Gourd Carving
TECHNIQUES for Carving on gourds are similar in some ways to carving on wood and pumpkins. Relief carving and chip carving are doable on wood, pumpkins and gourds, but whittiling is only on wood. Fretwork (cutting through), filigree (piercing through) the shell, etching or engraving are additional carving techniques on multiple surfaces.
Gourds have been decorated with these carving techniques for centuries, and across continents. Carving tools have evolved over time to include power tools.
TOOLS: Carving, Cutting and Sanding
SAFETY: Avoid inhaling gourd dust by wearing a high quality facemask or respirator. Tie back hair, wear safety glasses, ear muffs are necessary for personal safety; good lighting and a fan to pull the dust away from you are also recommended.
ACCESSORIES
Burs come in an extensive variety of sizes, materials, and shapes. Bur Sizes: Burs are made in standard sizes so that they are interchangeable between different carving systems. Standard sizes refer to the diameter of the bur shank (the long part that slides into your carver). Standard bur sizes are 1/16", 3/32", 1/8" and 1/4", with 1/8" being the most commonly available.
Bur Materials: steel, carbide, diamond. Burs are made from different materials which are designed to cut, polish, grind or carve different surfaces. It is important to choose a bur that will work efficiently for the task.
Gourds have been decorated with these carving techniques for centuries, and across continents. Carving tools have evolved over time to include power tools.
TOOLS: Carving, Cutting and Sanding
- Power carvers (Dremel, Ram Cube, Ram Mystisa 2, Marathon Champion, Foredom and more)
- Chip carving gouges
- Micro/mini engraver, saws, sanders (MicroMark, Gourd Saw) with transformer and optional foot pedal
SAFETY: Avoid inhaling gourd dust by wearing a high quality facemask or respirator. Tie back hair, wear safety glasses, ear muffs are necessary for personal safety; good lighting and a fan to pull the dust away from you are also recommended.
ACCESSORIES
Burs come in an extensive variety of sizes, materials, and shapes. Bur Sizes: Burs are made in standard sizes so that they are interchangeable between different carving systems. Standard sizes refer to the diameter of the bur shank (the long part that slides into your carver). Standard bur sizes are 1/16", 3/32", 1/8" and 1/4", with 1/8" being the most commonly available.
- Collet Adapters to accomodate burs of different sizes; Dremel users may want to add a Flexshaft and a Keyless Chuck
Bur Materials: steel, carbide, diamond. Burs are made from different materials which are designed to cut, polish, grind or carve different surfaces. It is important to choose a bur that will work efficiently for the task.
- Steel burs are an all metal bur with cutting teeth or flutes. These are relatively inexpensive burs that are good for the beginning carver who wants to invest a minimum in their initial purchase or doesn't plan to do a lot of carving. However, these burs will dull with use and should be replaced when cleaning no longer improves the quality of the cut.
- Carbide burs can look exactly like the steel burs and the only way to tell the difference is by the price. They usually cost 2 to 3 times more than steel burs, and are higher priced because of the composition and quality of the metal used. Carbide burs will stay sharp for much longer than regular steel burs. They also come in "advanced" cutting features (double cut flutes, carbide grit, cross-cut burs, and structured teeth)
- Diamond burs are not recommended for use on the gourd surface as the skin has a natural resin like substance which clogs the bur very easily, making it difficult or impossible to clean the bur. Some gourds have more of this substance than others. The inner pulp may be carved with diamonds when a fine, smooth texture is desirable. Diamond burs also work well for sanding the inner pulp. They are especially useful in very tight areas where ordinary sanding tools are not able to reach.
BUR SHAPES These are the basic shapes and what they are most useful for. Each shape is available in different types (steel, carbide, diamond, etc.) and sizes.
Wheel or Disc:
Wheel or Disc:
- Used for cutting lines or channels
- Used for undercutting
- Used for creating concave, rounded cuts
- Used for stippled backgrounds
- Used to create round channels for bead inlay
- Tip is used in corners or tight areas
- Flat side of bur is used for flat cuts at angles that are awkward for the cylinder
- Used for cutting clean, sharp edges
- Used for flat or angled areas
- Used for "V" shaped cuts
- Good for creating cuts that are deeper on one side than the other (ripples, carved basketry)
- Use the tip for carving in tight areas
- Some styles may be used for undercutting
- Some styles may be used for filigree
- May be dragged to create grooves
- Used to cut flat areas
- Used for cutting clean, sharp edges
- Removes material when sharp edges are undesirable
- May be drug for soft grooves
- Used for concave, rounded cuts or rounding edges
- Tip may be used for tight areas
- Rounded body produces a soft edge