Jack Jones
JJ’s Woodcrafts
Specializing in Birdhouses and Feeders made with old recycled or reclaimed wood
Recycling is for the Birds
Jack Jones always loved woodworking, and when he retired in 2000, he had the time to make custom furniture for his family. The amount of leftover wood amazed him. He didn’t want to waste nice materials so he kept the wood. He figured that one day there would be a way to use it. That day came when his church’s youth group was trying to find a creative project for their Christmas bazaar. Jack had the idea to create birdhouse building kits from the scrap wood. The kids build, painted and ultimately sold 40 birdhouses at the bazaar! After that people started approaching Jack asking for him to make them birdhouses. That’s when “JJ Woodcrafts” started making birdhouses from recycled materials.
Since that Christmas bazaar he has bought and salvaged everything from dining room table leaves to 240 year old barns! About 90-95% of each house is entirely recycled. Jack goes to auctions and answers classified ads in his quest for old materials. His houses are made from some of the finest woods including cherry, mahogany, douglas fir, oak and cedar. Most of the wood is 50-240 years old and is weathered or distressed with variations of grain, knots, and wear. Each house is as unique as the wood used to make it.
When you talk to Jack, you find out how much he loves every aspect of building these little treasures. You will find him at auctions and yard sales looking for things like old furniture. When new opportunities to find old materials arise, Jack is there.
Jack spends hours in his shop creating new designs and researching birds to learn as much as he can about them and their living habits. Jack takes pride in his work. You can see that as each piece is made with care and creativity.
House Construction and Design
All joints are made with Tight Bond III External Waterproof Glue and are sealed from the elements with one of the following: Thompson’s 3 year Advanced Waterproofing, Cabot Premium Woodcare Water Repellent – Cedar Stain, Bear Clear Waterproofing Wood Finish, Behr Premium Plus Exterior Paints
All houses are constructed with removable clean out panels and ventilation holes.
Most houses have a 1” -1 3/8” opening for the most popular yard birds, i.e. Wrens, English Sparrow, Chickadee, Nuthatch Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, and Goldfinch.
Although several of my houses and feeders come from bird books and commercial drawings, most are my own creations and designed with various wood types and available wood supplies.
Jack Jones
610-759-7016