Barn Owl Box

I recently made this Owl box for a mate of mine who owns a farm,i got the dimensions from the barn owl trust website this is the minimum sized box.
here
Its made of half inch ply with lift off lid and landing platform not treated with anything , as its undercover.
The box is attached to the spar going across the back of the barn with two 4mm x 25mm flat bar heated up with blow lamp and bent into steel hooks bolted through the back of box ,so it was just a matter of hooking it on the spar. The lid is also attached with two hook and eyes ,just for safety.
Hes going to put a camera inside so hopefully we shall have a visitor.
Some owl conservationists were walking past the farm last week and spotted the box they were very impressed with it ,and its in a perfect spot ,they said there is signs on the platform something as been investigating the box. .They said it could be 6 mths are even longer before any owls move in,so fingers crossed

photos

You're very kind Dave..and that is a beauty.

Very good Dave, I can only see one photo

Hi cordyline three on my page

That's a very impressive box please keep us informed if you get any settling in the box.

Will do jont65 may be a while.

Really smart well made bit of kit Dave.
Hope it provides a good home for the owls to raise their young.
Be beltin' if you can catch them on camera too

i can only see 1 photo?

someone said the same golden bear will check ,ive three on my page.

Is there 3 photos now golden bear ?...for some reason the photos had double up on photo bucket ,and i must have deleted two out of the three, i had posted on WW so they disappeared too.

That's great dave b, let's hope other farmers install boxes in their galvanised barns.

I've got a bat box though yet to put it up, it says to use a marine screw to fasten to wall, but I'm thinking a brass screw would suffice.

3 photos showing now

New Tawny Owl box Ive made for my mates farm,got the sizes from Owls trust website, the box is now in position in a large tree ,so hope fully we will have some visitors.
The box is constructed from 11x1 sides, and 8x1 front ,back white wood from Savoy timber, with inspection door at front,ive felted the roof for a bit of extra protection from the weather ,its had three coats of water based green stain to camouflage it.
Photos...






As you can see ive replaced the barn owl box photos which were lost because of the photo bucket saga. cheers dave.

Dave
Excellent Owl boxes -- they are built really sturdy

Do you know anything about woodwork machines ?

Recently I bought this 6 inch Planer


It works, but so far not got it to cut as it should

Fence, both beds and blades seem to be level like they should be
I'm only a learner at woodwork

Superb job, both of them.

Well done both of you. What great items to make, I bet the Owls appreciate them.

Workmanship at its finest.

Hi, cordyline ,Ive worked in joinery manufacture for many years.used to change the blades on regular bases..
Both planer blades should be in the block at the same height thats the first thing to check,usually a jig for that,2nd when you turn the planer block the cutting edge of the blades should be level with the front table ,i used to put a straight edge on the front table and adjust the table up or down until the cutting edge of the blades just scrape the straight edge check it at both ends of block it as to be equal . Thats it really, once set you dont need to touch the front table until you change your blades again.. your back table adjusts for how much you plane off dont over do it 2mm to 3mm is plenty, always sight down the length of timber and put the hollow side down ,then place the planed side to the fence with the hollow edge down again ,if you dont put hollow side down it will rock about on the table and you wont plane it straight and it could snatch back if its small piece ,also check the fence is sq to the table, your guard should cover all the blades pushing the timber under it ,you can leave a gap near the fence to plane the edges depending on thickness.
Thats about it really .It looks a good sturdy planer all our machines were wadkins the surface planer like yours was 24 inch wide table , hope this helps.

Thanks Dave
Just been in garage and reset the 3 blades
Will test it tomorrow
My planer is a Whitehead Junior made in 1954 at Halifax Yorkshire
Might be looking for a second-hand Wood lathe in a couple of months
Went to the Turning club at Platt Bridge last week -- very interesting
Sorry for hijacking your thread

Hi cordyline this is the thread with your planer on.my owl box thread, still having problems with it.

my lastest project for a friend of mine ,grave curbs, 6x3 rails 4x4 corner posts ,stop chamfered. coach bolted together and pelleted ,pegged down to the ground with steel bars, black glossed when finnished.









cut outs in the bottom of the long rails for brackets to peg it down.



brackets and pegs for fixing down.

Had another go with it tonight, I may have sussed it

Infeed and outfeed both on the same plane; infeed a tad lower to plane the timber

All 3 blades sharpened

can be fiddly at times ,we had one in workshop the front table was very slighty twisted or warped to ages to get it right

Watch your fingers when operating that planer!

your right there tonker no second chances theres only one winner

Dave, a proper job the Grave Curbs


Tension off, is that for your band-saw ?

If I start mine with tension off the blade derails

My reminder is a parcel label tied to fully lowered top bearing thingy

yeah correct its a old burgess powerline bbs 20 bandsaw my dad bought many years ago for his model making , and i still use it for the small jobs, been a good un, blades are a funny size 56 1/2" usually find some on ebay.
its always best to knock the tension off ,it relaxes the blade stops it from stretching to much.

Grave kerb surrounds fitted this morning,there sat a black membrane on 10mm chippings for drainage.and pegged down to the floor with 18in long threaded bar.then astro 6mm turf laid on top.

Dave,if you don't mind me asking,are you any relation to the late Tom Bibby.

City and Guilds is that Dave

Looks like Marble !

No sorry ,no relation to Tom, momac.

Thanks cordy two coats of johnstones gloss,two primer undercoat ,two good coats of clear barrettine preservative.
should last a while

Finally sorted the Planer
Neighbour gave me an Oak bannister



Planed 2 sides

Turned out quite square


will saw and thickness it tomorrow

Now I've got to wanting an old Wadkin table saw
They say they are quite good

Very good probably the best, all our machines in joiners shop were wadkins bursgreen, built to last, so tells you something.

Hi all, its been over 3yrs since we put the Barn Owl box up at my friends farm, and at long last the owls have been nesting ,and have produced 5 chicks.
The Owl conservationist who monitor the owls progress have been and rung the chicks.
The photo was taken on the day of ringing, I will keep you updated with their progress, they will be getting bigger now.
The conservationists were impressed with my owl box , just the right height and position they said and well made they said.

Nice to see a successful end product for all your work.

Very well done dave b, you're a star.

I want an owl box for Spain. I'm going to put one high up, under the eaves, and keep putting bacon pieces there to tice 'em!

"Alberta is the only province in Canada that does not have any rats and is, in fact, the largest inhabited area on the planet that is rat-free."

Not much use here. Alberta is 2.5 times the size of the UK. If you do spot a rat there is a dedicated number to report it and they blitz that area to clear it.

The Owls must've e'ten um all !

Thank you all, will keep you posted, hopefully the same pair will nest again next year

Did you have to tice 'em with bacon bits?

Think owls feed on mice and voles and other small mammals

Raymejamie'd better be aware then!

Hi just a update regarding the Barn Owl box , its time for the box to be cleaned out.
The owl conservationist people said it would be easier with an inspection door in the side, so I made this door and went to fit it today,and cleaned out the box at same time.
Put some clean wood shavings ,all ready now ,hopefully we should get them nesting again later this year.