tunnels on super gourds?

[crnman3]

hi everyone, getting ready for the new season...YEA!! cant wait for my birds to come home.
i was wondering if anyone here has ever put tunnels on a super gourd?
if so, what is the best way to do it?
i have round entrances and wanted to change to a sreh entrance and thought a tunnel with a sreh entrance might be the way to go while i was modifying.
i haven't seen any tunnels specifically for super gourds and was looking online at s&k tunnels but they have a flat plate that doesn't look flexible.
i'm sure it can be done, but thought someone here may have some good insight on the best way.
any help would be greatly appreciated....thanks

[Jeremy Shuler]

I dont know if this is possible but if you could find some of the troyer tunnels with the conley II entrance would be a sinch to convert.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I have put many of every type of tunnel on all styles of gourds. Basically, what you must do is cut a hole into the gourd that fits the desired tunnel, insert it (try to get a good fit)), caulk the edges of the hole and the tunnel where it will touch the gourd, then insert it and smooth the caulk. They are all done the same way.

If you use the S&K tunnels, you should cut off the flat part (flange) that is normally used to attach the gourd (cut off the part that is larger than the tunnel). Tin snips work good to cut off the flange. I probably attached about 100 doing it this way.

I put homemade tunnels on super gourds when they first came out with the Supergourd. I didn't want the hole real high, so I put the top of the tunnel level with the top of the existing hole. This will slightly lower the entrance which I like much better. Its easier for the martin to exit if the hole is lower, and that becomes important during feeding time.

By the way, you will not harm the gourd by enlarging the entrance. Some people are scared to cut into a plastic gourd, but they are very tough. They will not change shapes by having entrances or access holes cut into them.

[Scott D.- La]

It can be done depending on what you want. Troyer tunnels, S&K clinger tunnels, Sandy Bunn tunnels, pvc coupler's, 22.5's, 45's or 90's, pvc pipe and square platic gutter can all be used and can all be fitted with SREH.

[Stretch]

OH YEAH it can be done!

So, order some 4inch excluder 2 tunnels from Sandy. (or make them....I make 3 inch tunnel cause I bought a 3.25 inch hole saw mainly when I built my t14)

K...with a 3 inch pvc pipe/sewer pipe sized tunnel...there is already a circle drawn for you. Grab a jigsaw for this cut...cuts the super gourd like butter. take your time...be careful...nice smooth round hole.

Your tunnel will fit in nicely at this point...but not enough yet.
I take the F22? I'll find the name of it...it is construction adhesive. It is wicked stuff too...wear gloves or your end up with a self made pair that takes a couple weeks to wear off. -

Glue it up...push the tunnel into the gourd checking for balance and level...let it dry...I'll try to send pics...but Larry did this on Martha Stewart show....so there is good video of this too.

I'm upgrading all 4 of my supers!!!

I just reread emils post...I like his idea of lowering the tunnel. I may do that since I have 2 more supers to do... can't wait!

[Guest]

As all have said, yes it can be done easily,you are only limited by your imagination.

dick

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Scott, in recent weeks, my homemade cedar tunnel has become my favorite.

[Stretch]

Emil...cedar tunnel...

think you can share a pic or two ?

Video of Larry building gourd with tunnel: same concept can be applied to supergourds...
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/gourd-birdhouse

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

My Poorboy tunnel...

Stretch, I don't know how to put it on the computer right now, my camera is down. It is simple to build. I use the 5/8in cedar fence pickets from the box stores, they are 5/8in thick.

The cedar tunnel is very strong & solid, about the same weight as plastic tunnel, you can make it any length, any width, completely opaque, good traction, well insulated from the weather, easy to cut the gourd or house hole since its rectangular, looks good on a gourd, cheap, last longer than the gourd, easy to paint, and the martins like natural products like wood. Also, its guaranteed to stop wing entrapment because of the width

They can be glued together with EXTERIOR wood glue, use small nails or screws to hold them together (I use a staple gun). If you screw them together, I would predrill the holes with a bit smaller than the screw so the wood will not split. Here are the dimentions:

For a 5in long tunnel

1)floor & porch, 1 piece that is about 2-3/8in wide x 8in long (or desired width)
2)both sides are the same, about 3-1/2in high x 5in long
3)the top, 5in long x about 3-7/8in wide

Attach the desired entrance, use caulk and some 1-1/8in sheetrock screws. I also drill a drain hole on each side incase water comes in thru the entrance

The sheetrock screws are very thin, so they don't split the cedar.

I like to work with wood, and this is by far the easiest tunnel for me to make.

[geezer]

I retrofitted all 16 of my SuperGourds with Troyer Tunnels purchased from PMCA. The PM's love them..plus the PM's feel safe from the many Owls in the area.

It is a very easy process to install the tunnels. Just cut a round hole w/ small battery powered saw and caulk it in place

[James Strickland FL]

Can some post some picks on how you mounted them. Please!

[crnman3]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

i have been trying to think of how to attach it to the gourd, i didn't think about inserting it in the gourd the way yall explained.

this shouldn't be to hard to do.

Great Help!! everyone's advice will definitely save me some trial and error.

any pictures will still be great to though.

thanks

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Some good reading is Chuck Abare's purple martin stuff. Just google Chuck Abare & you will get there.

This may help, click on the following:

http://www.chuckspurplemartinpage.com/

then go to the left side, scroll down and he covers many subjects

[M.Stephens]

This is my deluxe gourd rack with supergourds and troyer tunnels w conley II entrances added . I would have to take closer pictures later if you needed .

[Stretch]

M.Stephens
getting the butterflies going in my stomach with that photo. I pick up 2 delux gourd racks this Friday and another gourd pole on Friday.
CAN"T WAIT!