A great project William, the woodys will flock to this top clas hotel I'm sure :) Happy New Year to you and yours as well mate, looking forward to your 2019 offerings. Cheers Mike
What an ingenious way to save those useless logs, and give them new purpose on life. Thank you very much for sharing this. Because Woodshop doesn't exist anymore here in the US, not many bird boxes get built any longer. It truly is a shame. I'm truly glad your community is getting involved in such a way. Many blessings to you and to the birds that you house!
This is a good wood turning project, although not common. Well done. Good idea to oil the metal surfaces. Wet wood generates a lot of moisture which goes all over the place. So easy to place the piece on a metal surface for only a second or so, then the next day notice a rust spot. Done this many times myself. I hope the bark stays on the wood as it dries. William, you are a braver man than I to mount the log sections and hollow with only a faceplate to hold the out-of-balance log. Glad you noticed the section coming loose and added more screws. I see woodpeckers around my property in eastern Pennsylvania. I also hear them. I have a dead section of a birch tree with a large number of holes made by woodpeckers looking for insects. Good to see you trying to encourage nesting. I hope you provide an update in the spring on whether the box is used and by the hopefully bird species rather than insects. Dave.
Yes, I've learned to oil with wet wood through bitter experience too! There is always a risk with large sections coming off the lathe, but it's easy to see it coming loose. 10 x 2 1/2" screws held it secure enough in the end. Yes Ill provide an update if/when its occupied.
Great project. Thank you for your conservation efforts. We keep at least 4 types of bird feeders year round in Ohio. It's important to take care of nature.
William, I really like your idea and I think your approach will work well. Time will tell with regard to drying but of course it will be out in the elements so I find myself wondering if it's necessary . The only way to find out is to make 2 from he same log and treat them differently! It's an unnecessary refinemnt but if you could make wooden shingles (videos on YT) it would give a very natural look. All the best to you for a happy and productive new year.
Thanks, Peter. I wanted it to dry out as much as practicable so it didn't split when in use. I do like the idea of shingles and I'm going to change the roof design.
What would the risk be of installing it without drying? I think that as thick as it is, the natural drying process over 4-6 months would leave a lot of wet wood far from the edges.
Doug, My concern is that it will split too badly to make an attractive nesting area. Ive got a couple of months to dry it out before it needs to be put into place and a "vacancy" notice hung outside! Happy New Year to you!
What I think would have been easier,cut log to length,cut off back,hollow out by hand,bore 2” starter hole,fit marine ply,allow to air dry! Good advertising!
A great project William, the woodys will flock to this top clas hotel I'm sure :)
Happy New Year to you and yours as well mate, looking forward to your 2019 offerings.
Cheers
Mike
I hope so Mike, but this has inspired me to make a few smaller log-nests for garden birds.
What an ingenious way to save those useless logs, and give them new purpose on life. Thank you very much for sharing this. Because Woodshop doesn't exist anymore here in the US, not many bird boxes get built any longer. It truly is a shame. I'm truly glad your community is getting involved in such a way. Many blessings to you and to the birds that you house!
Thanks Tracy, Im going to make some smaller boxes in between other projects.
This is a good wood turning project, although not common. Well done.
Good idea to oil the metal surfaces. Wet wood generates a lot of moisture which goes all over the place. So easy to place the piece on a metal surface for only a second or so, then the next day notice a rust spot. Done this many times myself.
I hope the bark stays on the wood as it dries.
William, you are a braver man than I to mount the log sections and hollow with only a faceplate to hold the out-of-balance log. Glad you noticed the section coming loose and added more screws.
I see woodpeckers around my property in eastern Pennsylvania. I also hear them. I have a dead section of a birch tree with a large number of holes made by woodpeckers looking for insects.
Good to see you trying to encourage nesting. I hope you provide an update in the spring on whether the box is used and by the hopefully bird species rather than insects.
Dave.
Yes, I've learned to oil with wet wood through bitter experience too! There is always a risk with large sections coming off the lathe, but it's easy to see it coming loose. 10 x 2 1/2" screws held it secure enough in the end. Yes Ill provide an update if/when its occupied.
Great project. Thank you for your conservation efforts. We keep at least 4 types of bird feeders year round in Ohio. It's important to take care of nature.
Thanks William, this goes up this week when the storms have subsided along with 80 smaller birdoxes.
A very nice nesting box, I'm sure the birds will love it! Have a great New Year. Regards Stephen.
Thanks Stephen, time will tell.
What a super project!
Thank you Carol, giving something back to nature.
Great house for birds!
Im advertising next week ;)
Quite an undertaking for a wonderful cause. Happy New Year! 👍🇺🇸
Thanks, Cortland, would have been much easier if the wood had been dry. But nothing suitable to hand. Happy New Year to you too!
Lucky wood peckers lovely job William 👏👏
Thanks Barry, Happy New Year !
Wonderful project, I look forward to the next part. And, of course, have a happy new year.
Thanks Bill, Happy New Year to you too.
Great project I made a couple of bird nesting boxes last year using as much natural wood as possible, keep up the good work. Ron
Thanks Ron, did the boxes get used?
William, I really like your idea and I think your approach will work well. Time will tell with regard to drying but of course it will be out in the elements so I find myself wondering if it's necessary . The only way to find out is to make 2 from he same log and treat them differently! It's an unnecessary refinemnt but if you could make wooden shingles (videos on YT) it would give a very natural look.
All the best to you for a happy and productive new year.
Thanks, Peter. I wanted it to dry out as much as practicable so it didn't split when in use. I do like the idea of shingles and I'm going to change the roof design.
Was hoping that part 2 might be in the offing to see how you coped with the distances. :)
Regards
Robbo
There will be Part 2 soon Robbo! Just waiting to see if there is occupancy this year.
Very nice William. I'm sure they will be permanent tenants! I would be. :-) Try to give us an update when the time comes.
Thanks ❤
What would the risk be of installing it without drying? I think that as thick as it is, the natural drying process over 4-6 months would leave a lot of wet wood far from the edges.
Doug, My concern is that it will split too badly to make an attractive nesting area. Ive got a couple of months to dry it out before it needs to be put into place and a "vacancy" notice hung outside! Happy New Year to you!
What I think would have been easier,cut log to length,cut off back,hollow out by hand,bore 2” starter hole,fit marine ply,allow to air dry! Good advertising!
Yes, I think your suggestion would work OK., I guess there are many options, but since this channel is about woodturning, I chose the lathe.
i'M WAITING FOR THE BIRDS TO START TO NEST
A great, an unexpected bout of warm weather here has started the birds pairing up an and looking for nest sites.
👍🏼👏🏼