Hello again to all! Really looking forward to the first arrivals of the year and getting my setups ready both at home and at our camp.
I need some advice to repair a few natural gourds. I have 5 natural gourds that have a hairline crack in them.
I really do not want to throw them out in the trash but, I also do not want to hang them up and have a disaster during the season with babies or eggs falling to the ground because the gourd breaks in half.
Is there a glue or an epoxy or even a fiberglass that anyone has used to repair cracks in natural gourds? Thanks for any tips in advance and Good Luck to all on the upcoming season!
Gourd Repair
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cary-nw-fla
- Posts: 141
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:27 pm
- Location: Holt, Florida
Hi JR4-AL,
Others may have a better idea, but having some naturals myself, this is what I would do.
They make a thin fiberglass mesh with one side that has adhesive so that it will stick to make small repairs to drywall. What I would do is cut some strips of this to cover the hairline crack. (clean gourd before applying) After putting this on I would then cover the mesh with Lexel to secure. Then let the Lexel cure.
I had a BO9 that got broke in the box. I used the above method to patch it.
Good Luck.
Others may have a better idea, but having some naturals myself, this is what I would do.
They make a thin fiberglass mesh with one side that has adhesive so that it will stick to make small repairs to drywall. What I would do is cut some strips of this to cover the hairline crack. (clean gourd before applying) After putting this on I would then cover the mesh with Lexel to secure. Then let the Lexel cure.
I had a BO9 that got broke in the box. I used the above method to patch it.
Good Luck.
2010/2011: 0 / 2012: 8 Pair / 2013: 22 Pair / 2014: 35 Pair / 2015: 39 Pair / 2016: 73 Pair / 2017: 94 Pair
Cary
Cary
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
My husband has used liquid nails to repair natural gourds - works very well.
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dhjohnson
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
- Location: North Carolina/Clayton
- Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy
Nylon mesh is great to reinforce a crack in a natural gourd! Some gorilla glue along with the mesh is a solid long lasting repair. That stuff just keeps going like the energizer bunny! LOL! You can paint over it...elastomeric roof coating...you get additional insulating factors and more fibers to bond to! not the prettiest finish but, mildew resistand and long wearing!
Good Luck this season!
Debbie
Good Luck this season!
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
The only thing I would add is that if you can find the absolute "tip" of the crack on each end, drill a small hole through the gourd wall at that point (crack on one side of the hole, no evidence of a crack on other side). The hole will redistribute the stresses and keep the crack from "running". Fill in the drilled hole with whatever adhesive you make the rest of the repair with
2016 - 6 cavities in Royal Wing/S&K house + 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches on pole 1, 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches on pole 2
2015 - new homebuilt 3 cavity house plus 3 BO9 gourds with tunnels porches on second pole, in addition to prior setup. 15 pairs, 54 fledged
2014 - 6 6x12 house cavities (plastic Royal Wing/S&K), plus 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches offered; 12 pairs, 50 fledged
2015 - new homebuilt 3 cavity house plus 3 BO9 gourds with tunnels porches on second pole, in addition to prior setup. 15 pairs, 54 fledged
2014 - 6 6x12 house cavities (plastic Royal Wing/S&K), plus 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches offered; 12 pairs, 50 fledged
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Sometimes when a gourd was completely cracked I've used the mesh and coated with liquid nails. Instead of the mesh, or in addition to, I've used a small staple gun and put some staples along the crack to help make it stronger. I also yearly resolve to go to all plastic gourds.
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to daveduit@yahoo.com. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
I have heard of a wood working fast drying accelerator with a glue. I want to say it is " Super T CA glue and NCF Quick accelerator" . But, I don't know of it's safety. It is basically a type of super glue followed by a NCF Quick accelerator spray. The crack area becomes harder and stronger than the original wood or in this case gourd. Can't be much different than the liquid nails.