How To Make a Traditional Gourd Scraper Pottery Tool

[@AncientPottery]

A good source for gourds is www.wuertzfarm.com and if you want to grow your own, a good source for gourd seeds is www.nativeseeds.org/collections/gourds

[@lisascenic]

Got to love the old scrape-it-on-the-brick-wall technique!😅

[@AncientPottery]

LOL

[@Divinemessages69]

I live in the UK and finding your videos really helpful, I don't have gourds growing as it's late Winter, almost Spring, BUT I did find some kind of interesting shape gourds in my big bag of pot pourri which I have cut into a nice curved shape with my dremmel tool and now I'm good to go!

[@maryswann7623]

Ut oh...I have the file now I am on a mission to find a gourde! The more I watch, the more I am addicted and determined. You really are a good guy.

[@turtlesilk]

I was a little dubious about this, but I had a gourd and decided to try it. I broke the gourd into “blanks” with a hammer (very fun and cathartic), then traced a kidney shape onto a piece using a commercial rib. My hands aren’t as strong as Andy’s, so I used pliers to get as close to the pencil outline as I dared. After that, the rasp and sandpaper worked a treat to refine the shape. I started using it as a novelty, but it’s so much better than the commercial ones, being curved in two planes, it’s the only one I use now. Thank you, Andy!

[@AncientPottery]

I'm glad you like it so much. Thanks for sharing

[@renewedrewilder830]

I have bags of gourds that someone gave me, and more growing in the garden. I guess I'll have scrapers for years! 😁👍

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, a few gourds goes a long way.

[@davidpiraux1262]

Thank you! When I learn on KZbin I generally watch several different people's videos before coming to a full understanding.You sir ! Are a one stop shop! First videos I came across and my search is over.

[@geckipede]

Gourds aren't commonly sold here, but almost every supermarket has coconuts, so I tried making a similar tool out of coconut shell. I think it works quite well. Coconut shell is tough, hard, but not too difficult to carve. You can get a good shape really easily.

[@AncientPottery]

I have heard of people using coconut shells before. Whatever works.

[@donnacormier2262]

Please let us know how this works for you! I may try, also. Thanks!

[@stefanstefan7032]

coconut shells have been used for making ancient african pottery

[@rhys5567]

I could get either where I live or I could grow either (coconut would take a while). But coconuts are more common (sydney Australia). Any preference suggestions?

[@trishacook7960]

I'm new to pottery...lost my rib but grow gourds. Saw your video on gourd scrapers..thanks for introducing me to a good use for my gourds other than painting. My shop will be called pots and gourds. Enjoy your videos so much!

[@AncientPottery]

That's great. I get a lot of people asking where to get gourds, but you are all set.

[@clementramon8589]

Had two gourds around. Can't wait to make scrapers. A little nervous but want to try to make my first pot. Living on the west side of baboquiari peak. Don't know if I can find clay. But feel it in my bones.

[@AncientPottery]

The west side of Baboquivari, are you in the rez?

[@clementramon8589]

@@AncientPottery yes Tohono O'odham. South Komelic village. Two major washes on both sides of village. During monsoons they sound like a freeway passing.

[@AncientPottery]

@@clementramon8589 That's awesome. Do you know about the potters gathering taking place at the cultural center in Topawa on April 15? You should totally go! www.tonation-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/April-Potters-Gathering-Flyer.pdf

[@clementramon8589]

Oh wow yeah. Think I will Thank You.

[@jastintheceooffinanasapost6204]

Learned what a gourd, since i'm spanish speaking , pleasant surprise as i live in argentina where they are too used to make the Maté pots

[@donalhartman6235]

Great video...you do a lot things that make for an informative yet entertaining video. You have good stories, soft music that doesn't intrude, excellent video, and easy to find links you post for related materials or projects. Thanks for sharing all this excellent information (I'm just starting out making pottery!).

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you, I am trying real hard to make enjoyable content so it means a lot when people enjoy and comment like this. Thanks!

[@bigbranch1]

Hey, I just happened to be rasping away this morning...Thanks Andy

[@AncientPottery]

I would love to see your results.

[@marioncodner]

I have been waiting for this video! thanks so much for sharing your rich knowledge !!

[@AncientPottery]

Marion Codner you are welcome Marion.

[@katheinen]

Love your video! Just started with pottery and have not yet lot's of tools until now it comes along the right time. Thank you very much!

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you liked it.

[@Gildete257]

Thanks for this excelente idea

[@AncientPottery]

Most welcome 😊

[@mojavebohemian814]

Thank you

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@karishma-devisiewdass7919]

I’ve saved some coconut shells for this purpose. Hoping they work just as well as the gourd scraper.

