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I have made this bird feeder about 6 times now. Up till now I have used plywood and each has disintegrated in a matter of a year or so. I was looking to purchase a marine grade plywood for this latest one but could not find any locally and to order on-line, the price was too high. I decided to try a different approach. Western Red Cedar. Cedar fences seem to last for many years, so maybe thisbird feeder will last for a while. I obtained the plans for this feeder a number of years ago. This version uses a modified version of the original scrollwork pattern and I have deviated significantly from their plans for the roof construction. I own a 12” planer but not a jointer. The maximum width available is eight inches, and I needed pieces up to 14” wide, so I was forced to edge join pieces to cut the parts from. I planed the rough nominal ¾” stock down to ½” and used biscuits however the joints were not all tight. Used lots of glue and sawdust to fill the joints. I wanted to make better looking sloping roof joints. So, after lots of calculations and some testing I finally got the four triangular roof pieces cut to the right size but unfortunately, I still did not figure out correctly what the bevel cut angle should be, so the pieces meet to form a nice joint, but I had to use scraps to fill the joints from the back side. Fortunately this is hidden by the inside ceiling of the feeder box. The scroll saw cut side walls were easy cutting using a Pegs #5 MGT R blade. I did not try to sand the cedar to a smooth finish. Where needed I used 80 grit paper to sand with, leaving a somewhat rough finish. Also, I was going to keep the cedar natural and let it turn grey/silver over time. However, my lady wanted it to be white, so I stained it white and then applied a coat of Polyurethane. The stain is somewhat transparent, so the grain still shows a little and the “Clear” Poly actually turned the white stain a little yellow. I don’t think the birds will care. Squirrels love to get to the bird seed, so I have two deterrents. First the metal pole is electrified so when the squirrels try to climb the pole, they get a shock. They learn fast not to climb the pole, but they still can jump over to the feeder from a nearby Fig tree. I have added a row of pointy nails facing out to the bottom piece where they land when they jump. Hoping they get stuck by the nails and learn not to jump. Not sure if this will work. They are smart critters. Here is a couple of pics. Aa always, comments and critiques are welcome.

Thanks to @Dan for the pattern. I have the special order done. Took some "design" choices on the cutting. Some of the spaces were getting a little thin. Ended up having to cut a few extra. The first stack letters weren't so great. Increased the size of the pattern. Test cut the letters only. Had to cut an extra stack because there was a void in the middle layer of the middle stack, so he is getting 14 instead of the 12. Increased the size of the Grand Historian pattern just a titch more and changed the bridges on the "O". Cut with #3 FD Full reverse and finished by dipping into shellac.

I scroll naked! That way people who know don't interrupt me when I am in the shop... Any stranger the happens to come in does no stay but a split second. Don't even try to picture it Guaranteed to give you weeks of nightmares!

Aragorn, King of Gondor, from The Lord of the Rings. I put him, Gandalf, and a map of Middle Earth by my new reading chair. Now all I need is a little Halfling Leaf/Old Toby.

Well I wear gloves both hands while on a job. Oh did I mention I am a medical person. after gloves on you may hear Bend over,

Stop bragging. Lol.

Not gonna tell ya what I wear while I'm scrolling! Unless you beg! LOL

Ok, who wears finger cots and why? I wear them on my thumbs, index and middle fingers. I feel that it gives me extra control on speed, sharp corners and curves (kinda like new tires, lol). If I don't wear them while while scrolling I feel naked and that's not a pretty picture.

Well It is still February and I did make this...with a little help from a bandsaw (you can read more about that crazy hard "Red Heart" wood in the Q & A forum section if interested in my struggle ). But now I have some great suggestions from the Seasoned folks on here...Anyway here it is Happy late Valentines day!

Hmmm.....

You are more modest than me,, I don't wear the cap!

Okay, got my new vac Tue. spent the day setting thing up. I like my set up now. All hoses to the DC for the Hegner are short, to vacuum the shop I just disconnect from the hegner, hook the vacuum hose up and vacuum the shop and the adjoining restroom. It will reach it all. I think I will find a little smaller funnel, just because it does not need to be that big.

CF Gloves would work also I believe. 7/25/56 must be the day only special people entered this world.

They Look Fantastic Bard!!! I have been asked over the yrs if I could cut them, I have been told by some members no, and by others members I could. Left me a bit confused. So I decided not to. To end my confussion, if that makes since.

