Offcut Stack Birdhouse
Introduction: Offcut Stack Birdhouse
A bird house with a difference that does not conform to the standard convention of four walls and a roof.
I would make it out of offcuts stacked on top of each other with a central hole.
The offcuts are bolted together with threaded rod and the central hole capped at both ends to make a box with an access hole in the front.
All the pieces that make up the house are all exactly the same shape and size, meaning no odd shapes to contend with.
Its simply a case of drilling a large central hole in all but 2 pieces and aligning them vertically.
Supplies
Decking boards H 9.5" (24cm) x L 9.25" (23.5cm) x W 4.75" (12cm) - Qty 10
Wood Screws 5mm x 50mm - Qty 2
M8 nuts - Qty 2
M8 T nuts - Qty 2
M8 Threaded Bar 10.5" (26.7cm) - Qty 2
M8 1" (25mm) plain washers - Qty 2
M6 1.62 (45mm) bolt
M6 plain washer
M6 nut
3mm drill
8mm drill
102mm Holesaw
32mm Holesaw
Cylinder pull latch
22mm flat drill
Hammer/Mallet
Step 1: Design
The bird house is designed for small birds such as chickadees and tits
The design has been created in Tinkercad and can be found here: Offcut_Birdhouse
The bird type defines certain design features.
Most designs are square and as such this defines a floor size of 4"x4" (10.16cm x 10.16cm), this design 2" (5.08cm) radius.
A height between 6"-10" (15.42cm-25.4cm), this design is 9.52" (24cm)
Hole diameter 1.125" (2.86cm), this design as specified
Hole above floor 8"-10" (20.32cm-25.4cm), this design 7.5"(19cm)
Box above ground 6'-15' (1.82m-4.6m)
Further details can be found at Birdwatching Bliss*
*Not affiliated to this site in anyway and you may have your own preference.*
Step 2: Cut the Main Holes
The offcuts consisted of 10 rectangles of 24mm x120mm cut to 23.5cm.
I already had the offcuts available but if not these can be cut from a full size length which is 1.8M long.
Identify the centre (60mm x 11.75cm), and mark.
Fit a sacrificial plank beneath the plank to be drilled to protect the work area and clamp the plank to be drilled above it.
With a 102mm hole cutter drill out a hole in each of the eight planks.
Step 3: Stacking the Blocks
Mark the block at (60mm x 45mm), from the end, do this at both ends and drill 2 x 6mm holes.
Do this on 8 of the planks.
The 9th plank is the bottom of the house and blocks the end of the hole created by the stack.
Take the 9th plank and drill 2 x 8mm holes at (60mm x 45mm), from each end.
These holes are to accommodate the T-nuts, tap them in with a hammer to force the prongs in to the wood to lock them in place.
Stack all nine blocks together and fit the 6mm threaded bar of length 27cm through both holes from the bottom and screw into the T-nuts.
Once these are attached fit a washer and nut on the bottom end and tighten.
This now holds the stack together.
Step 4: Fitting the Lid
Align the lid with the top of the main stock.
Mark at 60mm x 25mm and drill 3mm holes at both ends of the block in to the lid and through to the block below.
These hole will hold the lid in place.
Then with a 22mm flat bit drill to a ~5mm depth using the centres of the threaded bar as a marker. These holes are to accommodate the top of the T-nut.
Drill two 8mm by 10mm deep holes coincident with the centres of the 22mm diameter holes.
Turn the plank over and align with the tops of the threaded bar it should fit flush with the previous plank.
Fit two 5mm x 50mm screws to hold the lid in place.
Step 5: Entrance
Mark a vertical line along the centre of the stack. 401