BIRD Eater | Monster HOUSE
Introduction: BIRD Eater | Monster HOUSE
Many moons ago, I made a set of bird houses for my back yard. Each house mounted atop a wooden dowel and secured to a corner fence post. Several avian families became tenants ... none of which paid rent, but the accommodations weren't luxurious and the local squirrels were constantly attempting smash and grabs, so I can't blame them.
In March of 2018, a storm took out a sizable tree ... which in turn took out the fence. One abode remained standing while the other was found intact, but deep underneath the woodland carnage. Having nowhere to mount the dwellings, they were relocated to a nearby <PERSON>'s yard to provide shelter for more feathered squatters.
In Summer of 2020, that <PERSON> decided to move and due to nests with live chicks, I was unable to retrieve/remove the houses. I guess I could have evicted them, but cutting bait seemed to be more humane.
In December/January of 2021, I finally erected a new fence ... so it's time to build more affordable housing. Afowlable housing? I've got nothing.
I wanted a fun and different design and the logo from a random YouTube channel was the answer - Small Town Monsters. Maybe it's your cup of tea ... maybe not. I'm a skeptic, but rabbit holes are kind of my thing.
Houses that look like Monsters. 826
Monster Houses. Monster Bird Eating Houses. That's what we're doing.
Supplies
Fence board
Glue
Pins
Paint
Step 1: Templates
I reckon a feller could throw the logo in a computer application or 3 and whip up some digital patterns, but that would take me 17 days and 33 nights compared to a few minutes sketching on graph paper.
I ran wall and roof lines, picked three I liked, and transferred them to poster board. I then decided to make 1/4" plywood version in case I ever wanted to use them as templates with a pattern bit and router table (production run scenario). Cuts were made close to the line using a table saw sled and then then dialed in using the OSS.
I then decided to take the time to determine and notate all the applicable angles [Fig.6&7]. I also recorded fence settings for side panel dimensions - could be of use to future me.
I have scanned and attached my templates in the event anyone wants to use them.
Step 2: Fence Board
These houses are made from pressure treated fence boards - because I have a few left over from the afore mentioned fence project.
After 3 months in the basement, they had cupped a bit, so I ran them through the planer. Few quick passes flattened them out, left a smooth surface, and the 1/2" thickness made measurements easier.
You can easily make all the parts for a house with a single board. These three houses took two boards.
Step 3: House Front & Back
Each house profile/template was traced twice onto the fence board [Fig.1] and roughly cut out using the bandsaw [Fig.2]. Truth be told ... this bandsaw has so much drift and vibration that every cut is a rough cut.
A mini compass was used to denote a waste area [Fig.3], which was then used to temporarily pin the profiles pairs together [Fig.4]. The OBS was used to true up all the sides - aka sand to the line [Fig.5&6].
NOTE: Sanding the fronts and back together saves time and ensures the parts are identical, which makes assembly easier.
Pairs were separated, pins pulled, and then 1/2" rabbets cut for the side panels [Fig.7&8]. This isn't necessary, but I find that it makes assembly less frustrating. An element of interlocking/auto-alignment instead of the parts slipping around as you try to hold and nail.
Step 4: House Mouth
Mouths were sketched by hand, bulk of the waste material removed with a <PERSON> bit, and then shaped with a jigsaw.
I didn't worry about perfectly cutting to the lines - just getting clean angles and no blade chatter.
Step 5: House Eyes
Eye diameter and placement were also shots from the hip. I just used various washers to find a look I liked, marked the centers with an awl, and drilled the holes with <PERSON> bits.
Step 6: Back Plate
A case could be made that a back plate isn't necessary, but I know that leaving the mouths wide open is a recipe for disaster in regard to the squirrels.
You could use small scrap for each hole or a large piece the same size as the house profile, but I opted to use scrap 2x4. 599