Project Information
Turned Birdhouse for the Lumberjocks Birds of a Feather contest.
As a turner, I love making birdhouses on the lathe, so when I saw the Birds of a Feather contest I knew I had to enter.
The body is made from Alaskan birch heartwood, turned end grain and hollowed on the lathe. Then I relief carved it to bring out the interesting highlights of the heartwood. The roof is spalted Alaskan birch sapwood, turned and decorated with a knurled texturing tool. The perch and hanging finial are walnut. The roof, perch, and finial are finished in bird safe walnut oil and bee's wax to make them weather resistant, the body is finished in walnut oil only. It's about 8" tall.
I make these primarily as hanging decorations. Birch won't stand up to the elements for more than one season, unless you use something more robust than walnut oil and wax for a finish. Typically, if I'm making a birdhouse intended for outdoor use, I make it out of a naturally weather resistant wood such as red cedar and forgo the finish completely. Also one thing to note, birdhouses intended for actual use shouldn't have a perch, the resident doesn't need it and it serves only as a convenient place to stand for predators after the eggs and chicks.
As a turner, I love making birdhouses on the lathe, so when I saw the Birds of a Feather contest I knew I had to enter.
The body is made from Alaskan birch heartwood, turned end grain and hollowed on the lathe. Then I relief carved it to bring out the interesting highlights of the heartwood. The roof is spalted Alaskan birch sapwood, turned and decorated with a knurled texturing tool. The perch and hanging finial are walnut. The roof, perch, and finial are finished in bird safe walnut oil and bee's wax to make them weather resistant, the body is finished in walnut oil only. It's about 8" tall.
I make these primarily as hanging decorations. Birch won't stand up to the elements for more than one season, unless you use something more robust than walnut oil and wax for a finish. Typically, if I'm making a birdhouse intended for outdoor use, I make it out of a naturally weather resistant wood such as red cedar and forgo the finish completely. Also one thing to note, birdhouses intended for actual use shouldn't have a perch, the resident doesn't need it and it serves only as a convenient place to stand for predators after the eggs and chicks.