[@suzannepoffel2160]

Thank you I'll be in AZ when it gets cooler.. 😀 love to start with my family there

[@passionflower13]

Thank u so much I grew some gourds and have been saving them 🥰🏺

[@AncientPottery]

That's great, I love growing gourds. Now all you need is a rasp and you will be in business.

[@Wildernut]

Alan seems to know everyone. Lol. Good guy. Is your knife hafted with lac scale resin, like his?

[@petrapetrakoliou8979]

Hi Andy! I am thinking about what potters would have used in places without gourds like much of prehistoric Europe where people were visibly doing a lot of hand made pottery but weren't always familiar with gourds. Maybe boiled leather could have similar properties of hardness and flexibility, although surely not exactly the same. Will try to make some. Or some species of bark wood with the thickness and the smoothness required. Note that even today it's not easy to have access to gourds in some countries like Sweden where agriculture is limited, and the usual pumpkins on the market are those with thinner skins and they don't dry well. Balint

[@AncientPottery]

Leather might soften up when it gets wet. But maybe wood, or bark as you said. Ostrich or sea shell?

[@silverlizz]

Tony Soares (in one of his corrugated pottery videos) mentioned using tree bark and smooth stones as alternatives. He was using a gourd scraper. His work is marvelous.

[@petrapetrakoliou8979]

@@silverlizz Since then I use a lot of wood scrapers, or pieces of coconut or pieces of broken pots which all work very well; you can reshape them by rubbing on the rough surface of a stone.

[@mrpickles3825]

Could you be able the make a puki out of a gourd?

[@AncientPottery]

Yes and no. It would certainly work, but the bottom of a gourd has an indentation that would be undesirable and the sides of the gourd would not be round but slightly oblong.

[@mikadopen4809]

A bit late to the party but im in australia and I didnt know much or anything about gourds before watching this video. Are they native to the southwest? I looked to see if I could grab one at local grocers but no cigar

[@SetGozo]

great video

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kingk3d]

Do the gourds need to be dried? Might need to try a coconut shell otherwise, not thr right season to buy dried gourds in the mdiwest

[@BarbinAZ]

our art class is going to do this

[@AncientPottery]

That's cool.

[@annesauer8450]

Thank you so much for sharing. Have you tried other types of pumpkins etc for tool making?

[@AncientPottery]

Pumpkins do not have a hard enough rind. I have also tried wild gourds but their rind is too thin and brittle.

[@annesauer8450]

Thank you :) @@AncientPottery

[@rollsaround2096]

I seen Chad zuber and primitive technologies use smooth stone. Is it in replacement of using gourd?

[@AncientPottery]

I think that is more for smoothing the pot, this is for shaping the pot

[@xenogenoduck]

Would a pumpkin or butternut squash work to make one of these?

[@AncientPottery]

No, the rinds are not rigid enough. If you can't get a gourd try a coconut shell.

[@elijahrevell1201]

What's the link to your site. Im going to make me some of my own but want to see how much you sell them. I grow and carve gourds as well I want to start a web page to sell my art but don't really know how.

[@elijahrevell1201]

Sorry found the link in the discrimination

[@AncientPottery]

Here it is ancientpottery.how/product/gourd-potters-rib-gourd-scraper/

[@velvis101]

Andy - what kind of gourd do you use? Is it traditional?

[@AncientPottery]

Jay Decker these are Tohono O’odham dipper gourds but many other kinds can work as well.

[@brandengillette7794]

Could a puki be crafted from a gourd?

[@AncientPottery]

I have never tried but any form can be used if it is covered with a piece of cloth first.

[@robsmith6961]

THANKS I AM TRYING TO ORDER ONE AND YOUR BOOK , BUT YOUR ON LINE SHOP WILL NOT LET ME PAY ? I DID CHECK WITH PAYPAL AND ALL IS GOOD ON THEIR END SO YOU BETTER LOOK AT YOUR END , MY THINGS ARE IN THE CART NOW SO LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHY IT WON'T GO THROUGH. THANKS ROB

[@AncientPottery]

I got it fixed thanks for the heads up. You should be able to download the book now and I will mail your rib soon.

[@nqtr8217]

😍👍👍

[@theroguelesstravelled9042]

Looks like you quit selling the gourd scrapers… I was looking to buy one but the video link and via your website .how shows nothing…. :(

[@AncientPottery]

My gourd scraper supplier has not delivered a new batch in months, sorry.