How to Construct a Bird House
- 1). Drill six pilot holes in one of the 5-1/2 inch wide planks. Drill three holes down each 12 inch side, 3/8 inches in from the edge. The holes will be 2 inches, 6 inches and 10 inches from one 5-1/2 inch side. This is the back of the birdhouse.
- 2). Drill five pilot holes in the 7-1/2 inch wide piece. The first hole is positioned centered across the width of the 7-1/2 inch wide piece, and 3/8 inches in from the edge. Two holes are drilled 2 inches from the 7-1/2 inch edge, with a hole 1-1/4 inches in from both 8-inch-long sides. Two holes are drilled 5 inches from the 7-1/2 inch edge, with a hole 1-/14 inches in from both 8-inch-long sides. This is the roof of the house.
- 3). Drill three pilot holes in each of the remaining 5-1/2 inch wide pieces, which will be the side pieces of the house. Drill two holes along one 5-1/2 inch edge of each plank, 3/8 inches from the edge, and 2 inches in from either 12-inch-long edge. Drill a third hole into each side piece, 3/8 inches from the 12 inch edge, and 1 inch from the 5-1/2 inch edge which was not drilled along. It is important that the final hole for one side piece be in the upper right corner, while the hole in the other side is in the upper left, so that the house can be properly assembled.
- 4). Attach the two side pieces to the back piece by driving three nails through one row of pilot holes in the back piece, and into one side piece, and three nails through the second row and into the other side piece. Be sure that the tops and bottoms of the side pieces sit flush with the top and bottom of the back piece before nailing, and that the upper corner pilot holes on both side pieces are aligned with each other on the edge not being nailed to the back piece.
- 5). Position the 4-1/2 inch by 4-inch floor plank between the side pieces 3/8 inches from the back piece. Secure the floor in place by driving nails through the two pilot holes along the bottom edge of each side piece and into the floor piece.
- 6). Mark a point on the 11-1/2 inch long plank that is 2 inches in from either 11-1/2 inch side, and 2 inches in from one 4 inch side.
- 7). Cut a circle out of the plank over the marked point using the bore saw. This is the door piece.
- 8). Position the door piece between the side pieces so the bottom of the door is flush with the bottom of the side pieces, and the front of the door is flush with the leading edges of the side pieces, then secure in place with a nail through the remaining pilot hole on each side piece. The hole in the door goes at the top of the door.
- 9). Drill through both side pieces and into the side of the door piece 1 inch above the bottom of the house, with a drill bit just larger than the diameter of the latch nails.
- 10
Tie the metal wire in a loop, and position the loop atop the back piece, centered along its width. - 11
Attach the roof to the back and side pieces with nails through the five pilot holes, being sure that the center nail goes through the metal loop, and the majority of the metal loop extends out the back of the house. - 12
Hang the house using the metal loop, and keep the door closed by putting a latch nail through each of the holes drilled in Step 9. When the nails are removed, the door will swing out, to allow you to access the inside of the house.
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