Hummingbird Feeder

thingiverse

I would look for a round plastic container in the kitchen or grocery store where the cap fits perfectly on the plastic bottle base. I used a 1 quart plastic vinegar bottle for one and a plastic beverage bottle for the second, removing the plastic safety ring first. Next, drill two 2-1/4" holes through the bottle side (and cap if necessary) about 5/8" from the end of the cap. The location of these holes will determine liquid height; the closer to the bottom of the flower, the better. I used a cork-type wine bottle for one base, simply pushing the open end into the base. This provides about 7/8" of liquid in the bottom container. To create the flower, I printed it at 60% speed for about 12 minutes and then reduced to 40% speed for the stem. Slow speeds will give better results; a timer will help. The first flower has smaller petals and are for bottle clearance when necessary. The tapered mounting rings have a relief for getting closer to the lid edge, two per flower. For the plastic bottom container, I needed a shallow one about 1-5/8" deep; Tupperware or equal will provide the most durable option. Drill 1/2" flower holes in the lid far enough in from the edge to clear the bottom part of the container when put together. The center hole should be large enough to allow the bottle base to sit on the container bottom. The hanger brackets were printed at 80% speed, with a knob sticking out of the top bracket for recessed container bottoms. Reverse it for flat bottoms. I used Cord Locks on the wine bottle build; be sure and secure the cord back around the lock for safety after all is adjusted. They can be found at this link: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1730077. For cleanup, print speeds will affect the final fit-up. Used crazy glue where needed; scale it according to your needs. The liquid mixture is one part sugar to four parts water. Most hummingbirds have a tongue as long as their bill. This project was inspired by: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:77439. Seal with shellac or some other sealer and clean properly to avoid mold.