[olbarn]

Hi,

I've got some gourds I want to try carving. I've cleaned them and they're on the picnic table outside dried off. They were dried to start with.

I've been looking for suggestions, tips, etc. on carving them and preparing them but don't seem to be finding anything much.

Do any of you have any suggestions? How do you clean them? Do you take the seeds out first? How do you finish them?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

There are several Gourd newsletters that come out, most are from California....I know one thing....wear a mask! There is a fungus in the gourds that you do not want to breathe! I suggest wearing a mask at all stages and handlings until the gourd is finished.

[Thomp]

there was a lot wrote about gourds in the past years, i did a search for "Gourds" and found posts in nearly every forum, on gourds one way or the other..
good luck,

you probably will come up with more than you want to know really fast..

I know that to help clean them out they take a big 1-1/2" washer and mount it in a slot in the end of a stick with the edge of the washer sharpened flat like a scraper it helps get into the inside to rake out all the dry pulp and seeds,

its sharpened flat not sharp..like a coin edge.. if that helps you some,

the outside is cleaned with a 3m scrubby and bleach/water mixture 1/2 cup to 5 gallons water using rubber dish washing gloves, to remove mold.

i made martin houses out of mine, but haven't grown any for 5 years or so...

if you got to many water dipper gourd seed let me know i cant find any round here.

[Christine]

There is a woman who lives in Los Altos, CA. who is considered a gourd guru. Her name is Ginger Summit and her web site is
http://www.gingersummit.com/
I think you may find it interesting and helpful. She has written a number of books about working with gourds, and does beautiful work. I've seen her gourds at the Saratoga Carving Show, and bought one of her books for a friend who is experimenting with gourds.
Hope this helps a bit.
Christine

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Christines referral to Ginger Summit has a link to other gourd sites...excellent, in fact the one I was familiar with is there, they send out a newsletter....
http://welburngourdfarm.com/