Very beautiful work Charlie and nicely displayed.

I wear Copper Fit Gloves. Love em.

Wow! Very impressive!

Barb, you have done a beautiful job, RJ

that is a good idea. I sometimes wear tight fitting cut resistant gloves as it helps my grip.

Very fine cutting Barb. I’m sure your customer will be pleased.

This was a challenge for me. I have never made an intarsia pattern on my own before. My neighbor came to me with a photo of the military airplane he spent his 25 Canadian Air force carrier in. This aircraft was used to search the ocean waters for enemy subs. I found it very challenging for me because he kept changing what I was doing and he kept wanting it to be more of a model than an intarsia item. I was really wanting to making it just the way he wanted it but every change, along the way, put more doubt in my success to make it happen and added a lot of extra time to the process. This project is 28 inches long and approximately 14 inches high. I used a woodburner to make the stripe on the body of the plane black. Dick heppnerguy

My new Hegner arrived Tuesday. It was supposed to be dropped off at my door. I woke up Tuesday morning and forecast was for rain, all day. Rain. In the middle of winter in Minnesota. I didn’t take that into account. Thank goodness a neighbor was able to keep an eye out and bring it in for me. I bought the 18” with stand, magnifying lamp, and quick change. My thoughts so far: I was pleased that it came very well packaged. It was easy to get everything set up. This saw is the exact same height as my Ex so that’s nice. I took off the hold down and the arm that holds it. I was amazed at how sturdy that was! Once everything was set up, I practiced putting in and taking out a blade. Did that about 20 times and said to myself it’s time to make dust. I took the lower blade cover off, it was in the way. The footprint is considerably smaller than that of the EX. Yes, the Hegner has a much smaller table, but that shouldn’t affect what I do, as I generally, am making small parts. I drew a few lines and circles in scrap walnut and put in a Pegas modified #5, my go to blade and off I went. Very quiet, no vibration at all, the blower worked very well. I hooked my my Fein to it and reversed the blower to be a vac. Hose for the shop vac fit, cool! The suction on on top was in my opinion terrible. I don’t care about that because I didn’t know about that until after I purchased it. My first piece was a Rook for a chess set that I am making. 1 1/4” square mahogany. I used a Pegas #5 Super Skip, recommended by Denny at ArtCrafters. (How’s that fair shameless plug). Man, what a saw, cutting that piece was as smooth as a fresh jar of Skippy Peanut Butter. The magnifier will be the hardest thing to get used to. I’ve made about 6 of the chess pieces and just really like this saw. Patti at Advanced Machinery, who I purchased it from, was fun to work with. I have yet to break a blade, or have a blade slip. Both of EX’s the blade slipped pretty much all the time, even with the new clamps from Pegas. After just a few hours on the saw, I can say that it is worth every penny. Thanks again to all who have offered their opinions on getting a new saw.

That is an awful nice birdhouse. Squirrels can be pesky.

Yes Frank that looks great love it. Also the way you try and stop those critters made me laugh not enough voltage haa haa. Only kidding. Roly

Here is my other side of the saw. The wood hanger holds my clamp tool, the black holder is for my poker (used to increase the size of the feed hole from the back to make it easier to feed the blade through and to poke out cut out waste the doesn't fall out). The black holder came on an ink cartridge as a protector, the minute I removed it from the cartridge I knew what it was good for. Never got another one because the printer died and I never got more of those cartridges.). The wood thing with the test tube is my holder for the blade I am currently using in the saw. there is actually two of them holder side by side. I often am switching between two sizes/types of blades so I keep both stored there. Th white holder holds the alternate blade in a clamp ready to go when I want to switch. These holders are held on with double sided tape and have stayed in place for several years.

Yes, that is what I use.

fantastic job

Another nice one, Charlie.

That is a great feeder. I think the cedar is a better choice of wood for such a project. I have one I purchased maybe 10 years ago, I have had to repair it a few times but the wood has lasted that long.. This next time it will be a pattern for a rebuild, I will use cedar.

Love the bird feeder, but I have to say, that sounds like a death trap. I think I'd invest in an electric fence charger if you're actually talking about putting 120 VAC on a metal pole. But maybe I'm misunderstanding.

