https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/birdhouse-2 • Posted by Cat Morley
We were sent a Dremel 7700 cordless multi-tool to test out and decided to make a birdhouse for our balcony. It has a perch and front garden, where we've scattered bread and seeds. There's even a webcam inside so we can see if any birds decide to move in.
We were sent a Dremel 7700 cordless multi-tool to test out and decided to make a birdhouse for our balcony. It has a perch and front garden, where we've scattered bread and seeds. There's even a webcam inside so we can see if any birds decide to move in.
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You'll want to vary the size of your birdhouse and the opening hole depending upon the kind of birds you'd like to attract. Make paper templates for the front, back, sides, roof and base of the birdhouse. These measurements will depend on the thickness of the wood but here are the dimensions we used: Front & Back: 21cm in the middle tapering to 16cm at the sides x 14cm. Sides: 16cm x 14cm. Roof: 19cm x 11cm . Base: 28cm x 14cm.
Trace around the templates on to the wood using a pencil.
Cut out the pieces from the pine using a wood-cutting attachment for the Dremel.
File down the edges of your pieces to get them smooth.
Cut the top edge of the roof pieces at a 90 degree angle so that they join together nicely.
Find the center of the front piece using a ruler and mark with a cross.
Use a compass to draw a circle in the size you'd like the hole to be. Do some Googling beforehand to find the correct size of hole for the type of bird you'd like to attract. We went for 1.5" which is a standard size for most small birds.
Cut out this hole by drilling around the circumference several times with the Dremel and then pushing the center out. Use a sanding attachment to neaten up the edges.
Construct the house, using a strong adhesive to hold it together while you work. Then screw it together at the sides.
We then mounted a webcam on the back inside wall with a screw. This is optional but so much fun.
Attach the roof and screw in to place.
Now for the fun part... it's time to decorate the birdhouse.
We painted the house blue.
We then painted the roof red, using masking tape to make sure it had a clean crisp edge.
We then cut lollipop sticks in half with the Dremel and gave them a pointy edge, to look like a picket fence, and painted them white.
We then used the Dremel glue gun to hot glue the fence to the outside of the house.
Stick a supporting lollipop stick to the inside of the fence, when you get to the front of the base.
Leave a small opening at the front, like a gate.
Cut the round ends off some craft sticks, paint white and use to add a scalloped edge decoration around the hole of the birdhouse.
If you want to add a little perch. Use the Dremel to drill a small hole, wide enough for your dowel below the hole of the birdhouse.
Cut a short length of dowel, paint white and glue in to the hole.
Finish the decoration by cutting small triangles from the lollipop sticks, painting in bright colours and glueing about the hole to look like bunting.
Paint with a layer of varnish and leave to dry. Repeat with at least two more coats before mounting outdoors.