I was thinking about Bernie's post about fiberglass/styrofoam houses and was wondering if anyone has tried making fiberglass gourds. I imagine you could make them using a ballon like the paper mache craft things some of us made as kids.
You'd have to find a balloon that looks like a gourd but you could make it as large as you wish. I think it has possibilities.
Fiberglass gourds
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CUL Lou~Mich
Nesto. I've never worked with fibreglass, but isn't that some sort of woven fiber?? Wouldn't parts of that fiber possibly wear off, and create a hazard for the PMs?? I know it's used on cars, but I've never heard of anyone making artificial gourds out of it. CUL Lou
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Guest
CUL Lou,
They do use it on cars and how many corvettes have holes in the fenders? Also, it is used on the hull of boats. I think that it could work. I just don't know if the compounds used to paste it on would melt the balloon.
Just a thought.
They do use it on cars and how many corvettes have holes in the fenders? Also, it is used on the hull of boats. I think that it could work. I just don't know if the compounds used to paste it on would melt the balloon.
Just a thought.
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Guest
CUL Lou,
I just re-read my post back to you. It sounded somewhat snotty. Sorry I did not mean it that way.
I was just thinking that since the fiberglass once it has the opoxy on it is very hard and durable.
Thanks,
I just re-read my post back to you. It sounded somewhat snotty. Sorry I did not mean it that way.
I was just thinking that since the fiberglass once it has the opoxy on it is very hard and durable.Thanks,
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Guest
Papier mache was discovered around 1500. Translated it means chewed paper. A quarter inch of well made paper mache, on any form, is a good base, for Epoxy or a Polyester (also a boat building material). Made, in this manor, the inside would be somewhat textured like a real gourd. When the papier mache is dried it would soak up the brushed, on epoxy to form, the outer skin surface strength.
It is not rocket science, to make. Tear up newspapers into sheads. Half fill a five gallon bucket, add water and stir it into a thick soup like paste. This process is often used, by elementary art teachers, because it is inexpensive.
I see no reason why it could not be placed, on a balloon, as a step towards making a great gourd. I have the space so prefer growing gourds.
It is not rocket science, to make. Tear up newspapers into sheads. Half fill a five gallon bucket, add water and stir it into a thick soup like paste. This process is often used, by elementary art teachers, because it is inexpensive.
I see no reason why it could not be placed, on a balloon, as a step towards making a great gourd. I have the space so prefer growing gourds.
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Guest
Now you have me thinking back to Art I, freshman year, Shippensburg State Teachers School now a University.
Using papier mache make a human face mask. Two half head masks presents your live image as a gourd when joined together. While wet mold in the entry hole, of your choice, into the mouth area. Involve the kids for giggles and fun beyond belief. Mount one horizontal and build a character eye as an entrance hole or for smaller birds maybe play with a nose hole to the amusement of all.
Warning: Small children get carried away. Close supervision is required, to keep the nose and mouth holes, open when making, on face masks.
Using papier mache make a human face mask. Two half head masks presents your live image as a gourd when joined together. While wet mold in the entry hole, of your choice, into the mouth area. Involve the kids for giggles and fun beyond belief. Mount one horizontal and build a character eye as an entrance hole or for smaller birds maybe play with a nose hole to the amusement of all.
Warning: Small children get carried away. Close supervision is required, to keep the nose and mouth holes, open when making, on face masks.
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Guest
maybe you can just coat an already-in-use natural gourd w/ fiberglass material. then you already have the shape you want and if/when the natural gourd deterioates beyond use, you are left w/ a nice fiberglass shell in its place. if i was to try it, i would 1st coat the natural goard w/ how ever many layers of fiber you want, then add the access/entry holes. although, if your access port sticks out far enough, you could still add layers and wrap around the current port.
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Guest
Shucks the most efficient gourd is already a plastic gourd. No one can grow or make one, for the price they are available, in injection molded plastic.
That brings us down to possibly having some creative fun or healthy gardening, for the natural gourds, at a higher cost. Higher cost if labor is considered. I just have a problem appreciating the character of an injection molded gourd. To me there is something extra special, in a creatively made anything or a grown product each having individual character and a touch, of some master's hand bringing it, to the colony.
I mean facts are facts.........I just bought natural gourds at $10.00 apiece, including shipping. To that we added $40.00 worth, of purchased parts. I will still like them better in spite, of them, costing more than plastic.
That brings us down to possibly having some creative fun or healthy gardening, for the natural gourds, at a higher cost. Higher cost if labor is considered. I just have a problem appreciating the character of an injection molded gourd. To me there is something extra special, in a creatively made anything or a grown product each having individual character and a touch, of some master's hand bringing it, to the colony.
I mean facts are facts.........I just bought natural gourds at $10.00 apiece, including shipping. To that we added $40.00 worth, of purchased parts. I will still like them better in spite, of them, costing more than plastic.