Busy, Dusty Times 2.

[Photo: All dressed up with some place to go]

Between now and August 20 (date of 'birdhouse sale' at Gathering on the Green 2 - GOTG2) I will add details to a few birdhouses while making a few more from scratch.

Painted white pine catches the eye.

Wren and chickadee houses are ready to finish:

 Six wren houses need a touch of trim.

 The Workshop is filled w aroma of western cedar.

Fresh paint and a few pieces of trim - coming up!

Second coats will be applied this afternoon.

More to follow as the Aug. 20 deadline approaches.

Please link to Busy, Dusty Times 1.

Photos GH

First Batches of the Birdhouse Season (5).

Progress Continues on Schedule.

Pine birdhouses need a bit more trim.

With my "Gathering on the Green" sale approaching on June 3 and two clients also on the to-do-list, the shop and paint station have been mighty busy.

 J.R. Davidson models, each made from 12 pieces of premium cedar

GH models are made from 4 pieces of cedar.

Cedar boxes are varnished and now need roofs and perches. By Wednesday I will likely be focussed on another batch.

Stay tuned.

Please link to First Batches of the Birdhouse Season (4).

Photos GH

First Batches of the Birdhouse Season (3).

How Many Batches? I'm Losing Count!

18 cedar houses, with trim, are now ready for paint.

Something happened while working on my first batch of 18 cedar birdhouses for the season. I turned around, spotted some useful pine lumber and started another batch (11). Then I turned around again and started another batch (9) and then another (12), and then another (6). That's 56, neatly stacked.

And there may be more batches around here somewhere, but - as I discovered in the past - once the saws are set up and shelf space is available, I just keep on going.

Progress is Positive:

 11 white pine models are ready for paint on roof tops.

 9 more white pine models need to be sanded.

 12 J.R. models, made of premium cedar, are ready for assembly.

6 more red cedar boxes need roofs and assembly time.

More to follow, I'm certain.

Please link to First Batch of the Birdhouse Season (2).

Photos GH

First Batch of the Birdhouse Season (1).

Red Cedar and White Pine at the Start Line

Cedar and fir stock for 18 houses

Four little free libraries dominated my time in the shop in late winter and early spring, and now it's time to take a change in direction. Birdhouse season has officially started.

Red cedar houses stacked up for the next move - i.e., sanding

Once the saws were set up last week I ran several cedar fence boards (6ft. x 5.25in. x 3/4in.) through the table and chop saws, and followed up with several planks of white pine (4ft. x 9.25in. x 3/4in.). 

My philosophy is as follows: If the saw is set up for six cedar houses, might as well do 18. 

 One white pine house led to more. "Once the saw is set up...."

 Entry holes are finished, as is the sanding.

 "Once the first once is assembled...."

 Roof slats will follow

Half the red cedar houses are stacked, ready for a roof.

Busy times ahead in April and May, and many families of chickadees, wrens, sparrows, finches and more will prosper in Old South London and environs.

Please link to The Workshop in Review, 2016 (6).

Photos GH

White Pine is for Painting 7

Fini. Voila!

This one brightens up rustic surroundings

Inside this white pine birdhouse a family of chickadees would find ample floor space (approx. 30 sq. inches) for building a nest, raising a brood, or just hanging out after a long day at the office.

Outside, one finds bright colours and an eye-catching perch.

Hey, the sun came out. Lookin' good

I assembled five white pine painted models, three with sturdy stands (cedar block bases, metal poles). I will display some of them on Sunday at Gathering on The Green 2, 11 - 5 PM. Hope to see you there.

