Gourd powder funnels

[Ajgall]

There was a post several months ago about using dried gourds for powder storage. This got me thinking about other possible uses for gourds. My wife recently got some small dried spinner gourds, and after playing with a few they make a fine small funnel for powder or possibly shot on a smooth bore. Just cut the top off, run a drill bit down the stem, clean it out, and you’re all set. Pictures below of cut and uncut gourd.

 

[ppg1949]

I like them. I think I need to try this. Do you varnish or shellac them?

 

[Ajgall]

I like them. I think I need to try this. Do you varnish or shellac them?

I haven’t done anything to them expect make sure they were dry and clean. I’ve been debating about putting a varnish on them.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Man, I love 'em!

Great idea! You can just about bet people on the frontier had the same idea, but the survival rate of simple, everyday objects like this was probably not favorable. I had never seen or heard of a gourd funnel, but gourds were used for so many things, and it is such a logical thing to do, that it must have been done before.

Notchy Bob

 

[Ajgall]

Man, I love 'em!

Great idea! You can just about bet people on the frontier had the same idea, but the survival rate of simple, everyday objects like this was probably not favorable. I had never seen or heard of a gourd funnel, but gourds were used for so many things, and it is such a logical thing to do, that it must have been done before.

Notchy Bob

Yeah I can’t prove they were HC/PC but with necessity being the mother of invention I can easily imagine it may have been done.

 

[RoaringBull]

Very cool idea there. Probably a market for those as well...

 

[toot]

There was a post several months ago about using dried gourds for powder storage. This got me thinking about other possible uses for gourds. My wife recently got some small dried spinner gourds, and after playing with a few they make a fine small funnel for powder or possibly shot on a smooth bore. Just cut the top off, run a drill bit down the stem, clean it out, and you’re all set. Pictures below of cut and uncut gourd.

what kind of saw do you use to cut them, a carpenters, saw or a hack saw?

 

[Ajgall]

what kind of saw do you use to cut them, a carpenters, saw or a hack saw?

I used a coping saw

 

[toot]

Ajgall, thank you for the reply. toot.

 

[Eutycus]

Great idea, but I've never had any experience with gourds. And what does one do with the insides, is it good for anything? I hear they are on the bitter side.

 

[Ajgall]

Depends on the variety of gourd once they’re dried we usually just scrap the insides out and discard them except for maybe keeping some seeds to replant with.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Well that's just cool!

 

[nbforestiv]

what kind of saw do you use to cut them, a carpenters, saw or a hack saw?

I used a fine toothed Japanese saw!

 

[nbforestiv]

Depends on the variety of gourd once they’re dried we usually just scrap the insides out and discard them except for maybe keeping some seeds to replant with.

I tried planting about 40 seeds this year, right now have only 3 gourds of any size, the blooms open at night, if something doesn't pollinate the female flower, you have to do it by hand, take a male bloom and fine brush and transfer the pollen to the female before it closes and dies! I can tell you it's not easy to tell the males from the females, in blooms, there isn't something hanging down to make it easy! I know you guys are laughing, you need to see a 78 year old man stumbling around at twilight moving these little flowers around hanging from a trellis, note to myself, next year no trellis! One of the 3 will make a good funnel!

 

[BillinOregon]

I grew dipper and canteen gourds in Southern Oregon. No hand-pollinating required. They make lovely and useful objects.

 

[RoaringBull]

Is it true you can grow gourds in square boxes and make square gourds? Be easier to store them if they had flat sides.

 

[ohio ramrod]

My wife usually thinks I am out of my gourd when I make things for the rendezvous trade blanket. Two years ago I grew some gourds to make gourd bowls. I made a dozen and still have about thirty gourds hanging in the shop. So I am not out of my gourd! I tried the "square gourd" thing but it was only a partial success.