Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    point cook
    Posts
    25

    Default outdoor bird feeder finish

    Hi, just about completed a bird feeder stand from mainly cypress pine and spotted gum base. Just curious what would be a recommended finish?...cheers

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Mornington Peninsula
    Posts
    2,741

    Default

    Personally, I would just let it weather naturally. Sometimes, and depending on it's location, the natural look works best.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Oberon, NSW
    Age
    63
    Posts
    13,354

    Default

    It depends on what birds will be using it... which are not necessarily what birds you would expect or want to visit.

    eg. are there Sulfur Crested Cockatoos in your area? Then it probably won't last long regardless of any finish you apply. Maybe a nice, toxic arsenic based finish would work? Otherwise you want something that'll stand up to the weather... and regular cleaning for health reasons. Yours and the birds. A good, UV-resistant spar varnish perhaps?

    Me, I'd leave it au naturale, as Cava suggested. (But we have cockatoos, so our feeders are repaired/replaced long before the weather does more than minimal damage. )
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    McBride BC Canada
    Posts
    3,543

    Default

    Leave it natural to weather. The birds constantly watch eachother so it doesn't need to be more than
    waterproof.

    At least you don't have squirrels. They will open it up so that they can pack their cheek pouches faster,
    run off to hide the seed and come back for more. It will be empty by tomorrow.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    5,773

    Default

    if you expect it to survive the various animal attacks and you want it to be long term durable, you need to be looking at some sort f opaque exteriour finish...like house paint.

    Any clear product will suffer from UV atack in very short order.


    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    point cook
    Posts
    25

    Default

    cheers all, was being a bit shorthand using phone prior. The timber is actually using spotted gum footing and supports. Then a turned baltic post...these are the bits I am looking at how to finish...the actual bowl on top, yeah...the birds will make short work of anything there!
    How does tung oil go outside....used it heaps internally, but never on an outdoor project. My quick/dirty solution was to just use some leftover aquadeck...

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    5,773

    Default

    As I say, there is NO clear finish that is long term weather durable.....that includes oils and decking finishes.

    The general expectation is that decking finishes will be reapplied annually.

    The question is how often do you want to be refinishing this feeder and how good do you want it looking between refinishes.

    tung oil will be fine if you don't mind slapping more on every couple of months.

    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    11

    Default

    if youre attracting parrots in your area (rosellas, cockatoos etc), then dont finish it with anyhting. Birds are very sensitive to chemicals and can sicken and die from ingesting treated woods. Parrots have an insatable urge to chew stuff so, you can expect your feeder to be chewed on, and as such just dont treat it.

    If youre getting non hookbill birds (sparrows, finches, myna etc) then finish away as you please, these birds dont chew things up so are unlikley to ever ingest the wood.

    alternatively if youre just wanting to attract birds and the feeder is merely a conduit (and not a piece of decorative furniture for the garden) considder hanging some seedbells or rings around the garden. As you attract the birds start replacing these with threaded cut fruits etc. The waste will go to fertilising your trees

  10. #9
    Join Date
    May 1999
    Location
    Grovedale (Geelong) Victoria
    Age
    74
    Posts
    12,183

    Default

    Real tung oil should be fine. After all the great wall of china was coated in it and so far it has stood the test of time.

    Be wary of tung oil, as the old oil advert used to say "Oils ain't oils!" Many tung oils are a concoction of oils solvents and even polyurethane. Some have no tung oil in them at all and are just called Tung Oil as that's the sellers brand name.

    If it ain't marked as pure Tung Oil then it quite probably isn't. If I was selling Tung Oil I would have Pure Tung Oil proudly stamped on the label and in all the literature.

    Cheers - Neil
    KEEP A LID ON THE GARBAGE... Report spam, scams, and inappropriate posts, PMs and Blogs.
    Use the Report icon at the bottom of all Posts, PM's and Blog entries.


Similar Threads

  1. Bird feeder finishing
    By LHoneyman9913 in forum FINISHING
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 29th October 2012, 02:30 PM
  2. Bird feeder help
    By LHoneyman9913 in forum FINISHING
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 19th October 2012, 06:54 PM
  3. bird feeder/bird nesting boxes plans
    By davmar in forum WOODWORK - GENERAL
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 19th December 2009, 10:57 AM
  4. Lazy man's bird feeder!
    By Landseka in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 30th January 2006, 12:39 PM
  5. Bird-feeder
    By alexg in forum WOODWORK PICS
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 8th January 2005, 10:07 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •