How to build a Birdhouse

Lets do another easy project that is fun for kids to build. This was the second project I built as a kid.

Some of the materials and tools will need are:
One 8' long 1"x8" cedar board (You might have enough to build 2)
Waterproof wood glue (Example: Titebond III)
Bar Clamps
1-1/4" decking or galvanized screws
1/2" galvanized pipe flange and short screws
1/2" galvanized pipe
Screwdriver

Directions
Step 1.
Before cutting remember to make sure your board is nice, dry, and straight. You will need to cut your cedar board to the following sizes.

Sides - 2 pieces @ 4" x 1-1/2".
Floor - 1 piece @ 5" x 3-1/4"
Right Side Roof - 1 piece @ 4-3/4" x 7"
Left Side Roof - 1 piece @ 5-1/2 x 7"
Front and Back Faces - 2 pieces @ 5" x 8"

You should a total of 7 pieces. Set aside the leftover wood that way you have a clear work space so you can begin building your bird house.

Step 2.
Take the front and back faces you just cut and make a traditional angled-roof house shape by making a mark down the center and make a 45 degree cut to make a polygon shape.

After making the angled cuts, drill a 1" hole in the front and 2/3 away from the floor. Placement on exactly where you want them is up to you.

Step 3.
Begin assembly by placing the floor on a flat surface, with the rough side facing up. You always want the smoothest side on the outside. Add the front side (smooth side facing you) and back side (rough side facing inward). Add some glue and use a clamp to keep the sides together until they are dry.

Step 4.
After the glue has dried, screw the pipe flange into the bottom using the shorter screws. Attach the roof pieces by making a butt joint and screwing them at 90 degrees. Center the roof on the house and screw it down. Use pilot holes on the front and back sides to make attaching the roof easier. It will also make it easy to remove the roof so you can clean your birdhouse when needed.

With that your birdhouse is finished. Don't forget to put the "Sold" sign out on the front side once you get your new friends.

How to build a Child's Tool Box

One of the most easiest DIY projects to build is a child's tool box. This was one of the first projects that I did as a kid. So why not help you kids build one.

To build a child's tool box you will need to make these cuts

One 13-1/2" x 5" length of 1/2" thick plywood for the bottom
Two 14-1/2" x 2-1/2" of 3/8" or 1/2" thick plywood for the sides
Two 6"x5" lengths of 1/2" thick plywood for the ends.
One 14-1/2" of 3/4" thick Dowel Rod

The type of screws you will need to be #6 1-1/4" flat head screws. You are going to need at least 14 of them.

Construction for this project will be easy.

Use this image to help you mark where you need to cut.

All you need to do after the cuts are made is to drive the screws in to keep it together. you will need to use 5 screws for each of the end pieces.

After the ends have been screwed together, insert the dowel into the holes. The best way to glue the dowels is to take one end and stick it out and apply some glue and then slide it back into place.

Afterwards take some screws and drive them into the dowel from the top. The best way to do this step is to make a pilot hole and then screw them in. This is what your finished product should look like.

This was of the basic DIY projects that kids can do at the Kids Workshop at most Home Depots Stores. Here is a link if you would like to get your children involved in this type of fun activity. http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops

How to Build a set of Cornhole Tables

How to build a Cornhole Goal

In this post I am going to give you the instructions on how to build a Cornhole Goal.

Lets start with the supplies you are going to need. Some of the stuff you will need to buy is:

• One 1/2" thick sheet of plywood (one 4x4 or two 2x4s)
• Four 8' 2x4's
• Four 1/2" long 3/8" diameter carriage bolts
• Four 3/8" Flat Washers
• Four 3/8" Wing Nuts
• 1 Box of 2-1/2" wood screws

Some of the tools you will need to have is:

•  A Table Saw (If you do not have a Table Saw to use then you can use a Circular saw or a Hand Saw)
• Miter Saw (Alternatives if you do not have one is a Hand Saw with a Miter Box)
• Tape Measure
• Clamps (These are optional but are handy to have).
• Power Drill w/ assorted bits(Best to use a regular Drill to drill the holes and an Impact Drill to drive the screws in).
• Sand Paper (It can be coarse, medium, or fine grit. The durability of the Sandpaper needs to be at least medium).
• Hammer
• Compass (This is another optional tool but it comes in handy when you draw the holes for the goal.)
• Jigsaw

The next thing to do is to start making your dimensions. I like to always repeat the basic rule when you need to cut something "Measure Twice, Cut Once"

 The Dimensions need to be as shown

Before you start building remember to always use safety gear like Safety glasses when working with a power tool. You might also want to use a pair of gloves to avoid getting a nasty splinter in your hands.

Now lets start building. To build one set of Cornhole goals (2 Cornhole Tables) you will need to cut the 2x4s to following lengths with your Miter Saw or Hand Saw w/ Miter box.

