FINISHING BIRD HOUSES 



33 



screwing piece F to the box are 3- l / 2 inches 

 beyond these outer holes. Bore carefully. 



Bore the entrance hole with an expansive 

 bit set so as to bore a hole l- 1 /^ inch in diam- 

 eter. The center for this hole is 3 inches down 

 from the top and 4-^4 inches from either side. 



If the house is to be painted it should be 

 thoroughly sandpapered with No. % sand- 

 paper, going with the grain. 



Take the sides and bevel them to fit the 

 front and back pieces, that is plane them so 

 that when they are placed in proper position 

 against the front and rear, the edges will fol- 

 low the same sweep as the eaves and the bot- 

 tom edge. All cutting should be finished be- 

 fore sandpapering so as not to dull our plane 

 blade with the fine particles of sand left in the 

 wood by the sandpaper. 



Nail the sides to the front and rear, using 

 1-1/4 inch brads, placing about five on each 

 edge, and taking care that they strike fair in 

 the center of the edge to prevent splitting. 



Next nail on roof C, having the rear edge 

 flush with the rear of the box allowing all pro- 

 jection to come in front. Have ridge edge just 

 level with peak. Next nail on roof B, seeing 

 that it overlaps and is nailed to the edge of C. 



Next attach piece F to the rear of the box 

 with screws, allowing equal projection above 

 and below the box. Take the bottom E and 

 screw on an inch butt hinge to the under side 

 at the middle point of the rear edge. Then 

 place in position and screw the other part of 

 hinge to F, taking care that the bottom fits 

 tightly against the bottom edges of the box. 



Retain in front by means of a small flat 

 hook and eye as shown. 



