OUGD603 - Brief 7 - Build a home for Wildlife - Production

Production 

- A series of three bird boxes were created at different sizes with each box representing a different type of tree

- The design was made using 15mm plywood as this would be thick enough not to warp outside over time and would insulate the birds within. The panels were cut to size using a industrial circular saw.  The pieces would be glued together using flat joints, which would allow the ends of the plywood to be seen on the sides of the box. Originally it had been considered that the design could be constructed using Makercase plans which would create finger joints on the wooden pieces so that they locked together, however I did not want rectangles to be seen along the joins of the box as it was considered this would detract from the rest of the design.

- Although glue would be used within the design the birds would not be able to get to it because it would be between the wooden pieces. The use of glue would also provide a strong bond between the pieces of wood  

- It is important to clean out bird boxes after each breeding season to make room for new birds the following year. Within the design the tops of the bird boxes lift off to allow the user access to the inside of the box for cleaning. To create a lid that comes away but can also be securely fitted to the box during the year, pieces of wood were glued to the underside of the lids. A hole was drilled through two sides of the bird box and into the inserts. These two holes were made so that they align, which allowed a screw to be screwed through the side of the box into the piece of wood under the lid, fixing it in place. To open the box up again the screw would be unscrewed releasing the lid so that it could be taken off the top of the box.  

- The design for the bird box would be etched onto the pieces using the laser cutter. The use of the technique would make the designs a permanent feature of the birdbox and would not come off when exposed to the elements as paint design would. Etching the design onto the panels also allows the designs to better complement the wood that the box is made from giving it a contemporary natural appearance.

- To create the different sized holes in the front of the bird boxes and pillar drill was used. A piece of MDF was put over the design to stop the drill damaging the design on the panels. 


- The use of plywood for the bird boxes allows the design to have a natural but contemporary aesthetic that would complement but create contrast within the garden environment it would be seen in.

- Some birdbox designs have landing sticks for birds to sit on so they can get into the box more easily, however it was considered that this could also act as a perch for predators so the front of the box was kept bare in the same way as RSPB boxes

- The roof of the bird box was created slightly bigger than the top of the bird box so that there was overhang around all the edges, this would allow the rain to run off over the edges giving the bird boxes more protection from the elements. This would also be made from plywood.