The top of the birdhouse is tackled next (figure A). Proper shaping and fitting will allow it to sit snugly on the body and help keep rain from running inside. The birds will thank you for your thoughtfulness!
Steps1. The glued top block is mounted between centers and checked to see that it turns true before starting to turn the tenon. 2. Turn the tenon with a parting tool, starting with the handle down (figure B). The tenon width is approximately 1/4", or double the width of the tool. The diameter should be slightly larger than that of the tailstock. 3. The grain of the wood runs across the bed of the lathe, like a bowl blank (figure C). Shaping begins, using a bowl gouge. The tool is placed at the back of the blank so that cutting with the bevel will direct the tool (figure D).
4. When the exterior is shaped, the tool is turned around and remounted to hollow the inside.5. With the tool rest in place, supporting the top, the outside edge is evenly trimmed and the surfaced is trued. 6. Next, the inside is formed in an upward curve, which will allow water running off the roof to drip off and prevent it from following a flat surface up inside the house. Remove as much wood as possible with the tailstock supporting the top (figure E). 7. Using a parting tool, make a tapered recess in the top; this recess lets the body of the birdhouse fit snugly into the top (figure F). 8. Using a bowl gouge, hollow away the recess is to reduce the weight of the roof (figure G).
9. The bottom section starts just like the top, with the chuck off, mounted between centers, with a tenon turned on the smaller section to hold the blank as it's turned to fit the body.
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