I purchased this kit from Rockler several years ago on one of their sales https://www.rockler.com/dust-right-flexiport-power-tool-hose-kit-12-fixed-length The hose that the kit had back then was the black/flex rubbery house you see in my picture. It is a heavy hose, possibly why they changed.. Not sorry I purchased it, I cut the hose in short pieces for things like in the picture and the fittings are good fittings. I do not know where you could just but the hose, I looked did not find it, but no matter, probably not allowed in Callie anyway.... You know what I mean.

I must admit to not knowing what "finger cots" are. I am more like Paul. The less I have to worry about the better. A cap, dust mask, and that's it.

Very nicely done Frank

That sounds interesting but pictures will be better, RJ

Looks good Frank. I built a bird house using the cedar fence pickets from Lowe’s. I cut and glued them to the size I wanted. It has lasted for years. I like the squirrel deterrents. My luck, I would forget and touch the pole while refilling the seeds. I may have to use the nail idea for my house. They jump on my house roof from trees early in morning and driving me crazy! You should build a bluebird house. They are a lot of fun to watch as well if get a pair to move in.

So far so good. I have completed several projects/orders since my new saw has arrived. I want to say how easy it was to re return my defective saw to HD under the 90 day return policy and how fast my new saw arrived after ordering thru HD web site. The new saw needed less adjustment and seems to preform better right from the box than the original saw. Maybe the original saw was bad from the beginning. I will keep everyone posted if any problems occur.

Well, I hope, for everybody's sake, that this one proves to be an improvement over your first one. I have touted Wen products and their service so it makes me sad to hear that you had a problem so soon after buying your saw. I hope it was just and anomaly. But, please do keep all of us updated so we can feel safe when buying their products.

The box was a birthday gift for my wife and the ornament was an anniversary gift a few years ago. Both are Steve Good patterns.

Hope your new one is trouble free.

I am tickled to goodness for you! Wow what a nice piece of machinery. Congratulations!!! Don.

congratulations on your new saw. I’m always jealous when someone gets a new toy, err, tool. Even when I have plenty of my own tools that work just fine. One day I will get to try out a Hegner and a Hawk to see what all the fun is. in th meantime, I look forward to seeing what you do with yours.

Love1.pdf Love2.pdf

My wife got this and flowers this year. My wife helped me buy a new Fein vac. I got the best of the deal this year.

This is my favorite.

Five different Steve Good patterns cut and pasted together

A couple I've done over the years for my wife. Heart-gears was the most fun, I did three different sizes on that one. "Nugget's Place" was a sign I made for her Salcata tortise enclosure. The tortoise has outgrown the enclosure (she's big enough she can't squeeze under the shed or the fence), which is good because the sign did not survive the winter. July 4, 1776 I did for me. Rose box and "Love You" were also done for my wife.

Well, I was going to wait and post a piece of one of my fur babies, but I don't think I'm going to get to it before his month's project is over. It will actually be the first I've completed from picture to product. Sooo, I'm posting a couple past pieces. The first two I did for my mother on Mother's Day two years in a row. The single rose with the "Mother" stem was one of the first pieces I ever cut. It is actually about 1 1/2 inches thick and that is where I learned you have to push straight into the blade and don't let the blade deflect too much. The second was for this past Mother's Day and I believe you can tell a difference between the two pieces how I have learned over that year. My mother is 90 years old and has early stages of dementia. Because of the distance between our homes. I don't get to see her except on weekend. I make it a point to go see her ever Sunday and take her out to lunch. The third piece is a "Welcome" door hanger I did for my wife's niece when she got married. She is in Colorado, a physical therapist doctor and just had their first baby. It surprised me when I learned she was getting married. She has always been a tom boy type and never showed an interest in dating. These are all Steve Good patterns. Hope I did them justice.

This I would say was my favourite project that I really loved and enjoyed working on. I had made two for my grandchildren. It’s unbelievable the number of years of enjoyment they had riding these along with all their friends. They are still in use today. I’m planning on making a third one this year. For my wife the favourite item I loved making her was a squirrel plaque called a Fall Scene

Here are a few, "adding color to scrolling " Valentine projects.

I married the girl next door 48 years ago. We were sweethearts in 7th-8th grades. Then reconnected in college. As kids we walked hand-in-hand at school and on country trails. So I made this portrait of us for her last year at Valentines Day.