World of Products Catalog

Building a Birdhouse

Building a birdhouse is a small enough project to carefully introduce your children to a woodworking project. You operate the power tools, but the kids can paint and even drive nails. Be sure to wear safety goggles and gloves.

Also, do your bird "homework." Research the birds in your area and the type of birdhouse that is preferable to those species.

Materials:

1' x 12' shelving board
pencil and metal ruler
circular saw
drill
1-1/8" spade bit
pneumatic nailer and finishing nails
primer and outdoor paint with paintbrush
small wooden dowel
waterproof wood glue

Steps:

1. Using your predetermined dimensions, lay out the various panels on a piece of 1' x 12' shelving board. Lay out the sides, front (figure A), back, floor and roof panels. Cut all of the pieces to size with a circular saw.

2. Use the spade bit to drill a hole into the front panel (figure B). This hole will provide access to the house for the birds.

3. Now that you have all the panels ready, it's time to assemble them. Be sure to add a few small holes in the floor panel so that if rainwater gets in the birdhouse, it can drain. Begin by attaching the front piece to a side piece with a pneumatic nailer (figure C). Continue with all four sides, ensuring that all edges are flush to each other.

4. Attach the bottom panel, again making sure the bottom is flush with all four sides. Attach both sides of the roof panels, flushing each roof panel with the back of the birdhouse and leaving an overhang in the front (figure D).

5. The next step is to paint. Use an outdoor paint with a primer coat. You can leave off the primer coat to give the birdhouse a more aged look.

6. Finally, drill a small hole that corresponds in size to a small wooden dowel just below the entrance hole and attach the dowel with waterproof wood glue (figure E). This project takes less than two hours and costs less than 10 dollars.