skip to main content

Tutorial-Old Tin Birdfeeder

13 years ago

hey ya'll! i finally finished the tutorial for the birdfeeder. all photos are inside since it's been storming the past couple days.

{{gwi:145102}}

i have a step by step picture tutorial on my blog......please come check it out and go make one!

Happy Junking,

kudzu

Here is a link that might be useful: Kudzu's Blog-how to make a bird feeder 1

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

sunnyca_gw
13 years ago
I think you covered it all! I almost bought a crayola can with all the colors on outside but opened it & it had so much color inside was afraid they might not all come off & didn't want to make birds sick, it is kind of small also so don't want to have to refill it every couple of days. I like the tin you used on this one & looks like it will hold quite a bit of seed. Thanks for directions! Jan
nonacook
13 years ago
I can't make myself use my 'antique' cans for that,
but will be looking for some newer cans-Thanks.
Related Discussions
Bird Feeders From Old Tins And Lids
Q
Comments (18)
lol ya'll:D i looked all over for a church key type can opener...Hoss even went shopping for one for me. finally.....one of his buddy's said he had something.....omg i need one of these...it's a larger type church key, on the end of a BBQ fork. so i borrowed it and commenced punching holes in all the ones i'm making feeders out of....and i even took apart the ones i already made, and redid them if i could. oh i remember the aluminum sprinkler cap on the soda bottle. and...we had this huge piece of child-eating machinery called an "ironer"..about as big as a chest freezer. i can remember ironing my dads dress shirts in it when i was so young i had to stand on the kitchen step-stool! and the wringer washer.......my twin and i had to hold each other up to run the clothes through the wringer on the back porch, then carry the basket out to the line to hang them :D what an ordeal! and i don't know if it was just my household, but how did we manage to survive childhood with so many things that shocked the #*@! out of us:D plugging the iron in, our metal play oven..with sharp edges :D...touching the handle of the freezer .....lol kudzu i'll probably make a tutorial for these for next week. happy yard sales! kudzu
...See More
My Cement Birdbath
Q
Comments (15)
I have never seen a birdbath like that. Very nice. I used the Garden Gate link & made birdbaths with the vinyl patch cement. Now I use vinyl patch cement, then put my reinforcement on, & then use regular cement for the 2nd coat. The vinyl patch cement is more expensive but very smooth & less holes so I use it on the leaf but not the 2nd coat. I've included pics of my latest cement birdbath - really huge - it's sitting on a huge sewer pipe. It's about a week old. It holds lots of water but at the deepest point it still is 1 1/2". I've also included the pic of the sand. It's hard to tell but I had to put this up to so you can learn from my mistakes. If you notice the top of the sand mount is mostly flat. I made one & it was beautiful but the birds were drowning because it was too deep. So don't make too much of a dome. It's a learning experience. My first was too flat & didn't hold hardly any water. The next was too deep & the birds were drowning. This one is just right. LOL! I had a colorant I was going to add when making cement & forgot to put it in. When it's done curing, I will put a wash on it. There were 6 birds in there yesterday taking a bath. I didn't think they would go near it with all the lime leeching out of it yet. I am changing the water a couple times a day - I don't want to hurt my birds but I'm surprised they would go in it at all with the lime. At the bottom of the page are pics of small leaves I painted with metallic paint. They are a lot smaller & sold them at a nursery this year. It was a hit & I'm busy making more small ones for next year. It paid for my grinder for my stained glass addiction. :) Here is a link that might be useful: Cement leaf
...See More
Cleaning old glass bottles
Q
Comments (26)
Hi. All the methods you have posted here work to some extent, depending on the type of dirt, soiling or hazing, and the bottle itself. Mineral hazing or mineral etching can never be removed unless you use drastic measures (ie) heating the glass to just below the melting point. This in itself causes many other problems, warping etc. I have over 1000 bottles from the 1600s to the 1950s. I do not clean them past just getting the dirt & grime off. Some embossed bottles that are clear I clean a bit more so they can be read. But other than that. Enjoy your bottle with it's patina. That is just one part of it that makes it old and desirable to most collectors
...See More
April 1-15 KOKO's
Q
Comments (34)
OK girls, I'm seeing more snow than I ever wanted to see again and they say more is coming...oh well, it's my mom and I'm sure she put up with unpleasant things for my sake, to I'll just suck it up! She had a bad spell last night....I think she might still be grieving, so I just hugged her. She said she told the Lord He could take her any time, that she was ready, but maybe He better wait awhile cause all the family just got home from this funeral and they needed to rest. Plus, my nephew, the funeral director is on vacation. She can be so funny. Rosa, Thank you for the compliment....I sure played with the lengths and widths a lot, plus changed them as I sewed when I got in little tight places, too. I live in what I consider a small town, too, but I think there are 5 lights on the main drag from one end to the other. I like this better, but it's the pits for fabric shopping. I'm with you, Sally. It's always good to get home...and in my case, be it ever so humble. Deanna, I know you're having fun using your new machine. You'll get used to it and it's settings, etc and be whipping those perfect blocks out in no time! Last year when I was up north, I gained 10 of the 25 I had lost and I haven't taken it off, so yes, I do need to be careful. I'll enjoy myself, but if I watch the carbs and desserts, I think I'll be ok. I do love bread! Everyone have a good day........ SharonG/FL-cold snowy MN
...See More
concretenprimroses
13 years ago
Yet another thing to look for yard sailing. Great tutorial.
Kathy
kudzukween
Original Author
13 years ago
thanks so much ya'll....i'm glad you like it!

