Turn A Popular '60s Accessory Into The Perfect Upcycled Bird Bath

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Are you looking for the perfect bird bath for your backyard but haven't found one at a price that's within your budget? If you're just a little bit handy, you can forget those classic bird baths. There's a DIY water feature that adds a splash of magic to any yard with just a couple of items from your local thrift store. Plus, you can whip it up in no time at all. Do you remember those fancy smoking stands that held an ashtray? They were popular home accessories in the 1960s. Well, with a bit of effort and the right tools and supplies, you can turn one of them into the base for a bespoke bird bath.

First, head to your favorite thrift store for an old smoking stand. Commonly, these were made from metal, so you may well come across one that's gone a bit rusty. Grab it anyway because you can easily clean it up. Or you could just embrace the aged look and use it as is. You're also going to want to find a shallow dish that will easily fit on top. You might get lucky, and the ashtray on the stand is large enough to act as a bird bath — 12 inches or more in diameter. Otherwise, take a look in the kitchenware section of the thrift store for an old glass serving dish or platter that will fit neatly on the stand, or buy one new online. This 12-inch Mask el Turko Patisserie Cake Glass Serving Platter costs about $23. In a pinch, you could even turn a thrifted frying pan into a basin birds will love.

Depending on the state of the smoking stand, it's up to you whether you leave it as is or clean it up. There are, for example, many ways to remove rust and corrosion from metal, but one of the easiest is to use a sander or sanding block. Bonus — this also prepares the stand for painting. For a durable finish, apply a protectant product like Jenolite Rust Remover before painting, which neutralizes the rust and stops it from coming through the paintwork. The next day, wipe the stand down with mineral spirits before spraying on some Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Clean Metal Primer. Apply a second coat of primer within an hour, then leave the stand alone for 48 hours. Finish with a few coats of weather-proof paint for metal, such as Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Spray Paint, in your preferred color.

After painting the stand, wait for another 48 hours for the paint to cure before assembling the bird bath. This part is fairly simple because you just have to adhere the glass dish or platter to the top of the freshly painted stand. Use a waterproof adhesive designed for use on both metal and glass, like Locite Glass Glue or LMQ Lash Clear Glass Super Glue, to ensure a firm hold. Fill the bowl of the dish with gravel or a few large river stones to provide some grip for visiting birds. Now, all that's left to do is find the perfect shady spot in your garden for your new bird bath and fill it with fresh water. To make it even more enticing, add a small solar-powered fountain to the bowl. Many bird species are more attracted to running water than to still water.