Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
birdhouses
John Lucas
>I bought some crackle paint at a yard sale last week for a dollar so I had to design a project to use it. I thought a 2x4 would be a suitable subject so I made a few "birdhouses" Thought you all might enjoy this project. They'll make good gifts. I'm going to spend a little time this weekend playing with them to see if I can get a design I like better.
Re: birdhouses
Dave MacLuskie
>What's the scale on those? two 2x4's laminated and turned? or are they just really small -- about 1.5" diameter? or am I just not understanding.
I can't get a sense of scale?
steve antonucci in NW New Jersey
>Are they feet, inches, or mm?
S
Re: I can't get a sense of scale?
John Lucas
>The small ones are about 15". Basically a 2x4 ripped square. I should have lied and said the big one was 6 feet.
Re: birdhouses
John Williams in PA
>aaahhha, I like these. Mind if try a few at my next show?
Re: birdhouses
Keith Tompkins
>Hi John, I think these are pretty cool!
Re: birdhouses
JamieDonaldson
>You fell too much in love with that gradient backdrop for these dark subjects John! I must say these are unique- you have a fertile imagination!
Re: birdhouses
John Lucas
>Jamie
I agree. I was playing with a different grid reflector we just got. It narrows the light so much you don't get any spill on the background so it gets darker than I usually make it. It would work well on lighter wood but not these dark pieces.
Re: birdhouses
John Lucas
>John
Feel free to make some. I designed these to be a spindle turning practice piece. It's good for practicing duplicating spindles as well. Look at antique furniture and victorian pieces for ideas on the shape. It's also a perfect project to play with paint and coloring.
Re: birdhouses
Barry Turner
>Those bird houses look vaguely familiar............
What'd you use to hollow them square?
Mike Schwing from Md.
>
Re: What'd you use to hollow them square?
John Lucas
>Mike
That was what gave me the design idea. I saw something similar at the 127 flea mkt. They used stair railing. It was too long, the base was too big and the roof was ugly. I thought it would be a good project for my workshop next spring. The shorter versions look much better. I'm going to work on the animation a little to see if I can make them "cute"
Funny you mentioned an article. My son is coming over this weekend to help me photograph the making of one. I thought it would be a good beginner project.
Re: birdhouses
JamieDonaldson
>John- I just saw a flier about patina surfaces that resemble metal for wood use, and these posts would be the perfect application. Now if I could remember the exact product name- didn't write it down because I couldn't envision I would ever use it!?
Re: birdhouses
Tom Mullane, Hagerstown, MD
>I hope you don't mind, but I tool the liberty of lightening your image a bit... those are really cool birdhouses.. I am going to have to try something like that for my Christmas Craft booth this year...
Re: birdhouses
John Lucas
>Tom
On my computer you lightened it a ton. The top was burned out on the round top. No problem just interesting. Feel free to make them. I'm going to work on them some tomorrow and see if I can get more animation and fun out of them.
Re: birdhouses
John Trant (Baltimore/DC area)
>Now I can see it. The tops of the birdhouses was totally lost in the shadows in John's photo (on my monitor).