Burt's Woodworking

One Peterson Bluebird House / Nesting Box - Done!

2008-01-22T20:04:00.000-05:00

[Please scroll down for Parts 1-7. Also just click the smaller pictures to call up a larger one.]

I finished the Peterson bluebird house today by rubbing in a coat of boiled linseed oil (BLO) to the exterior surfaces. None was applied to the interior even though raw linseed oil is a natural oil extracted from flaxseed. BLO isn't really boiled but is raw linseed oil with some mild solvents added to it to make it dry faster than the raw variety. It's considered a safe wood finish as the additives evaporate as the BLO dries.

Yes, that roof has a bow to it, not a serious one, but it does. I put a thin layer of caulk along the seams to keep the top from leaking.

So, my first Peterson bluebird nest box is done. Is it perfect? No, again, I used scrap lumber so there's a bow here and there. But, again, I caulked all the seams so it should be dry.

If I was going to make a number of these I would use a bit better grade of lumber and would finish the exterior with a water based latex paint or use cedar. Also, I would make a few shop jigs to use with a table saw to make some of the angled cuts.

What's next?

Next is a modified version of the Peterson Box similar to one I found at this gentleman's website.

B-I-Z-Z-Y, plus, anyone want a free bluebird house?

2008-01-21T15:46:00.000-05:00

I still haven't managed to sand and finish the Peterson bluebird house. I don't know where my time goes but it seems that I either don't have any to spare or I'm not managing my allotment of it very well.

Also, after doing more research on bluebird habitat I've decided that our property wouldn't be a good spot for placing the nesting box. We are semi-rural, plus we've a fairly large lot and it's quiet around here, but... there are just too many cats around.

So, after I finish the exterior (boiled linseed oil), if anyone wants a Peterson bluebird nesting box just leave a comment and we'll see if we can't arrange it. It's free, but I would ask that whoever wants it to cover the costs for shipping it via Post Office, either Priority or Parcel Post.

That is if I can even find a box big enough to ship it in. That's a big birdhouse!

Building the Peterson Bluebird Nestbox (Pt 7)

2008-01-18T22:31:00.000-05:00

[Please scroll down for Parts 1-6]

I attached the front of the nest box with two 8d galvanized nails per the measurements in the plan. These act as pivot points so that the front can be opened . The plan doesn't call for them but I used my bench saw to cut some 1/8" kerfs below the entrance hole in order to make a ladder which will make it easier for the baby birds to climb to the hole to get out (fledge).

I also cut drip kerfs into the roof (No. 3) and attached it to the top with two 1-1/2" deck screws (No. 4).

No. 3 No. 4

Since I used pine to build this it won't be very weather-resistant. So, I'm going sand the surfaces just a touch and then apply either boiled linseed oil OR an exterior latex paint. That will be the final step in building this, my first Peterson bluebird nesting box.

Build a Peterson Bluebird House (Part 6)

2008-01-14T17:25:00.000-05:00

[Please scroll down for Parts 1-5]

Now I can attach the two sides. I used 1-1/2" galvanized deck screws (No. 1). You can't see in the picture but I also ran a thin bead of caulk along the 2x4 frame to waterproof the nesting box's sides.

Before attaching the 2nd side I used a speed square to align the bottom with the other side piece. I then attached the 2nd side in the same manner as the other side with exterior deck screws (No. 2).

No. 1 No. 2

The front of the nesting box was next. I used a 1-3/8" Forstner bit in my drill press to cut two holes according to the plan measurements (No. 3). I then used a sharp chisel to create an oval entrance hole for the bluebirds (No. 4).

No. 3 No. 4

Tomorrow I'll attach the front.

Part 5 of the Peterson Bluebird House

2008-01-11T18:49:00.000-05:00

[Please scroll down for Parts 1-4]

I had to put building this bluebird house aside for more pressing matters. But, I'm back and determined to get this nesting box done. Still, with all that resolve I only managed to drill vent holes today.

I used a Forstner bit in my drill press to make the vents (No. 1). Forstner bits give a much cleaner hole than the more common spade bit.

The plan shows only one vent per side but the plan I'm using was written to accomodate bluebirds nesting in the northern plains. It's a bit warmer here in the spring so I drilled two holes per side (No. 2) instead.

No. 1 No. 2

Baby, it's cold outside

2008-01-02T21:52:00.000-05:00

I'm making the Peterson nesting box in my unfinished garage. A structure I begin building on Sep 1, 2005. I'm still working on it. But hey, I'm slow and basically I'm doing it by myself.

It's 20' x 36', two story, gambrel roof and about 1500 sq ft total. The linked picture is from last year. It's now under roof and I framed in a 12' x 20' office/exercise area in the bottom front.

That office area is heated by a portable oil filled radiator but the garage and 2nd floor are not. It's been cold here and just a bit too nippy for ol' Burt to be out there working in the cold. So, building the Peterson bluebird house is on hold.

The forecast is for warmer weather in a few days. Hopefully I can then get back to the nesting box and finish it.

Time will tell.

An easy to build Eastern Bluebird Nesting Box

2007-12-31T21:28:00.000-05:00

Here's a well made and very functional bluebird nesting box from Help for Bluebirds. Not to mention some excellent photography.

