Shellaced gourd bowl

[Sean Gadhar]

I found some real shellac flake to stiffen my felt hat. :hmm: Got to thinking about the gourds from last years garden.

There are 3 different gourds here, fresh from the pile, after I started sanding off the outer crud, and the last two of a primitive bowl with 5 coats of shellac.

Tools;
sandpaper
pocket knife
pencil
brush for the shellac

Yes I did dip them in bleach water 6-7 times over 2 days to kill the mold before I sand on them, and yes I sand outside :wink:

 

[Len Graves]

I have had good luck cleaning gourds with a " scotchbright" pad and a mild Clorox solution. This seems to remove all the mold with out damaging the outer shell. I have used a paste wax to finish them because I didn't have any shellac. Briwax or johnsons paste will work. I didn't do anything on the inside because they were to be used as dry storage. Did you shellac the inside too?

 

[Sean Gadhar]

Yes, I am doing the inside as well, USAD rates shellac* as a food additive so I think it should be ok in the finish if it is ok to put on milkduds :wink:

***Real shellac not the stuff on most hardware store shelves today

 

[George]

Nice project, Sean. I like gourds and have several things made of them in my kit. I think they were commonly used in the day, and I've been surprised how efficient and durable mine have been. If you haven't used a gourd bowl before, you'll be pleasantly surprised. They are light but strong, they insulate you from hot contents, don't rust, don't impart any unpleasant taste, are easy to clean and are without a doubt H/C for those who care. Win-Win.

Spence

 

[Black Hand]

I have one that I left untreated for eating, while my water gourds (and a small gourd for Rum) are coated with beeswax.

 

[George]

I've never lined or treated the interior of any of my gourds, am not aware of any problems because of it.

Spence

 

[Black Hand]

None that I can think of.
I lined with beeswax to increase the usable life (whether true or not, makes me feel better), as gourds can deteriorate over time. Being disposable items, this is a minor concern, but finding gourds in my part of the country is difficult

 

[Sean Gadhar]

I fell into a trap of my own making, I was explaining what I was doing to the wife....at the end she asked "so you can do that with all the gourds you grew last year?" :grin: Yep!

"Great! I want a new set of salad bowls, at least 4. 6 or 8 would be better"

Really, I didn't see that coming REALLY!

I have been thinking about testing one using Butcher Block Oil on the inside. Just because it would be easy to reapply :idunno:

 

[Black Hand]

Sean,
I found that I could soak the gourds in hot soapy water then scrape off the flaky skin on the exterior with the back of a butter knife and a green scrubby pad. This way I kept from violating the hard exterior skin of the gourd.

The ones I waxed were coated inside and out and spent a little time in a warm oven to allow the wax to penetrate the pithy interior layer. This was repeated several times to impregnate the pithy material.

Sorry for your troubles, but it is your own fault that you let your wife see the bowl. You should know better..... :wink: :grin:

 

[GunnyGene]

So called "Butcher Block Oil", is nothing more than food grade mineral oil. Save yourself a few $$ and buy generic mineral oil at your local pharmacy.

 

[Black Hand]

Excellent advise Gunny!

 

[GunnyGene]

I've used it for decades on cutting boards, etc. If you're uncertain whether it's food grade or not,the pharmacist can tell you. Just don't get anything that's perfumed, like baby oil.

Some of the butcher block products will brag about having Vitamin E or other stuff in them. I don't know of any dead plant/wood that needs vitamins. :wink: