Preparing and Cleaning Gourds

Getting Gourds Ready for Finishing

How to Cut and Clean a Hardshell Gourd

Before applying a finish to a fully-cured gourd, you will (usually) want to remove the exterior mold that formed during curing; cut the gourd with your final design in mind; and clean the gourd's interior.

Removing Exterior Mold

If you have mold allergies, wear rubber gloves and a face mask when working with the molded gourds.

If you plan to retain any part of the stem in your design, be sure to remove the mold from it as well.

Mold comes off best if well-soaked first. Since the dried gourds are pretty hollow when cured they float if placed in a tub of water.

Consequently the simplest method for soaking them is to wrap molded gourds in towels and place into a black plastic garbage bag. Add some water and a little liquid laundry detergent.

Create a steam bath for the gourds by placing the black bag out in the sun for several hours. Rotate the bag occasionally. This method will work even in cold climates.

The black plastic soaks up the sun's heat and transfers it to the interior. [ That's exactly how those black plastic solar heating tubes filled with water function. ]

Remove the gourds and scrub off the softened mold with a kitchen scrubby. Metal ones work best but any will do the job. Stubborn spots can be scraped off with a knife.

Cutting the Gourd Open

You need to cut the gourd in two in order to clean the interior. A Dremel tool (which is like a miniature circular saw) can be used for straight cuts. A jig saw or fine wood saw allows you to make curved cuts.

An electric jig saw works well but take extra precautions to brace the gourd first.

It is so easy to slip when cutting a hard curved surface, be sure to brace the gourd well and never cut toward yourself. A well-secured non-slip surface is helpful.

For example, a rubber bath or dish mat can be wedged against a corner of a countertop. You can buy wooden vises with padded grips specifically designed for gourd cutting.

Draw the cutting line lightly in pencil. Start the cut by piercing the gourd shell with a sharp-pointed knife. Insert cutting tool into the hole and proceed.

Cleaning the Gourd's Interior

Gourd pulp is noxious. Many find it irritating to eyes and mucous membranes. Take proper precautions. Work in a well-ventilated area and consider gloves and a face mask.

The list of tools which can be used to clean gourds is lengthy and the choice of tools partly depends on the thickness of the gourd's shell.

Common household items such as an old kitchen spoon, grapefruit spoon, ice cream scoop or melon baller (for small gourds or small openings) serve well. Long narrow jeweler's files are good for narrow-necked gourds as well as for smoothing rough edges. Clay scraping tools designed for shaping clay are good for scraping away the pulp. The wire brush attachment for a power drill can be used on thick-skinned gourds.

Begin by pulling out all the pulp you can by hand. Then clean the rest with whatever tools seem best suited. If the interior of your crafted gourd will not be seen, you don't need to be too meticulous.

If the interior will show, finish your cleaning by sanding the inside to an even smooth finish with a metal kitchen scrubby or sandpaper. Use a pliers to break away the inside stub from the stem end.

Now you're ready to decorate and finish your gourd craft. Here are various gourd decorating methods.