DIY Woodworking Project for Beginners

Everyone has to start somewhere when learning something new. This DIY project is perfect for getting a little practice under your belt before jumping into more extensive and more intricate pieces.

Let’s Build a Birdhouse!

It sounds cliche, but this is the perfect project to familiarize yourself with measuring, cutting, and joining.

What you’ll need:

  • A single 1” x 6” five-foot long board, preferably pine
  • Drill
  • Spade bit
  • Deck screws
  • Circular saw, or hand saw
  • Paint (optional)
  • Dowel perch (optional)

Directions:

Cut your wood to these specifications using your chosen saw.

Remember, measure twice, cut once! Be sure to wear safety glasses and turn the saw off when not in use, as well. You’ll be using the entire width of the 6” board (which is actually 5 ½”).

  • Two 6” x 10” sections for the top and front
    • Use your spade bit to drill a hole in the upper half of the front piece. Mark the middle by measuring your halfway point. Remember, these 6” boards are truly closer to 5 ½”, so measure carefully and divide by two.
  • One 6” x 7 ¾” section for the back
  • One 6” x 18” section for the two sides
    • You’ll then measure and cut this in half at an angle by measuring eight inches down on one side and ten inches down on the opposite side. This will result in two pieces measuring 6” x 10” x 6” x 8”.
  • One 6” x 4” section for the bottom

Assemble the pieces.

Start by attaching the front piece to the sides. Using the 10” as your height, line the front piece flush with the 10” edge of the side pieces. Use two deck screws on each side (four total) to attach.

Next, attach the back using the same method. The extra ¼” should be at the top for ventilation.

For the bottom, you want to cut a small portion off each corner so water can drain out. Half an inch is plenty. It doesn’t need to be perfect!

Insert the bottom piece into the wall structure until the bottom is flush. Only screw the sides and back, as you’ll want to be able to take the front off to clean the birdhouse yearly.

Now, attach the top with the extra length protruding at the front for shade and protection from the rain. At this point, you can drill an extra hole in the front and insert a dowel if you’d like.

You’re done!

If you want to paint it, feel free! It’s optional but can be fun for the kids once you’re done. Be sure to research which birds use birdhouses and mount it at an optimal height for the variety you want to attract. If you live in an area with a high volume of snakes, consider adding a snake barrier, so you don’t find a surprise in the nest later on!