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spot 2 inches down from the top and 2¾ inches from either side . Using a 1½inch spade bit , drill a hole through the board at the spot you marked . This will create the entrance to the bird house .
4 . Lay the front piece down in portrait orientation . Measure ¾ of an inch up from the bottom and 2¾ inches from either side and make a mark . Then , using a 1 / 8-inch straight bit , drill a pilot hole through the piece where marked . Repeat this process for the left side piece ( it doesn ’ t matter which side piece you use for the left side ) and the back piece ( but not the right side piece ).
5 . Stand the front piece up on its short end , perpendicular to and flush with the left side piece standing up on its short end . You ’ ll notice that your front piece is ¾-inch taller than the two sides . That is by design . Using a 1 / 8-inch bit , drill pilot holes through the face of the front piece and into the edge of the left side piece – one pilot hole near the top of the front piece and one pilot hole near the bottom .
6 . Use a screwdriver and two 1-5 / 8-inch exterior wood screws to attach the front piece to the left side through the pilot holes . ( Tip : When starting the screws , screw into the front piece until tip of the screw is sticking out the back . Then line up the pilot hole in the edge of the left piece and attach the two pieces . This will aid in aligning the two pieces .)
7 . Repeat the process in Steps 5 and 6 to attach the back piece to the left side piece .
8 . Mark the halfway point of both 5½inch edges and one of the 4-inch edges in the floor piece . Then using a 1 / 8- inch bit , drill half-inch-deep pilot holes where marked .
9 . Attach the floor piece to the front , left , and back pieces through the drilled pilot holes using the exterior wood screws . Do not tighten the screws all the way .
10 . Using a 1 / 16-inch straight bit , drill pilot holes through the face of the front piece and into the edge of the right side piece near the top of the front piece . Use the straight edge and mark the same height on the back piece as the pilot hole you drilled in the front piece . Drill a pilot hole through the face of the back piece and into the edge of the right side piece where you made your mark .
11 . Insert 2-inch finishing nails through the pilot holes in the front and back pieces to attach both to the right side piece . Finish driving the nails with a hammer . You have now created a door that will swivel open for easy cleaning of the birdhouse . Tighten the floor screws from Step 9 .
12 . Using a 1 / 8-inch bit , drill pilot holes through the face of the back piece into the edge of the roof . Use wood screws to attach the roof to the back piece . Drill pilot holes through the face of the roof and into the edge of the front piece . Use wood screws to attach the roof to the front piece . There will be a ¾-inch gap at the top of the left and right sides for ventilation .
13 . Cut off an end of the round wooden dowel to a thickness that your fingers can comfortably grip . Using a drill and a 1 / 16-inch straight bit , drill a pilot hole through the center of the dowel piece .
14 . Using a drill and a 1 / 8-inch straight bit , drill a pilot hole through the face of the front piece , near the bottom , and into the edge of the right side piece .
15 . Drive a finishing nail through the pilot holes in the dowel , front piece , and right side piece . Twist the nail with the finger grip into the hole if necessary . This will keep the door closed until you ’ re ready to pull the nail with the finger grip out to swivel the door open and clean out the birdhouse .
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