Compound cut Birdhouses

[Hawaiilad]

I bought and printed out the Compound Birdhouse and I am wondering if you all have increased the size or did you cut them as printed..at least those of you that ordered them online. What I printed are almost 1 1/4" wide (each side) and 3 3/4" long. I didn't read anywhere about resizing them larger.

Yep, I guess I am joining the club also...in between bandsaw box making that is

Thanks

[NC Scroller]

No expert but I made all mine 1 1/4" wide (each side) and 3 3/4" long. Recycled 2x4 stock works well. Just no pressure treated.

[wood-n-things]

Same size for me as well.

[Hawaiilad]

Thanks Mike and Scott...I thought they looked a bit small on the pattern. I might make some a bit larger as well.

[wood-n-things]

Some folks are making them smaller and making earrings out of them.

[Hawaiilad]

Yea I saw the earrings and thought they were nice as well. I thought larger might be something different, but would have to be careful of what wood I used as they would be heavy for ornaments on a tree....but for people that like to display birdhouses in the house, they might be nice.....so many things to make. Making 5 bandsaw boxes, and 5 routered name signs for our kids Christmas gifts, and thought a couple ornaments or larger birdhouses would be nice as well. I cut 4 bandsaw boxes yesterday and spent all day sanding on them.. tonight my hands and one shoulder is so sore from holding, cutting and sanding....but I sure love doing this. We must love it to put our bodies through so much

[Hawaiilad]

By the way, the plans for the birdhouses I bought say to use a shop jig to hold the piece when cutting. Have you folks found you needed to use a jig or will tapeing it together work?

[Jan]

No shop jig unless I'm misunderstanding you. Just put a piece of scrap wood cut to match the length of the project piece on each side of the block and hold them in place with a couple of quick clamps. Start cutting at the bottom of the birdhouse and be sure to put the clamp on the bottom after you line up the cut so you put the blade between the block and the clamp. Hard to cut otherwise.
:icon7

Jan

[Hawaiilad]

Thanks I think Jan. You and I are on the same page...the scrap and the clamps are what I was calling a jig...I might make a different type of jig for cutting so the clamps will not have to be used. But I am not sure what you mean when you say "make sure to put the clampon the bottom after you line up the cut so you put the blade between the block and the clamp". Perhaps when I start cutting some of these I will understand what you mean....thanks for the info.

[Jan]

Larry, the whole purpose of the "jig" is to make the piece easier to handle and to avoid getting your fingers whapped while you're cutting. The quick-clamps are the easy way to accomplish holding the scraps in place and then changing them for the second cut. Whatever works for you is fine. The point of starting at the bottom is to make one continuous cut per side. As for placing the blade between the bottom of the piece and the clamp is because you can't make a cut if your blade is outside the clamp.

Jan

[NC Scroller]

Jigs have a time and place in all wood working. Since I like the KISS principle I use this for my compound cuts. Notice the handles point in different directions which makes it easier to turn. In this example I have used just scraps of wood. When doing birdhouses I normally clamp three together. After cutting all three on one side I flip them and do all three on the other side.

[flint hills]

I have made 18 of the original [magazine] pattern. And 10 pairs of earrings,
I use a small wooden clamp to hold everything together. I find that its easier & faster than scrap wood & clamps,

Joe flint hills

[Hawaiilad]

Thanks for clearing that up Jan....I guess it was much to late last night when I was responding to your statement...I look back over it again and I'm pretty sure my face is red If I just start cutting these ornaments, I won't have to ask so many silly questions...

[Hawaiilad]

Joe, when you say small wooden clamp, are you talking about something you made or the two handeled woodend clamps?

[flint hills]

wooden clamps

I use the 2 handled screw clamps, one is about 8-10 inches long ,the small one about 6 inches long.
Joe