Hummingbord houses

[OCtoolguy]

Hi all, I'm wanting to make a couple of hummingbird houses. I don't have access to a wood lathe so the type that I keep finding that are round and have the inside bored out are almost impossible to make on a scroll saw. It can be done but that's now what I want to do. So if anybody has a simple to make, small size, made for hummers type bird house, please show me what you have made. Thanks in advance. 

 

[Dan]

Can you show a photo of something you are looking for? Hummingbirds are not cavity nesters so I'm guessing you are looking for something decorative.

[OCtoolguy]

46 minutes ago, Dan said:

Can you show a photo of something you are looking for? Hummingbirds are not cavity nesters so I'm guessing you are looking for something decorative.

No not really. I was going to make something with a "house" look but my wife said no. She wants something like what I see all the time that has been turned on a lathe. I'm thinking of taking a 4 x 4 scrap and boring a hole throught it almost all the way and then boring a hole in the side for an entry. I'll add some sort of a roof to enclose it and put a little piece of dowel on the front for a perch. Trying to keep it simple. I just thought maybe some of the folks here might have made something similar.

 

[Dan]

I get it. You could use the 4 x 4 and use a bandsaw to make a compound cut. You could drill the holes first the make the cuts. I may have to try it. I have a short eastern red cedar 4 x 4 in the garage. Thanks for the idea.

[OCtoolguy]

19 minutes ago, Dan said:

I get it. You could use the 4 x 4 and use a bandsaw to make a compound cut. You could drill the holes first the make the cuts. I may have to try it. I have a short eastern red cedar 4 x 4 in the garage. Thanks for the idea.

I'm not sure about using cedar. It might be too aromatic for the birds liking. I'm going to use a chunk of bass wood that I have laying around. It's actually a bit smaller than 4x4. I was thinking of using some sort of carrier to run it through the table saw on four sides to knock off the corners. I might try the bandsaw as you suggested. I'll make a cradle for it to ride on. An interesting project. I'll post whatever I come up with.

 

[Dan]

I'll do it for fun more than for the birds. I have birdhouses all around my yard for the bluebirds. We get 3 to 4 nests a year and the bluebirds hang around all winter. 

[grampa]

You could use some 6inch waste pipe then add a top and bottom to it never made one but its a thought

[OCtoolguy]

Thanks all. I think I have it figured out.