2 Martin House Designs - The Woodcrafter Page© 2004

Plan now to build one of these martin houses to make your yard a haven for colorful martins this summer. Featured here are two types of martin house designs, one is a steep gable roof design, made in three sections and the other design is made from a standard nail keg. Either one will make a very interesting project that will add the charm of nature to your back yard.

A martin house is usually placed on a 4 x 4 pole about 14 to 20 feet high. It should be placed a few feet away from trees or buildings. A means for lowering the house should be provided for cleaning or storing for the winter months. If it cannot be stored, the entrance holes should be covered with building paper to keep out starlings or sparrows until the return of the martins the following year.
A conventional 100 pound nail keg is used for this unique and attractive martin house. Three platforms with supports, a few inside separator pieces and a hexagonal roof comprise the completed house.
All stock used is 1/2 inch waterproof plywood except for the scrolled cross braces and turned wood flange support. Complete details are given in the drawing above. Apply a coat of wood preservative and two coats of outside white paint. Trim the edges with green paint.

Photo #1
2-1/2 inch entrance holes are made on the drill press with a barrel saw.
Fasten keg to the drill press table with hand screws.
The upright piece is used as on added brace while boring the holes.
To bore these holes use a barrel saw bit only.

Photo #2
The two platform floors are made up in four sections,
glued (with waterproof glue) and nailed together.
The inside portion is then cut out on the scroll saw , (see section A-A)
using a Delta #92 scroll saw blade.

Photo #3
Plywood stock 1/2 inch thick by 11-1/2 inches long is used
to make the triangular sections of the roof.
To make the compound angle cuts set the miter gage
at 70 degrees and tilt the blade at 11degrees.

Bill of Materials

# Pieces

Name

Size

1
Wooden Nail Keg

8
Platform Floor 1/2 x 5-7/8 x 15

1
Base Platform 3/4 x 21 x 21

8
Platform Support Brackets 1/2 x 3-1/2 x 5-3/4

4
Roof Support Brackets 1/2 x 3-1/2 x 5

2
Separator Pieces(Base Section) 1/2 x 5-3/4 x 12-1/8

2
Separator Pieces(Center Section) 1/2 x 5-3/4 x 12-1/4

2
Separator Pieces(Top Section) 1/2 x 7 x 12

4
Roof Boards 1/2 x 7-1/2 x 11-1/2

2
Base Support Cross Pieces 3/4 x 3 x 20

1
Flange Support 3/4 x 8 x 8

4
Angle Brackets 1 x 1 x 1

8
Flat Head Machine Screws (Brass) 10-32 x 3/4

1
Post 1-1/4 diameter pipe (with flange)
or
4 x 4 x 15 or 20 feet

Right-click here to download the drawing as an Adobe Acrobat (pdf) file.

* * * * Click on the drawings above to download a higher resolution picture. * * * *

*********** WARNING***********
Read my page on safety before building this item.