Start with your safety in mind!
- The assembly of any wood working project should be done on a work bench at a height between your waste and your chest.
- Eye protection should be worn at all times!
- Hardware and tools should be kept away from any child or infants and should be stored when not in use.
BASIC BIRD FEEDER PLANS
This is a very simple platform bird feeder and is quite easy to make.
Materials:
- 1 – 12” x 14” plywood (3/4” thick)
- 2 – 1” x 14” wood strips
- 1 – 1” x 11” wood strip
- 1 – 1” x 10” wood strip
- 1 – 4’ piece landscaping tie or pole.
- Wood screws
Steps:
1. Attach the two 1” x 14” wood strips to the top edges of the plywood using wood screws.
2. Attach the 1” x 11” wood strip to one side, and attach the 1” x 10” wood strip to the other side. The gap left will allow excess water to flow off the feeder.
3. Attach the platform to one end of the landscaping pole, secure with wood screws.
4. Fix the pole firmly into the ground.
5. Spread your bird seed of choice on the platform and wait for the birds.
HEX SCREEN BOTTOMED TRAY FEEDER
This bird feeder design is slightly complicated. Use cedar for all the wood pieces for this feeder. This plan was derived from www.runnerduck.com/hexbirdfeeder.htm.
Materials:
- 2” x 2” x 60” piece of wood
- 2” x 4” x 20” piece of wood
- 4” x 1” x 16” piece of wood
- 1” x 3” x 60” piece of wood
- 4” x 1” x 6” piece of wood
- 16” x 16” Window screen
- Glue
- Nails
- 4 – 2 1” deck screws (#8)
Steps:
1. For the top hex frame, cut the 2” x 2” x 60” piece of wood down to 1 1” x 1”
2. Use a 1” round over bit for your router in making the radius of the top side of your frame.
3. Cut this section down to 6 parts of 9” pieces, with 30 degrees on both ends.
4. For the base hex frame, cut the 1” x 3” x 60” piece of wood into 6 parts of 9” length pieces with 30 degrees on both ends.
5. Cut a piece of 4” x 1” for the cross member, 16” long.
6. For the support arm, cut the 2” x 4” wood down to a 2”x 2 3” x 173/4” piece, with 45 degrees on both ends.
7. Cut a piece of 4” x 1”, 16” long for the mounting plate.
8. Glue the top hex frame together. Nail securely together. You can use a band clamp when gluing the pieces together.
9. Attach the screen to the underside of the top hex frame, trace the frame onto the screen and cut off any excess screen to get a hexagon shaped screen.
10. Attach the base hex frame to the bottom of the top hex frame, mounting the pieces in a way that the ends are opposite the top pieces. Secure using nails.
11. Attach one end of the support arm to the mounting plate using glue. Secure with wood screws.
12. Glue the other end of the other end of the support arm to the center of the cross member. Fix firmly using wood screws.
13. Attach the cross member to the center area of the hex frame using glue. Use nails to secure.
14. Set up the bird feeder, mounting it onto a deck using four screws. Pre-drill and Countersink the holes.
15. Pour some bird seed in and have fun observing the birds that will come to feed from your Hex bird feeder.
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