Ol' Burt here definitely has room for improvement! :-)

Part 4 - Continued

2007-12-30T16:34:00.000-05:00

[Please scroll down for Pt 1, 2, 3 & 4]

I got ahead of myself and didn't post all of Part 4 yesterday.

These are four pictures of finishing the top and tail cut. Simply a matter of making the cuts with my miter saw. However, if I were going to make a number of Peterson nestboxes I would certainly consider buying a radial arm or sliding miter saw or at least build a taper jig to cut this on my bench saw.

Click on any picture for a larger view and click you back arrow to return.

No. 1 No. 2

No matter how familiar you are with your miter saw making a broad cut like that in Nos. 1 & 2 above always leaves a small lip at step No. 2. It happened on this cut and I just reversed the board and very carefully repeated No. 1 to take off the lip. Again, a radial arm saw would be the better tool to make this type of long cut.

No. 3 No. 4

No. 3 is the last cut on the nestbox side and No. 4 is the result.

I'll cut the other side piece next using this piece as the pattern.

Part 4 - Building the Peterson Nest Box

2007-12-29T16:34:00.000-05:00

[Please scroll down for Pt 1, 2 & 3]

Now the tricky bit - making the angled cuts to create the two sides of the nesting box. In the four pictures below I use a rafter and speed square to lay out the cut lines using the measurements from the plan. Click on any of the pictures for a larger view and use your back arrow to return.

No. 1 No. 2

No. 3 No. 4

Once I had the cut lines marked it was time to do so. Cutting the top and bottom would be fairly easy to do on my compound miter saw. But, the long 23" cut along the front would need some sort of jig. Here was my solution in the next 6 pictures. I didn't picture that I had adjusted the blade on the circular saw 3/4" below the base of the saw. That way I wouldn't cut into the OSB top of my work area too much.

No. 5 No. 6

No. 5 - I measured from the edge of the base to the inside of the blade, it's 1-9/16"
No. 6 & 7 - I secured one end of my rafter square with a Quick Clamp and measured 1-9/16" from my cut line at several points

No. 7 No. 8

No. 8 - I put a piece of 3/4" scrap under the square and drove a 1-1/4" deck screw through the hole in the tongue of the square, into the scrap and then into the top of my work area. That secured the square on both ends. I then drove another screw into the scrap area of the side piece to secure it (see the pencil tip).

No. 9 No.10

No. 9 - With the 2 screws and Quick Clamp the setup wasn't going to move on me when I (No. 10) used the circular saw to cut along my line. Kind of a Rube Goldberg setup, but it worked. So, I have one side done and will use it as a pattern to cut the other side.

While the setup above worked, I know that if I was going to make several of these I would probably make myself some sort of taper jig to use on the bench saw.

Monday, I'll do the other side.

Peterson Nestbox (Pt 3)

2007-12-26T19:02:00.000-05:00

[Please scroll down for Parts 1 & 2]

It was fairly easy to hold the smaller piece (the floor) snug to the back. The Quick Clamp has padded jaws and are just flexible enough to grip the corner of the floor piece firmly. It was then a simple matter of driving the two 3" deck screws into it from the back.

However, since both ends of the longer piece were mitred it proved a different matter. I tried the setup below plus a few others not pictured. But, no luck. No matter what I tried it was too "wobbly" and I just couldn't get the top snug enough to drive a screw into it.

I solved that problem by "tacking" the top piece through the angle to the back using my pneumatic brad nailer and a couple of 2" brads. I then let the glue dry before driving two 3" deck screws through the back. Both pieces are now firmly attached.

Next step will be cutting the sides and front piece. I'll tackle that tomorrow or Friday.

Peterson Nestbox (Pt 2)

2007-12-24T11:48:00.000-05:00

I decided to use some scrap lumber on this, my first Peterson nesting box. I chose a weathered but sound piece of 2 x 4 that was about 38" long. I cut the lengths and angles according to the USGS plans that I linked to in yesterday's post. Click on any of the pictures for a larger view then click your back arrow to return.

Here's the result after using my miter saw to make the cuts.

A sideview of how the 2 x 4 framing goes together.

The USGS plan uses nails to attach the 2 angled pieces to the back. But, I think I'll use 3" deck screws and a touch of exterior wood glue instead.

Now, the tricky bit is how do I keep everything snug and aligned as I drive the screws into the angled pieces. The answer to that puzzle will be in tomorrow's post!

Building the Peterson Bluebird House (Pt 1)

2007-12-23T14:00:00.000-05:00

Research by Dr. Wayne Davis, Biology Professor Emeritus, University of Kentucky, found that the Eastern Bluebird seemed to prefer the Peterson style of nesting box over the more traditional rectangular type.

However, the Peterson Nestbox is more difficult to build because of the angled cuts required, not to mention the need for accuracy when drilling the oval entrance. It is also a heavy box since it uses 2 x 4 dimension lumber for the top, bottom and back.

I've never built one before, but I'm going to be doing so over the next few days. I'll use the USGS plans linked in paragraph 2, above.