you could use old coffee cans, or any can with a lid, and metal pie plates or cake plates. recycling the coffee can is great, and you can find cake and pie tins at thrift stores and even garbage :D check freecycle! and you'll also be able to paint the can any color you want...

i had a few bags of old tins that were headed to a yard sale. then someone posted asking about what to do with old tins, and after i replied....i thought "i can't get rid of these tins!!" so back in the laundry room they went! i got them free, or thrifted and they charge anywhere from 19 cents to 59 cents...i don't have a clue how they decide the prices, some tins the same sizes have vastly different prices on them.

go make some!
kudzu
Marlene Kindred
13 years ago
Thanks for the info! Love these...I've clipped the post so hopefully, I won't lose the instructions!
excessfroufrou
13 years ago
I might have to give that a try, you give great instructions. I used to collect old tins, but have gotten rid of them over the years, I'm sure I'll come across some more. Thanks for taking the time to post the instructions.
Frou
jeannespines
13 years ago
kudzu...great recycling project! Love it! thanks for the excellent tutorial! (cute conversation with your GS)! Jeanne S.
phyllis__mn
13 years ago
Oh, thank you for the tutorial....I've been waiting, and think even I can do this one. I love it.
kudzukween
Original Author
13 years ago
thank you all so much for the sweet comments!

i wanted to mention that i did find some old labels on Flickr and other sites that you can download for free, and print them out and decoupage and seal on any size coffee can or an "ugly" tin. or print out your business card logo or blog logo, the name of your shop.....etc...and make it look vintage.
and today i spray painted a jar lid to look like spattered blue and white enamel. so you can do that to a regular cake pan or pie pan. i used some blue spray paint that Hoss has to touch up one of his trucks, then used white acrylic craft paint on a toothbrush to spatter it with.
kudzu
socalliegal
13 years ago
I have been pricing bird feeders and either they are expensive or they are junk. Your design is wonderous! I had a bunch of tins as well and got rid of them, dang! You can find them at Thrift shops, I think that were I sent mine..LOL! Now I will be keeping my eyes open for items to make this.
kudzukween
Original Author
13 years ago
thanks for all the nice comments, ya'll! the birds are loving this bird feeder and it's very pretty to look at :D

kudzu

Related Stories

LIGHTING Whip Up a Lighting Fixture From a Tart Tin

By Lauren Donaldson

Turn your old kitchen bakeware into an industrial-style hanging lamp with this clever DIY project

ENTERTAINING Holiday Table Decor Sends a Welcoming Message

By Brandi Hines Events + Design

This nature-inspired holiday table combines Spanish moss, flameless candles, trinkets and personal notes

FEEL-GOOD HOME Simple Pleasures: Make Do and Mend

By Laura Gaskill

Experience the satisfaction of fixing, repurposing and creating things yourself around the home

ECLECTIC STYLE Get Creative Salvage Ideas from Houzzers' Reuse Projects

By Becky Harris

Save money and show off your resourcefulness by borrowing from these creative home projects using salvaged materials

DECORATING GUIDES Budget Decorating: How to Decorate Smart and Slow

By Laura Gaskill

To make the most of your decorating dollar, forgo the disposable stuff, think vintage and free first and give yourself a splurge

GREEN BUILDING Houzz Call: What Have You Salvaged for Home Use?

By Becky Harris

If your floors, furniture, exterior materials or other home elements have a past life, we'd like to hear the story

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Remodel Your Fireplace

By Mitchell Parker

Bring your fireplace design up to snuff with this makeover lowdown

KITCHEN DESIGN Show Us Your Fabulous DIY Kitchen

By Mary Jo Bowling

Did you do a great job when you did it yourself? We want to see and hear about it

DIY PROJECTS 17 Ways to Decorate With Everyday Things

By Becky Harris

Characters on the new Netflix series 'Orange Is the New Black' make the most of what they have. Here's how you can too

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Cozy Country Meets Bohemian Artistic in Australia

By Luci.D Interiors

Healthy helpings of salvage and rustic art give a pastureland home free-spirited style

Sponsored

More Discussions

Any ideas for repurposing Water Softener Systems?

4