Please link to White Pine is for Painting 6

Photos GH

White Pine is for Painting 6

Last Steps on the Last Ones

This pair needs another thirty minute's worth of attention

Three of the white pine painted models ended up on sturdy metal poles and cedar stands, but the last two need just a few more items before they too are finished. The first coat of paint is already drying on roof ridges and roof edge trim, so these two should be completely ready for final photos late this PM or early tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

Please link to White Pine is for Painting 5

Photo GH

Birdhouse Trim, Perches and Stands 6

The Big Show Off

Paint is dry, spoons are secure

Second coats are dry. Three birdhouse stands with metal poles stand at the ready. It's time to assemble completed models for the big reveal, for the "take 'em outside and show them off" part of the process.

 "About face!"

Looks like they are floating in air. At no extra charge : )

Besides being able to get them to 'float in air', it feels good to have something new all ready to go for my next birdhouse sale at GOTG2 (i.e., Gathering On The Green Part 2 - Sunday, August 28).

Please link to Birdhouse Trim, Perches and Stands 5

Photos GH

Birdhouse Trim, Perches and Stands 5

Almost All Ready

Barely fits inside the workshop (approx. 7.5-ft. ceilings)

The white paint painted up nicely and the trim and perches are all set to be attached to five models. Three will be placed upon metal poles placed into sturdy cedar/pine stands. Two are completely ready already.

 Don't throw out yer wooden spoons. Call me.

 Let's see how this one looks outside in its future, natural environment

Much better!

"The Big Shoe" with all three stands coming up next!

Please link to Birdhouse Trim, Perches and Stands 4

Photos GH

Birdhouse Trim, Perches and Stands 3

Three Select Stands in Progress

Things are looking up for these painted white pine models

I have three white pine birdhouses almost finished as 'stand-alones', and they will hopefully enjoy a long life atop sturdy cedar-block stands on someone's deck or in a back yard. I will prepare one more block of cedar today (w sanding, attaching barnboard stabilizers, inserting a metal pole) and paint second coats on the small platforms and collars that secure the house to the pole.

Easy work in front of a fan! I like it.

 'Sturdy Stand' number three will soon join the others

 Second coats needed on three colour-co-ordinated platforms and collars

This piece of cedar needs a good sanding

More to follow.

Please link to Birdhouse Trim, Perches and Stands 2

Photos GH

White Pine is for Painting 5

Like Ducks in a Row

Shh - weet!

I assembled and painted five white pine birdhouses for this recent set and they are now all ready for perches and trim.

Now I'm thinking, "Do I co-ordinate the colours or go off into left field?"

I'll cut and sand all the trim and perches this PM, then decide.

More to follow.

Please link to White Pine is for Painting 4

Photos GH

White Pine is for Painting 4

Easy Days Ahead

Now that the last two pine birdhouses have been painted I can begin thinking about trim and perches for this colourful set (of five). More painting will be required but that only means I stand at my workshop - enjoying the breeze from a large electric fan - and juggle various paint cans for an hour or so.

Soon I will be back to work on the long, western cedar birdhouse production line (9 more of those are already assembled).

More to follow.

Please link to White Pine is for Painting 3

Photos GH

White Pine is for Painting 3

Three Out of Five

Two freshly painted houses dry outside the workshop

The weather has been mixed lately - hot and humid days followed by rainy, breezy days - but as long as the fan keeps working inside my shop, the production line will maintain a steady pace. As long as I can find room to move I will paint stock belonging to five white pine houses and steadily work toward completion.

3 of 5 look AOK. I'll make room to paint the last 2 ASAP

The white pine is planed on both sides and is easy to cut, sand, paint and assemble. Trim and perches will likely be finished by Friday. (I say that now. But I won't take bets!)

More to follow.

Please link to White Pine is for Painting 2

Photos GH

White Pine is for Painting 2

Colourful Start

Three more colour combinations are coming up

The white pine cuts and sands easily. It also takes a coat of paint without a lot of fuss and bother - my kind of wood.

Two of five have jumped successfully onto the production line. More to follow.

Dimensions of faces: 9.5" H x 6.5"W. Sides are 5.75" H x 6"W.

Please link to White Pine is for Painting (1)

Photos GH