat can be removed for spring clean-out

A perch will be attached before the cabins go inside the house (storage)

My basement provides adequate room for birdhouse storage, and if the workshop is too dusty or too busy (every surface covered!) I will set up a paint station there as well.

 A large house w side apartment from old cedar

 A birdhouse w curved roof takes a lot more work but they sell like hotcakes!!

 Shoe stretchers from a defunct, London shoe company. I will frame these!

Rare shot of two pink birdhouses. Sold!!

I think I took 1,000 or more photos every year in the workshop.

So, fasten your seatbelt! : )

Please link to Cedar Feeder

Photos GH

Cedar Feeder.

The Right Wood for the Job.

Western red cedar. Looks good. Lasts a good long time too.

While assembling this bird feeder recently I realized it may be the last one I build. I am closing the workshop for custom work for others and birdhouses for large scale sales. 

It's time to do a few odd jobs for my own use, e.g., a large cedar table upon which I could do a bit of art work in future years. A rustic armchair or two for the front porch.

I have the wood, I just need the time : )

Photos from along the way:

 As I recall, I later added red paint to the roof trim

Great colours and great stability.

Please link to Last Projects 2017 (7)

Photos GH

Last Projects 2017 (7)

Touch Ups and Repairs.

[Photo: Western cedar roof and varnish put on a nice show]

A second cedar bird feeder is finished, ready for delivery. Looks good inside and out, in my opinion.

 Note to self: Make 6 - 8 feeders in 2018, different colour schemes.

Now it's time to re-assemble a swap box, then tidy up the platform and pole. 

Something's missing. Where's the door latch!?

Repair work on a little library is proceeding nicely. Damaged signage is repainted and a hole in the box - made by Mr. Hairy Woodpecker - is about to get plugged.

 Everything looks healthy from this angle.

 Side view reveals Hairy's work. Note damage - top left corner, above.

 The back wall suffered the most damage.

 Once inside the box, Hairy attacked a few books!

 Hairy doesn't like mysteries or thrillers?

What's going on here? I'm knot telling.

The hole will soon be plugged and sealed, inside and out, and the library will very likely survive the winter.

Once the swap box is finished and a little library is back in good shape, I'll begin The Big Sweep.

One last, very clean picture to follow.

Please link to Last Projects 2017 (6)

Photos GH