Shopsmith Forums

I have plans to make a new squirrel house very soon. I will be using plans from "Wood Projects for Illinois Wildlife", it is a simple design with no complicated joints or cuts. A beginners project.

I will make a few changes based on my observation of how the old house was used by the squirrels and improvements I think can be done to make life simpler.

You will need about 12' of 1x12 wood, I'm going to use common pine cut-offs that I got from Menards for 69 cents each for 4' lengths(with waste I think 4 boards will be enough). The wood has lots of loose knots or as they are commonly know "vents".

You will also need some small hinges and a hook and eye for the roof and lag bolts with washers for attaching to a tree.

Now I'm going to be making one and I can either do it quickly or slow down and take pictures and present it here. If you would like to see it here then let me know.

Don't want to bother if there is not interest.

Ed

reible wrote:I have plans to make a new squirrel house very soon. I will be using plans from "Wood Projects for Illinois Wildlife", it is a simple design with no complicated joints or cuts. A beginners project.

I will make a few changes based on my observation of how the old house was used by the squirrels and improvements I think can be done to make life simpler.

You will need about 12' of 1x12 wood, I'm going to use common pine cut-offs that I got from Menards for 69 cents each for 4' lengths(with waste I think 4 boards will be enough). The wood has lots of loose knots or as they are commonly know "vents".

You will also need some small hinges and a hook and eye for the roof and lag bolts with washers for attaching to a tree.

Now I'm going to be making one and I can either do it quickly or slow down and take pictures and present it here. If you would like to see it here then let me know.

Don't want to bother if there is not interest.

Ed

When was there LACK of interest in anything you post?;)

Post pictures. Somebody should be interested in building one.

Around here, there would be interest only if it works like the roach motel. The squirrels go in, but they never come out.

reible wrote: Now I'm going to be making one and I can either do it quickly or slow down and take pictures and present it here. If you would like to see it here then let me know.

Don't want to bother if there is not interest.

Ed

Ed, to me your making a presentation here is always very interesting. I can learn from the techniques that you use even if house building for squirrel would not be my thing.
So, personally, I welcome your input and I thank you for that.

Definition
Squirrels - fuzzy tailed rats.

I would also be interested in a house for squirrels that once they go in they don't come out.
We have so many they invade attics and anywhere else and eat every thing.

Neighbor had one squirrel clean every inch of insulation from about a foot of a wire in his attic. The wire was switched for a light they never use. When he flipped the switch he instantly blew a breaker, but not before it started a smothering fire that must have burnt it self out because all he has is a small ash trail in the cellouse insulation. Inspection revealed the squirrels were also eating insulation from other wires so he got the pleasure of replacing a half dozen wires. He would be first in line for a one way squirrel house.

I had a roof inspection for insurance company (manditory for every roof over 20 years old) inspector came down smiling telling me the roof is fine but the squirrels are eating the lead flashing from the stand pipes. I knew the squirrels were doing this about 5 years ago but I thought I had it stopped. Now I get to go on the roof fix the damage and wrap the pipe in chicken wire. I would be second for plans on a one way squirrel house!

Attached is a link from the Missouri Department of Conservation:
mdc.mo.gov/.../how/woodworking/how-build-squirrel-den

I have had over 180 Eagle Scout projects here at Cascade, Idaho. They have built everything from these squirrel den boxes toWood duck boxes to Mountain bluebird boxes to Great Gray owl platforms.

The only change I asked the Scouts to make in the design was to extend back beyound the top. That way, they can use deck screws to attach the box to the tree. Rather than the wire, as the tree grows, would cut into the bark.

http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/how/woodworking/
That way we do not go through google, just click on it .... there is many plans for different constructions for other animals.

camerio wrote:Ed, to me your making a presentation here is always very interesting. I can learn from the techniques that you use even if house building for squirrel would not be my thing.
So, personally, I welcome your input and I thank you for that.

+1 on the "Yep" vote.

I learn from seeing how others build/do. Construction techniques can be applied to lots of projects.

Looking forward to your posts.

Bud

We have outdoor cats that keep the squirrels at bay. They destroy everything.

Build a house for them? Never!

Now a nice bat house I could get into or even a bee condo.

reible wrote:I have plans to make a new squirrel house very soon. I will be using plans from "Wood Projects for Illinois Wildlife", it is a simple design with no complicated joints or cuts. A beginners project.

I will make a few changes based on my observation of how the old house was used by the squirrels and improvements I think can be done to make life simpler.

You will need about 12' of 1x12 wood, I'm going to use common pine cut-offs that I got from Menards for 69 cents each for 4' lengths(with waste I think 4 boards will be enough). The wood has lots of loose knots or as they are commonly know "vents".

You will also need some small hinges and a hook and eye for the roof and lag bolts with washers for attaching to a tree.

Now I'm going to be making one and I can either do it quickly or slow down and take pictures and present it here. If you would like to see it here then let me know.

Don't want to bother if there is not interest.

Ed

Now that many of us have expressed our feelings about squirrels I think in all fairness to Ed and his fantastic ability to document his projects we should encourage him to please give us details and photos of this project.

After all we are all interested in techniques, tips, and how to's.

So in that vane. Yes! Please Ed show us a step by step of what you are doing.