Vintage Patinated Copper Diving Suit Life-Line Seed Reel

Construct the central seed reservoir using a reclaimed oak cylinder, turned on a lathe to mimic the proportions of a heavy-duty diving umbilical reel. Seal the interior with food-safe epoxy to protect the wood from moisture.

Fashion the outer side-plates from patinated copper sheet, hand-hammered to create a rugged, oxidized texture that suggests years of underwater exposure. Attach these plates to the central drum using decorative brass bolts.

Incorporate a gravity-fed seed aperture along the outer edge of the reel, protected by a miniature copper hood. This ensures that seeds are only dispensed when the weight of a bird causes the spool to rotate slightly on its central brass spindle.

Finish the assembly by mounting the reel onto an iron-wrought bracket, designed to mount directly to a backyard post. Add a weathered hemp rope detail wrapped around the reel frame to complete the maritime aesthetic.