| Project by scottb | posted 2245 days ago | 5128 views | 1 time favorited | 22 comments |  |
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a potential contender for the Gorilla Glue contest. This fits into the “outdoor entertainment” aspect of the contest, however since the glue is only used to bond wood to wood, and not wood to another material, I’m taking my chances with a mixed media birdhouse in the contest…. with so few entries right now, just about all of us will be getting a T-shirt at the very least!
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A ferris wheel of sorts for the squirrels, with food for the more agile, and great entertaiment for the humans!
A year or two back my brother-in-law made one of these with leftover mahogany from his parents deck. (yep, we sure are taking full advantage of all that surpluss… he even took a suitcase full back down to Texas – traded for some Texas beer. Talk about a win-win!)
That one was either an upgrade to the one the squirrels were currently enjoying, or a second one. I can’t remember if they have one or two at this point.
There were enough spindles left to make one more, slightly smaller one, which I did. and proptly forgot about it in the basement when it only needed some mounting hardware and corn. Last week I finally dug it out, gave it a final sanding to clean up the glue squeeze out, and attached the wheel to the support arm.
Sunday my daughter “helped” me hang it up. We don’t really have many squirrels, but we do have chipmunks, perhaps the slightly smaller size would be just perfect! It didn’t attach to securely to the tree, and with the weight of the corn, didn’t spin nearly as well as inside. As long as the racoons stay off, it should be fine though.
Come wednesday, one of the ears of dried corn had fallen off, and gravity didn’t turn the wheel. I guess I needed to use some hardware more tolerant of a little precipitation! as it won’t even turn.
Methinks some new hardware is in order, plus, I figure I’ll lenghten the ams a bit while i’m at it…. so for now the circus has packed up and left town… hopefully it will be back before next year. or maybe It’ll move to a permanent home over at the inlaws. Offering a “kiddie” ride for the less adventurous squirrels that just LOVE the one they already have!
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updated 8/31/08: So I finally adjusted the hardware and now it spins freely, regardless of the rain, heat and humidity! I also moved it to the other side of the tree, where it looks/works much better. The only hardware/screws used are to attach the wheel (and keep it spinning) and keep it attached to the tree. All wood joinery is done with original formula gorilla glue.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Van Gogh -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
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22 comments so far
CharlieM1958
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14855 posts in 2386 days
#1 posted 2245 days ago
PETA will be after you for attempting to use those poor creatures for your own entertainment!
Cute idea.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Diane
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546 posts in 2290 days
#2 posted 2245 days ago
This is cool, I’d love to watch them on this thing. I don’t have a backyard or I’d ask if you could make me one, if you would be willing to sell me one that is.
Diane
scottb
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3648 posts in 2494 days
#3 posted 2245 days ago
C- At least I’m offering food in exchange for a few laughs!
D- I would if you did… they are very funny to watch, kind of like your own funniest home video show… at least until they get smart. (or really really gutsy)
Thanks!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Van Gogh -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
RobS
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1331 posts in 2474 days
#4 posted 2245 days ago
I made one from the left over stuff I brought home.
It’s funny how the Texas squirrels act differently then the NH Squirrels. Texas squirrels tend to reach for the corn, over from the trunk of the tree. The NH squirrels just get out there and spin. I like the different base design. I’ll have to post mine to show the difference.
Thanks for sharing.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
Dick, & Barb Cain
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8681 posts in 2467 days
#5 posted 2245 days ago
I guess I’ll have to make one. Maybe you should try putting a piece plastic pipe for a bushing. The wood tends to swell from the rain.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Karson
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34369 posts in 2568 days
#6 posted 2245 days ago
Scott hat looks cool. We didn’t have squirels when we first moved here. r t least they wern’t visable, but now they are running all over the place.
This will be good for a laugh.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
gizmodyne
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1762 posts in 2257 days
#7 posted 2245 days ago
Cool!. I have always wanted a squirrel whirlerer! Those varmints have been eating my redwood trelllis.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
scottb
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3648 posts in 2494 days
#8 posted 2245 days ago
I bet thats it Dick… thanks for that suggestion. I just checked out the two at my in-laws and they are still operating fine… but they have more than just a screw and washer holding it together.
Funny how the squirrels are different cross country Rob.
Would kinda like to see the racoons doing acrobatics on this… If they don’t break it off the tree!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Van Gogh -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
RobS
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1331 posts in 2474 days
#9 posted 2245 days ago
Hey Scott, mine worked fine with just a washer on both sides of the cross piece. I did come back and add a short length of small pvc (like Dick suggested) only to try and get it farther away from the trunk.. It is fun to watch!
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
Karson
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34369 posts in 2568 days
#10 posted 2245 days ago
Scott how is the cob attached to the end.
A wire around a screw and through the cob?
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
dennis mitchell
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3994 posts in 2482 days
#11 posted 2245 days ago
I could bait the ends with candy and set it up for the grandkids!
scottb
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3648 posts in 2494 days
#12 posted 2244 days ago
Karson, The cobs are attached with two connected eye hooks, not a perfect system. They work ok, but can be pulled off. One more thing to ‘upgrade’. I think something corkscrew like would be better.
Rob what did you and Dad do? And why do his stay on so much better? I thought he said he used eyehooks.
I must say I didn’t think this project would have attracted so much attention. I’d have finished it years ago!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Van Gogh -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
RobS
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1331 posts in 2474 days
#13 posted 2244 days ago
Mine has a screw eye in each end of each axis. Started out having spring clips that hooked onto those screw eyes which then held a second set of screw eyes that screwed into the corn. Squirrels figured out how to either work those weak spring hooks loose and/or were able to yank the corn off the screw eyes. Moved to heavier versions of both. Almost like a small caribeener(sp) and just longer, thicker screw eyes. Now those squirrels can swing from the corn. Dad uses the heavier screw eyes for the corn too and uses more of a dog or leash clip instead of the caribeeners. When I get back from Atlanta I’ll try to post detailed pictures.
Also it’s important to actually screw the corn onto the screw eyes, just pushing them on instead threading them on allows the squirrels to pull them off more easily.
That is all.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Squirrel Feeder.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
Karson
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34369 posts in 2568 days
#14 posted 2244 days ago
Thanks Rob and Scott.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
scottb
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3648 posts in 2494 days
#15 posted 2244 days ago
Guess I need bigger screw eyes. the ones I have are pretty beefy, threaded on ok… I’ll move up a few sizes. Took a little bit of muscle to open the eyes with a pair of wrenches… small carabiners or eq. next time!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Van Gogh -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
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