How to Build a Wooden Birdhouse Lamp
  Free Woodworking Plans from Lee's Wood Projects

B. Cutting Procedures:

1. You will need a 3/4" x 10" x 120" board for this project.
2. Use a jointer to joint one edge of the board smooth and straight.
3. Use a planer to plane the board 1/2" thick.
4. Use a radial arm saw to cut off 14 1/2" for the base (H).
5. Plane the remainder of the board to 3/8" thickness.
6. Rip the board to 4 3/4" wide and joint the sawed edge.
7. Us the radial arm saw to cut off eight pieces 6 3/16" long for the roofs (G).
8. Rip the remainder of the boards 4 3/32" wide and then joint the sawed edges. The boards should be approximately 4 1/16" wide after jointing.
9. With a radial arm saw cut the front & backs (A), (B), and (C) to length.
10. With a radial arm saw cut the sides (D), (E), & (F) to length.
11. Tilt the blade of a miter saw to a 28 degree angle and cut the top end of each roof (G).
12. Measure 3 7/8" from the peak of each front (A), (B), & (C) and drill a 1 3/8" diameter hole.
13. Measure 5 5/16" from the peak of each front (A), (B), & (C) and drill a 1/4" diameter hole for the dowels.
14. Use a table saw to rip the base (H) 9 1/4" wide.
15. Measure 5 3/8" from each back corner of the base (H) and cut a 45 degree angle. The front of the base should be 6 3/4" wide after the angle cuts.
16. Drill a 3/8" diameter hole 1/2" from the bottom of the back (A) for the electrical cord.

1. Rough sand the 3/8" thick board and the1/2" thick base with an orbital sander and 80 grit sandpaper.
2. Intermediate sand the 3/8" board and the base with an orbital sander and 120 grit sandpaper.
3. Repeat step #2 with 220 grit sandpaper.

1. Construct the large birdhouse by gluing and nailing the front & back (B) onto the sides (E). Use a nail gun with 3/4" brads. 2. Use glue and brads to assemble and attach the other bird houses.
2. Nail back (A) onto the sides (D). Attach the back (A) onto the front (B) and assemble front (A) onto the sides (D).
3. Nail backs (C) onto the sides (F). Attach the backs (C) onto the sides (F) and assemble front (C) onto the sides (F).
4. Glue and nail the roofs (G) onto the four birdhouses.
5. Glue and nail the chimney (I) onto the roof of the large birdhouse.
6. Locate the center top/center of the chimney and drill a 3/8" diameter hole through the chimney and the roof of the birdhouse.
7. Glue the dowels into the 1/4" holes. Each dowel should extend out 1" from each birdhouse.
8. Glue and nail the base onto the bottom of the birdhouses. Use 1" brads.

E. Finish Procedures:

1. Use plastic wood dough to fill all nail holes, cracks, and imperfections.
2. Hand sand the wood dough flush, after it is dry, with 220 grit sandpaper.
3. Hand sand all corners and edges with 220 grit sandpaper.
4. Remove all sanding dust with a tack rag.
5. Give the birdhouse a primer coat prior to painting.
6. Use an interior acrylic satin paint to paint the birdhouse. Different paint colors could be used for the various parts of the birdhouse if you desire.
7. After the first coat is dry, paint a second coat.

F. Electric Assembly Procedures:

1. Place a few drops pf Kwik Bond-1 quick penetrating super glue into the top of the hole of chimney (I), and tap the threaded pipe (K) into the column with a mallet Approximately 3/4" pipe thread should be exposed at the at the top.
2. Thread the electric cord (L) through the hole in the back (A) and extend the cord up through the birdhouse and a few inches beyond the top of the threaded pipe. NOTE: This step should be done before step #1 of the assembly procedure is completed!
3. Thread the cord through the lamp harp (M) and then slip the harp over the pipe.
4. Thread the electric cord through the bottom part of the light socket (N), and then screw the socket onto the threaded pipe.
5. Connect the cord to the top part of the light socket (N) and connect the two parts of the socket together.
6. Gently pull any excess cord back through the bottom of the birdhouse.
7. Screw the light bulb (O) into the socket.
8. Attach the light shade (P) onto the lamp harp.

Notes: Westinghouse makes a lamp kit which includes: an electric cord, light socket, and threaded rod. The lamp harp, light shade, and bulb must be purchased separately. Most hardware stores should carry lamp kits.

Congratulations, your wooden birdhouse lamp is completed and ready to use!