metal bird house
this project was in large part an exercise in learning to weld aluminum. aluminum requires special care with gas shielding and temperature control compared to steel, and it is welded using ac rather than dc current.
the bird house is designed specifically for the black capped chickadee. it has a removable back panel held in by thumb screws and a turned bronze perch. the inside is filled with cedar shavings to provide comfort and insulation from the thermally conductive exterior. the entrance is sized so that larger birds such as sparrows and predators such as squirrels will not fit, while the chickadee will. rather than having an awning to protect from the elements, i chose to weld a section of pipe into the volume of the bird house to provide similar protection while preserving the clean exterior shape.
