A bird table is a great way to attract birds to your garden and keep them fed at the same time.While bird tables or other bird feeders are available to buy from your local hardware store, they are easy to make with some wood and a little time.You can put a beautiful and functional bird table together in an afternoon if you build the table separately from the base.
Step 1: A piece of wood should be trimmed to the desired size.
To mark out the correct size of your bird table, use a measuring tape.To bring your table to the right size, trim off any excess wood with a handsaw or circular saw.If you are not sure, start with a table that is roughly 12 by 18 inches (30 by 46 cm).The top of your table doesn't need to support a lot of weight, so any large sheet of wood should work.Make sure the wood used for the table is weather treated.You can waterproof the wood yourself if it is not.
Step 2: To make trim for the table, cut 4 pieces of 1 by 1 in wood.
The bird food can be blown away if the edges of the table are not trimmed.Cut 4 pieces of 1 by 1 in wood so that they are roughly 2 inches shorter than the edges of your table.When it rains, the trim will allow water to drain off.If you are making a table that is 12 by 18 inches (30 by 46 cm) in size, you will need 2 pieces of trim that are 25 cm in length and 16 cm long.
Step 3: Glue the wooden trim to the edge of the table.
Use a tape measure to mark the middle of each side of your table.Put a small amount of wood glue on each side of the trim and place it on the table.The edge should be flush with the edge of the table.As glue dries fully, use the clamps to hold the wood in place.The shorter sides of the table should have the smaller pieces of trim on them.There is a small gap between the pieces of trim in the 4 corners.After around 30 minutes to 1 hour, the wood glue should be dry.Further advice on drying times can be found in the instructions on your specific brand of wood glue.
Step 4: Put the trim in place.
The wood glue will hold the trim in place, but it won't last as long.To drill into the pieces of trim, use 1 2 in wood screws or deck screws.3 screws are used on each piece, with one in the middle and one from each end.To make sure the screws go into the wood straight, drill some pilot holes.To drill a small hole through the bottom of the tabletop, use a 32 inch drill bit.
Step 5: 2 pieces of wood should be cut to the length of the table.
You will need a wide base to support the bird table.Cut 2 pieces of 2 by 4 in wood to the largest dimensions of your table top.If you are making a bird table that is 30 by 50 inches, your 2 base pieces should be 130 cm in length.This will make a very sturdy table, but you could make the base smaller.Try to find a measurement between the 2 dimensions of your table.Something halfway between the shorter and larger dimensions should work well, even if it is too small.If you don't want to make a base for your bird table, you can screw it into the top of the fence post.
Step 6: Remove the notch from the center of each piece of wood.
To find the middle of each piece of wood, use a tape measure to mark a point away from the center in each direction.Use a circular saw, table saw or even a handsaw to cut a notch into the 2 pieces of wood, 1 inch deep in between the marks you made.You should have a 4 in 10 cm wide notch that goes halfway through each piece of wood.
Step 7: To make a cross, connect 2 pieces of wood.
If you want the wood to match up, you have to turn the piece upside down.Use a mallet or rubber to knock the notch into each other.You should have a flat cross of wood if the notches are cut correctly.The bird table can sit on a flat bottom.To hold the cross together, cover the inside of the notch with wood glue.
Step 8: Attach a 2 by 2 in post to your bird table.
The base of the bird table is connected by a post.Measure a 2 by 2 in post to be roughly 3 feet long and cut it to size using a saw.To avoid a crooked bird table, make sure the cut is straight and flat.If you have a different wooden post that you would like to use, this will work as well.If it's bigger than 10 cm, it will overlap the wooden base.
Step 9: A pilot hole is needed in the center of the post.
To mark the middle of the wooden post and cross, use a measuring tape.Attach the drill bit to the electric drill and drill through the wooden cross.Go into the post on the base of the wooden post.A pilot hole is needed to make sure that everything is lined up perfectly.You can rule a straight line from each corner of the wooden post without using a measuring tape.The center is where the 2 lines intersect.
Step 10: The cross and post need to be screwed together.
The pilot hole should be facing upward if the wooden post is turned upside down.The pilot holes should line up perfectly if the wooden cross is placed over the post.Once the screw is flush with the bottom of the cross, use an electric drill or screwdriver.Additional screws and pilot holes could be added to the post.Make sure it is square with the base before rotating.
Step 11: 8 12 in (30 cm) pieces of 2 by 2 in wood were cut.
The braces will keep the top and bottom of the table steady.To mark 8 lengths of 2 by 2 in wood, use a tape measure.To cut them to size, use a handsaw.If you are making a larger table, you may need braces of a different size.There is a ruler between the post and brace.If the length doesn't match the size of your table, use that measurement instead.
Step 12: Attach your wooden braces with a 45 degree angle.
If you're working 1 piece at a time, use a circular saw to cut a wooden brace into a box.Begin cutting your braces by setting the saw to a 45 degree angle.You have to repeat for each end of the brace.You can mark a 45 degree line with a protractor and pencil if you don't have a circular saw.This won't be as accurate, but with a little sanding and wood glue, it should still work.
Step 13: Attach the wood to the post and cross.
Attach the sides of the wood with wood glue.Press the pieces onto the faces of the cross and post to make a triangle.The wood screw goes through the end of the wood into the cross.It is possible to drill pilot holes with a 32 inch drillbit first.The screws should go through the wood at an angle so that they are completely straight.
Step 14: There is a pilot hole through the center point of the wooden post.
To find and mark the center point of the wooden table, use a measuring tape.To drill through the center of the wooden post, use a 32 inch (0. 24 cm) drill bit.This will help make sure that the post is centered and balanced.The middle point of a post and a table can be found by drawing a straight line between the corners.The middle is where they intersect.
Step 15: Attach the table to the post.
Attach the post with wood glue.The 2 pilot holes need to be lined up on the post.A 1 2 in wood screw is needed to get into the wooden post.Extra screws can be drilled into the post for extra stability.
Step 16: Sand away.
Birds that try and eat from the table may be hurt by sharp edges or splinters.To sand down the exposed areas on your table, use a 120-grit sandpaper.This process will go much faster if you have an orbital sander.
Step 17: There is a stain.
If the wood in your yard doesn't look right, you could stain or paint it a different color.Choose a paint or wood stain that is graded for external use and apply it to a bird table according to the manufacturer's instructions.Make sure that the paint or stain you choose isn't harmful to birds.Make sure the paint or stain is non-toxic as they eat off the table.
Step 18: You can scatter birdseed over the table in your yard.
The table is ready to be used once it is assembled and sanded.You can scatter the bird table in your yard or garden with a small amount of bird seed.You can purchase bird seed from your pet store.Put metal or wooden pegs on either side of the plank in the base of your table for extra stability.To hold the table in stronger winds, tie a piece of rope over each plank.