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Learn how to make a DIY PVC bird!
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DIY PVC Bird – An Easy Yard Decoration Tutorial

Need new decorations for the front yard of your home? Try making a DIY PVC bird! They make incredible yard decorations and are easy gifts to make for family or friends. Use our step-by-step tutorial below to guide you throughout the process of making it.

Materials

Materials for PVC pipe bird

To make your PVC bird, you will need the following supplies:

  • PVC Pipe
  • Ruler or Measuring Tape
  • Bird Pattern (download here)
  • Pencil
  • Rubber Bands
  • Electric Saw
  • Jigsaw
  • Sander
  • Vice
  • Heat Gun
  • 2 Sets of Pliers
  • Gloves
  • Spray Paint
  • Brick
  • 2 Bolts
  • Drill
  • Wrench
  • Plastic Eyes
  • Bucket
  • Water
1. Sanding & Tracing

Cutting PVC pipe

To start, cut the PVC pipe using a standard saw. For a large bird, the pipe is approx. 4 feet long or 29 1/2 inches for a small one. The pipe for the large bird should be 3 inches wide; for the small one, 2 inches wide—sand down the pipe to remove any markings and ink from the pattern.

Align template and trace

After this, line up the bird pattern on the PVC pipe and attach it to the pipe with rubber bands. Then carefully trace the pattern onto the PVC pipe.

2. Cut Out the PVC Bird
cutting bird out

Use a jigsaw to cut out a PVC pipe bird following your traced pattern.

Final cut out

Once the bird is entirely cut out, it should look like the above photo.

3. Form the Legs of the Bird

cut bird legs

On the lower section of the bird, trace a line straight down the middle.  Cut straight down the line with a jigsaw to form the legs.

4. Sand Away!

sand edges

Sand down the entire body of the bird making smooth edges.

5. Form the Wings & Head

Flip the PVC bird over and cut down the middle of the remaining circular pipe with a jigsaw to create the wings.

create bird wings

Use a vice to hold the head of the bird in place. Heat the beak with a heat gun and tighten the vice to form the head. Use pliers to remove the bird’s head out of the vice. Dip the bird’s head in a bucket of water to solidify the shape.

6. Shape the Bird Legs

Form bird legs

Next, use a heat gun at the base of the legs and slowly bend them into shape.

Cool down bird legs

Solidify the legs by dipping them into a bucket of cold water.

7. Bend Your Bird

Curve bird

Use a heat gun to curve the bird’s neck slightly. Dip the bird’s neck in water to solidify. Then use support and the previous tool to put a little curve into your bird. Dip the bird in the water again.

8. Spread the Wings

spreading bird's wings

Use two pairs of pliers and a heat gun to slowly separate the bird’s wings. First, heat the body of the bird with the heat gun. Then, pull with pliers from each side to help bend the wings into shape. Keep a good grip on the pliers to create a good bend in the bird. Dip the bird in water to solidify the wings—sand down the edges of the bird.

9. Forming Bird Feet

Create bird's feet

Using a heat gun, heat the tips of the bird’s legs and bend them with pliers to create the bird’s feet. Then dip the feet into the water to solidify the shape of the PVC pipe.

10. Align Bird on Brick and Drill

Drill holes

Align your bird on the brick and mark where the feet would look best. Drill holes through the brick. After this, drill holes through the center of the bird’s feet.

11. Attach Bird to Brick

Bolt bird to brick

Widen the feet on it and bolt the PVC feet to the brick with a wrench.

12. Spruce Up Your Bird with Feathers

Cut out feathers

Sand the PVC bird down once more to make smooth edges. Trace feathers onto your PVC and cut them out with a jigsaw—sand down the feathers after cutting.

13. Fluff Those Feathers

Fluff bird's feathers

Use a heat gun to heat the edges of the feathers and bend them slightly with pliers.

14. Drill Eyeholes

Create eyeholes for bird

Use a drill to make holes for the eyes to snap into.

15. Paint Your Bird

Paint PVC bird

Cover the bolts and brick with tape and spray paint the bird with the color of your choice. Be sure to spray 6 inches away from the pipe in short bursts. Allow the surface to dry, and add any extra accessories. Snap the bird’s eyes into the drilled-out holes to finish up your PVC bird and display it in your front yard!

For more helpful tips on making a PVC bird, watch our video tutorial below!

 

Add some decor to your garden or front yard with a PVC pipe bird! Learn how to make one with our easy tutorial.

 

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