Four 4' pieces for the frame sides
four 21" pieces for the frame Ends
Four 16" pieces for the legs

One thing to remember when cutting with any saw is to factor in the width of the of the Saw Blade itself.

If you purchased a longer piece of Plywood, measure and cut it down to 4' long and 2' wide. If you use a Circular saw the best way to get a nice straight edge is to use a good strait edge like another piece of plywood or a guide that can clamp to the Plywood.

The wood you just cut should look like this:

Ok now it is time to assemble the frame with the 2x4s that you have cut. To attach these use the 2-1/2" wood screws. You might want to use clamps to hold the frame together. Remember to make sure the edges of the frame are nice and flush. If you dont want to the screws to show when you paint, you might want to counter sink them in.

A nice tip to think about: Use the regular Drill to make a hole with a smaller bit than the bit that you use on the Impact Drill. This should make it easier to drive the screws.

Remember to make sure the right ends are in the right place or else you will have the wrong dimensions.

The next thing to do after you get the Frame built. Place the plywood surface on the top of the frame. Making sure the edges are nice and flush pre-drill the holes for the screws around the edge. Afterward using about 10 to 12 long screws drive them around the edge of the frame. Counter sink the screws enough so that it looks nice.

The thing to do is to make the hole for the goal. Mark the center of the hole 9" from the top and 12" from either side. Using a compass or something similar, draw the circle 6" in diameter.

After that is done, take the regular drill with a nice sized bit and make a Pilot hole that you can use as a starting point for the cut that you need to make with the Jigsaw.

Using the pilot hole you just made, use your jigsaw to cut the hole. If you take your time cutting you might be able to get a nice decent looking hole. An alternative way you can cut is to wither use a hole saw or a router. If the hole is not completely smooth, then don't worry cause that can be cleaned up with some sandpaper.

Next up is making and attaching the legs. This might be the trickiest part to build of the whole project.

The legs have several requirements

1. They must be able to lift the table 12" off the ground. 
2. They need to be sturdy enough to withstand an onslaught of cornhole bags

This is what it should look like when the legs are attached.

Lets get started. First thing is to mark the pieces you are using for the legs. Start by drawing a line halfway down the side of the leg. Make another line the same distance from the end of the leg and perpendicular to the first line.  These two lines intersect at the point where you will want to pivot your compass. Use a compass to draw a half circle extending out to the edges of the board like shown.

After you get both legs marked, flip the table top so that the ply wood top is facing down.  Put a piece of scrap wood in the corner as in the picture to the left (we used the end of a leftover 2×4). Take one of your leg pieces and set it in place next to the scrap wood as shown with our markings facing out.
 
Now, we’ll mark the hole for your bolt. Transfer your leg’s midpoint line (line B) onto the frame. Measure the midpoint of the frame’s 2×4 (line C) which again should be around 1 ¾”. Do not include the plywood in this measurement, just the 2×4 of the frame! Where these two lines intersect is where we want the bolt to go, right through the center of the frame and leg.

Make a little divot with an extra screw or nail at our mark to help guide the tip of the drill bit for this important step. Drill a 3/8” hole through the side of your table and leg. You could use clamps to hold the leg and a piece of scrap wood together to make a nice clean hole through the wood. It will even reduce splintering.

You will be using a broad variety of drill bits. Start with a small bit to make a pilot hole and work your way up to 3/8" to cut the legs. You be able to use a scroll saw to make cutting them easier. The should look like this (Possibly smoother than this if you used a scroll saw).

 If you used a Jigsaw, the edges of the legs might be rough. Just use the sandpaper to smooth them out. After that is done it is time to attach them.

To attach the legs, take the carriage bolt and slide it through the hole. You might need twist it to get the first half through the hole. When you get it as far as you can take it, take a hammer and gently drive it in the rest of the way.

After the bolt is all the way, it should sit flush with the board. Finish by placing the washers and the nut in place, but dont tighten it all the way yet. Make sure the legs are able to move freely from the playing position to the folded position.

If the leg is not able to move freely then, then you might need to trim it down a little bit so it is able to do so.

The final step is to make sure the end of the board is 12" off the ground. If you have any scrap pieces of wood then use them to make sure it is 12" off the ground. Extend the legs into playing position. The legs will be longer than the edge of the work bench. This is a good thing. Take a pencil and make a line that runs flush with the table onto both legs.

Detach the legs and take and cut with the miter saw. You should end up with a cut that is close to 45 degrees. After that the legs should be perfect. Reattach the legs and test the measurement to make sure is it standing 12" off the ground. It should be 12" off the ground along the back edge.

After you confirm that it is 12 inches off the ground that should be it. You are now done building. Enjoy the game. and your final product should look like this.

If you would like to add some color to your project then please visit this site for some nice useful tips and steps. http://www.cornholehowto.com/paint-em-nice/supplies/
http://www.cornholehowto.com/paint-em-nice/how-to-paint/