I recently converted a Coates 12-hole house to 6. It was not as easy a task as is implied on this forum. I did not want to disassemble it and cut hole's with a 2 1/4" hole saw in the back wall. I did get the type made to cut metal, but it took forever to cut the hole; and each subsequent hole was harder to cut and looked more ragged. I guess the saw kept getting duller with each hole cut. It may be that the back walls on Coates houses are especially thick.
I also had a problem getting rid of the sharp edges. A file was too slow. I bought a drill bit with a grinder on it, but wore it down fast, and that was also slow.
I purchased a Trio Castle and planned to convert the 24 to 12, but decided against it after my experience with the Coates.
Experience Converting Coates 12 to 6
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Guest
Next time consider punching out the hole with a knockout tool (Greenlee.com) used by electricians to make holes in electrical panels. 1 minute per hole - no sharp edges, don't have to take the house apart. Mine goes up to 2".
Nothing particularly magic about only a "round" hole between compartments, as rectangular (square) works fine.
We have successful experience with opening the front panel of the Coates house and using a tin snips to cut a couple of front-to-back "slices" about 2 1/2-3" long; then bend the flap back and crimp with a channel lock or vice grips. No need to make a vertical cut nor remove the metal.
Also suggest closing up each obsolete entrance with a piece of aluminum flashing with a couple of pop rivets. Using a cut-up "pool noodle" to close the obsolete entrance just invites S&S pecking!
Our experience is that a 16 room Coates can be thus converted to 8 in 45 minutes to an hour.
Last season the birds loved them; the "turn" to get into the adjacent compartment is the same design as the Coates Watersedge Suite that comes from the factory with a round passage hole thru the divider.
We have successful experience with opening the front panel of the Coates house and using a tin snips to cut a couple of front-to-back "slices" about 2 1/2-3" long; then bend the flap back and crimp with a channel lock or vice grips. No need to make a vertical cut nor remove the metal.
Also suggest closing up each obsolete entrance with a piece of aluminum flashing with a couple of pop rivets. Using a cut-up "pool noodle" to close the obsolete entrance just invites S&S pecking!
Our experience is that a 16 room Coates can be thus converted to 8 in 45 minutes to an hour.
Last season the birds loved them; the "turn" to get into the adjacent compartment is the same design as the Coates Watersedge Suite that comes from the factory with a round passage hole thru the divider.
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Guest
I used a Moto Tool and a Ceramic Tile Cutter bit. Sixteen room Coates to eight, in about an hour and a half over two evenings. Made a half circle arch from outside wall to center wall. This will enable a power wash straight through cleaning this fall. The upper half, of the room divider remains as a strength factor, in the house.
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Guest
Was it a "new" hole saw? I did my Coates' in maybe 45 min with a cordless drill and 2" hole saw... with it on the pole. The hardest part was keeping the house from swinging from side to side.
Chuck
Chuck
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Guest
Was it a "new" hole saw? I did my Coates' in maybe 45 min with a cordless drill and 2" hole saw... with it on the pole. The hardest part was keeping the house from swinging from side to side.
If the hole saw was new, I'd take it back and get another. Tell it wouldn't cut.
Chuck
If the hole saw was new, I'd take it back and get another. Tell it wouldn't cut.
Chuck
It is certainly a matter of personal preference, but from the factory the Coates Suites are in a "side-by-side" configuration. That allows for at least a couple of advantages:
1. Predators, like owls, cannot see the nest.
2. When the front panel is opened on each 2--room "suite," you can see the entire nest environment for each pair.
Have not tried the "straight thru" configuration, made by cutting or drilling a hole; but, last year's experience indicated a readily accepted "right or left turn" into the nesting compartment.
Over the winter this year, we also eliminated the "nip" in the SREH crescent with a 1/4" drill to "round out" the corner. And the obsolete entry hole was covered with a piece of aluminum flashing fastened with pop rivets.
1. Predators, like owls, cannot see the nest.
2. When the front panel is opened on each 2--room "suite," you can see the entire nest environment for each pair.
Have not tried the "straight thru" configuration, made by cutting or drilling a hole; but, last year's experience indicated a readily accepted "right or left turn" into the nesting compartment.
Over the winter this year, we also eliminated the "nip" in the SREH crescent with a 1/4" drill to "round out" the corner. And the obsolete entry hole was covered with a piece of aluminum flashing fastened with pop rivets.