Beginners Guide to Cleaning a Gourd. Dirty and moldy, toxic to some, what do you do with it at this point?
We are going to talk about cleaning the outside, and then cut and clean the inside of the gourd and get it ready to become an art
If you already have had the experience of going through the gourd bins or even through the gourd fields to find the perfect gourds to turn into art then you, like all of us, are now faced with things that look like this.
There are as many different ways to clean a gourd as there are gourd artists. Please don’t ignore the safety precautions, especially regarding sawdust. If you use a high-powered cutting tool (Dremel, etc), you’ll be generating sawdust from the gourd, and it is very, very fine. The faster the tool, the more dust you’ll create. Many gourd artists opt for mini-jigsaws with variable speeds, to control the cutting and minimize dust. Check the Blog page for more posts on cutting tools.
This is my favorite mask. Look for the post about finding the right mask for more information.
Beginners Guide to Cleaning a Gourd.
Cleaning the Exterior
You can wash them in the sink, in a washtub outside, or like the Hawaiians in the ocean or a river. Clean one at a time or better yet, get yourself a big Rubbermaid tub. Add water and some dish soap. (Some swear by the Dove brand) I stay away from adding bleach. Too dangerous for me because I get water all over! Put a wet towel over them or something else to weigh them down under the water, then wait.
Items used for cleaning the outside:
- Rubber gloves
- Bucket or tub for water
- Copper scrubby
- Dull knife for scraping
I Usually play Round-Robin when I Clean my gourds
I let them sit in the water for about 10 minutes, then scrub them with the scrubber and get all the dirt and loose things off. Then it returns to the water and I do the next gourd.
The second round is focused on stubborn areas like the bottom and around the stem. The third round uses a knife to scrape any wax spots and tiny white dots. Then let them dry.
Potting Soil Method
Welburn suggests you bury your gourds in the potting soil. Buy the cheapest potting soil and keep away from the soil with manure! You can bury more than one gourd at a time. Just be sure that the potting soil is touching the entire surface area of each gourd.
Next, hose down the potting soil with water. You want to get it nice and moist but not too soupy. Soak your gourds for 1-2 days. Be sure the soil stays moist.
Now that the soil has had a chance to break down the skin on the gourds, it is time to wipe it clean. You can use your hands or wear dish gloves.
These gourds have been soaking for a while, so they are going to take a little longer to dry. Be sure to dry them in the shade to avoid having them crack. It is also helpful to drill a tiny hole either on the top or bottom of the gourd to allow any air and moisture to come out. It also prevents cracking. You can lightly sand the surface before you add product to the gourd.
Now take a few minutes and watch how our friend Miriam does it.
How to clean the outside of your Gourd ~ Featuring Miriam Joy
Beginners Guide to Cleaning a Gourd.
Cleaning the Interior of the Gourd
This process is a mask moment. There are also special tools you will need. Miriam will go over these in her next video.
Beyond the purchased tools, your environment will offer you many options.
Someone post this set of tools he uses. Including a horse hoof and elk bone! I also have seen people use shells, credit cards, pan scrapers, and even a grapefruit spoon.
First Step is Cutting it Open
You will need a saw, pencil and a pairing knife.
Pencil in the line you want to cut, then with the knife, pierce the gourd creating a hole large enough for the saw blade. Hold on tight and cut. Move the gourd, not the saw. And go slowly!
Once it is open you must first scrape out the inside. I like using scrapes and a melon ball spoon.
If your gourd is too tall or the opening too small to get your hand in, then a drill with a sanding ball is the answer.
Then it comes to the sanding part. I start with 80 grit and sometimes a sanding sponge works well. By the way, don’t throw those seeds away. Put them in a sieve, shake the white stuff off and store them for later!
Here are some more tips about tools. How to clean the inside of your Gourd ~ Featuring Miriam Joy.
That’s how you turn your dirty gourd into clean surface you can turn into art!
Now you must use your skills and creativity to make something stunning.
Share your favorite cleaning tools and tips with us.
Share your thoughts here in the comment box or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page.
Return to the Blog page for other articles.
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