Natural Gourds Can Last a Lifetime

[Bernie Nikolai]

While gourds don't grow outside in Alberta long enough to mature due to our short growing season and lack of sufficient heating units, I did manage to grow 8 or so really nice ones (by cheating) in a buddy's greenhouse. When I turned them into martin gourds, I thought I'd see if in theory I could make them last for many more years than they normally do.

Since natural gourds eventually rot out on the bottom after several years or so of use, even when soaked in copper sulphate, I added a fiberglass cloth "patch" over the entire bottom, and gave the gourds, patch and all, a couple of coats of epoxy. The gourds were first soaked in copper sulphate, and after the epoxy and entrances were installed, painted as normal.

The epoxy really sinks into the gourd, and gives it a hard plastic like coating. Even when/if the entire bottom rots out and the dust falls out of the bottom drainage holes, the cloth/epoxy bottom will hold fast and secure. To prevent water from entering the hanging holes, I followed some advice and first inserted plastic aquarium air tubing into the hole, and siliconed it in. So no amount of water dripping down the hanging wires can find its way into the gourd, due to the plastic tubing.

Yes, this is yet another step in preparing gourds. And yes, you will still need to paint the outside of the gourd every few years as is being done now. But I really think this method will make gourds last many, many years, possibly a human lifetime. Our great grandkids can say "that's the gourd great grandpappy made way back in twenty ott six, and its housed martins ever since"


If you look closely on the bottom of this gourd in the photo, you will see the edge of the "fiberglass cloth/epoxy patch" on the bottom. Since we go to a lot of work in preparing natural gourds anyways, perhaps one more step to make them last many more years is worth it.

[oneidalaker]

Great idea. I've just getting ready to paint 8 new gourds. I've got some fiberglass cloth and epoxy. I was going to use the cloth and epoxy on one gourd that had thin walls and cracked when I drilled the access hole (really ought to send it back to the supplier). I'm going to give your suggestion a try and add cloth and epoxy to all the gourds. Preparing natural gourds is a lot of work. Might as well put a little extra like you say to extend their life.

[Glen Webb Jr]

Wow, that's one honkin' big gourd! Wish the SuperGourds looked that big!

[geneinmurphy]

Bernie...do you soak the fiberglaas in the epoxy before putting it on the gourd??/ If not, how do you get the fiberglass to stick to the gourd??? I've always wondered why someone didn't come out with a fiberglass gourd for sale..........

[Bernie Nikolai]

Bernie...do you soak the fiberglaas in the epoxy before putting it on the gourd??/ If not, how do you get the fiberglass to stick to the gourd??? ..........

Gene, you can do it both ways, but the easiest and neatest is simply to turn the gourd upside down, apply the fiberglass cloth, draping it over the bottom, and starting from the middle, spread a glump (technical term ) of the mixed epoxy with a stiff bristled inexpensive paintbrush from the center to the outsides. Its sticks on really well and won't fall off, even upside down when you hang the gourd to dry. Sort of like putting a wet Kleenex sheet on a wall. I then apply epoxy to the rest of the gourd, even the part without a fiberglass cloth. When dry, overnight at room temperatures, I just sand any rough edges, especially at the edge of the cloth, and apply one last coat of epoxy over the entire gourd. When dry, a very light sanding with some sandpaper, and paint is applied as normal.

Thanks Glen, but this was the "big boy". The other 7 or so were about 9"-11" in diameter. Since I went to all the trouble to grow them in a greenhouse, I thought there wasn't a big deal in adding an extra step by attaching a fiberglass/epoxy cloth to the bottom and having a couple of layers of epoxy on the entire gourd. The epoxy seems to do a great job on gourds, penetrating the outer layer of the gourd and sort of "fusing" to the outer surface.

[Guest]

I had thought about dunking the gourd in Thompsons water seal after doing the copper sulfate and a thorough drying out. The Thompson's aught to really soak into the porous gourd and prolong it's life. It's kind of pricey tho, even the offname kinds.

Ian

[geneinmurphy]

Haywire.....I have soaked some natural gourds in Thompson's water seal before, but the biggest problem is that it takes it a looong time to ever dry out!!!

[oneidalaker]

Bernie, I applied fiberglass and epoxy to my eight gourds last night. Regarding the painting. You mentioned to paint as normal. Does that mean a coat of exterior primer and then two coats of elastomeric exterior semigloss paint??

[Bernie Nikolai]

Bernie, I applied fiberglass and epoxy to my eight gourds last night. Regarding the painting. You mentioned to paint as normal. Does that mean a coat of exterior primer and then two coats of elastomeric exterior semigloss paint??

I gave the gourds two coats of epoxy. If the epoxy is still slightly tacky, just add another coat. If it is dry, its better to sand slightly so the 2nd coat of epoxy adheres better.

Epoxy is a very good base for latex (clean up with water) paint. As a result I didn't even use a primer, just two or three coats of premium exterior Behr latex semi gloss, the main brand sold at Home Depot. You just lightly sand the epoxied gourd, and start applying the paint. If you are not using latex, but oil based paint, you should use a primer of some sort. Since this is all experimental, its very possible you may come up with a better way to do the epoxy/fiberglass covered gourds. Best of luck!