Over-Engineeded (Steampunk?) Bird Feeder
For the last few days, I have been working on a little project that a relative asked me to tackle.
The challenge:
The couple have a bird feeder that sits atop a post outside their front room window.
They enjoy feeding and watching the birds all year long.
They are getting up in years, and can no longer manage to dig their way to the bird feeder in the snow.
So, I was asked if there was some way that I could design something to get their feeder over to the covered porch (10') for re-filling, and then back to the spot outside their window, making it possible for them to keep it filled in the winter.
Of course, I had all kinds of cool ideas, including an auger setup to pump seed to the feeder, an overhead crane to drop seed into the feeder, etc.
But, one of the "asks" was that it be as low-cost as possible.
So, I decided that moving the feeder back and forth was the simplest option.
I chewed on the concept for a few days, and decided that a trolley/track system would work best, and require the least maintenance.
Then I looked for cheap ways to make it.
I bought some old kids roller blades at a used sporting goods store and salvaged the wheels and axles.
Then I designed a trolley that would support the 16" x 27" bird feeder platform.
And a suspended track that it could ride on:
And a transport mechanism:
Some sled and design details:
The ends are designed to fit over a 4x4 post top, and be secured from the sides.
And came up with a working proof of concept model:
video Here:
Now I will break it down, finish off the rough edges, sand and paint it, change the transport cable to a good stainless wire rope, add rubber bumpers to the stops at each end, and get it ready to install at their house.
I'll have to dig a post hole and add a second post for the porch end, but will mount the far end to the existing post that the bird feeder currently sits on.
I'll add the finished pictures when I install it.
UPDATE: Finished and installed.
The bird feeder originally sat on the post under the window:
I moved the post closer to the house to get it more under the eaves, and added a second post next to the front porch.
And mounted the finished track, then moved the old bird feeder onto the movable trolley and installed it.
Now he can reel in the bird feeder and fill it from under the covered porch, then crank it back into place under the window. You'll just have to imagine the 3~4 feet of snow on the ground where the feeder is:
You tube video of him grinning and cranking his new trolley setup:
<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format
ther; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format
ther; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-fareast-language:JA;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style>
You have been busy! What do you do with your free time? 
You've definitely earned your handle -- I think I see a speck of dust on your ceiling reflected in it LOL
