Backyard Cantina
Invite birds to your place for countless happy hours!
Make this one-of-a-kind bird feeder and enjoy all your new guests.
Bird-watching lets you enjoy the best of wildlife, and getting started is easy. You can hang a bird feeder and delight in your new visitors as you sit and read a book on your porch or work in the yard. Feeders are available in a wide price range, and you can pay a lot for one that only looks handmade. So why not build your own? With a splash of creativity and a twist of effort, you can have a hangout that will please both you and your hungry guests.
1. Cut the sides
Angle your jigsaw to 45 degrees and cut the sides (C) to the combined heights of your bottle and glass, minus 2 in. Ours ended up being about 15-1/2 in., but your measurement will almost certainly be different.
2. Make the keyhole for the bottle
Cut a circle with a 2-1/2-in. hole saw in the center of the bottle holder board (B). Then use your jigsaw and square to create a channel for the bottle that will fit the neck of your bottle.
3. Fasten the sides to the base
Use a scrap piece of wood as a guide and screw the sides 3/4 in. in from the ends of the base.
4. Attach the bottle holder to the sides
Mock up the assembly to find the correct height of the bottle holder (B). Cut scrap wood to hold the bottle holder level and at the right height. Drill pilot holes and screw into the bottle holder from the outside of the feeder.
5. Mount the roof
Screw the longer roof section (D) to one end of the shorter roof section (E) and attach the roof to the tops of the sides with screws.
6. Cut the braces
Cut the 1x4 into 10-in. pieces. Mark the miters as shown in Figure A and trace a 5-gallon bucket to make an arc. Cut the arc with a jigsaw. Screw the braces to the sides. Cut adhesive-backed weather strip to 3 in. with a utility knife. Peel the backing and attach the strips to the inside of the braces.
7. Attach the glass
Mark a centerline on the base. Set your glass in the center of the base and screw the mirror clips to the base, securing the glass to the assembly.
8. Install the bar stools
Cut your dowel into 4-in. pieces. Plan where you want the bar stools and drill 1/4-in.-deep pilot holes with a 3/8-in. drill bit into the base. Use an “L” guide made from scrap 1x4 to ensure you drill plumb into the base. Finish the bar stools by hot-gluing bottle caps to the top of the dowels.