Tuesday, January 20, 2015

If you own a drill press, band saw or other woodworking equipment, some of the steps shown here will

Woodpecker Door Knocker
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With just a few tools and some wood scraps (time to use that old pallet that's sitting behind your garage!), you can make this delightful knocker for your door. I saw this on an old log cabin years ago and made a few for my family and friends. The cool part about this project is that you don't need any advanced skills or large, expensive woodworking equipment. jannie haek
Here's what you'll need: Wood - In the spirit of reuse, I hacked apart an old shipping pallet. I harvested some 1/2" and 3/4" hardwood. A spring. About 2" long, not too fat, maybe 1/4" max. You can find these at home improvement stores for cheap. A small piece of metal for the bird's jannie haek nose / striker. 1/4" is good, or whatever you can find. I'm using a wood screw for this 'ible. A small piece of metal to use as the strike jannie haek plate. A coin will do nicely. A metal pin to use as a pivot. I'm using a finish jannie haek nail. Some chain - 1/4" or less is best, since it will have to run through a hole drilled in the bird's body Small eyescrews (3) - two for the spring, one for the chain Some screws Some paint and primer. It will be outdoors, so use paint that will hold up well. A weathered look is nice, but peeling paint isn't so appealing. I used the classic black, red and white for my fellow.
If you own a drill press, band saw or other woodworking equipment, some of the steps shown here will seem pretty primitive. My goal was to make this project accessible to folks who don't have loads of tools or cash, so I'm only showing techniques that use relatively inexpensive tools. If you have fancy tools, you probably don't need me to elaborate on their use anyhow. :-}
Not only is this a really lovely door knocker (and one I'm putting at the top of my "To-Do... when needing a break out in the garage from mother in law minding" list!) but you may well have saved my da's life. He retired from teaching not all that long ago, and is seriously starting to get on my mum's last nerve. He's bird obsessed (it's a family obsession, to be fair) and this is just a perfect addition he can putter with for the house! So useful, creative, AND saving the life (and sanity) of my folks! Not too shabby for a bit of wood on a wall!
Will do. Sent him the info last night and this morning he is rummaging in his workshop to see what he has on hand to make it today. He says he wants to make a small version for his 'mistress' Miss Molly (his obsession of the last few years - a slowly being totally restored 1968 rv, complete with shag carpeting and orange & avocado color scheme) for RV parks, but the first one will be scaled up several times. Pileated woodpeckers live in their part of southern Ohio and he is gonna try to make a knocker in line with them - and they grow to about 18in. Will grab photos when he is done!
I love this! :)
very nice. I think I'd like to modify it a bit so the tail feather assembly is attached to the head and rocks as well, add lead weight to the underside of the tail feather as a counterweight, and then you won't need the spring assembly.
Nicely done!
Lion door knocker by chicopluma
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