Gourd Inside Finish?

[Beth Mosier]

I made a Pumpkin gourd with the big mouth for Halloween Candy.  I have coated it twice with Minwax finish but my hands still smell like inside gourd when I get through holding it.  I am wondering if that odor will transfer to the candy even though it will be wrapped pieces.  I always have this yucky taste in my mouth when I cut or do anything with the inside of a gourd.  I was thinking of coating it with wax but hoped you all would have some suggestions.

[Marty Amaya]

Beth, I'm not familiar with Minwax finish so not sure if this would work at this point but have you thought of using a wood sealer on the inside of this gourd. Are you using a mask when you cut or clean your gourds? If not, please do. Gourd dust is really damaging to your lungs and is not something you want to breath. Having that taste is usually one sign that you're not protecting your lungs. If you are using a mask and this is happening, perhaps it's too old or you need to use a respirator mask. If the inside of your gourds are properly coated you shouldn't have this problem. The only exception I can think of to this is if you have a really smelly gourd to begin with, one that stinks to high heaven when you cut it open. That's another problem that's addressed in another forum topic. Good luck.

[Oz - Admin #2]

Beth, If you have already sealed the inside of the gourd twice, let it sit for a week so the minwax throughly dries then give it a smell. Put the gourd up high somewhere in your house (heat rises) like the top of a book shelf. The smell should disipate once it has had time to dry.

Instead of coating the inside of your mouth with wax. I would highly suggest that anytime you are cutting, sanding or carving on a gourd that you wear an OSHA approved N95 or better particulate mask. The cheap masks you get 10 for $5 do not filter out FINE dust. A N95 mask filters out the fine gourd dust. Please read this article on gourd safety http://www.wagourdsociety.org/Safety.htm See picture below, masks are marked with N95 are the one to buy. These can purchashed at any hardware store in the painting section.

If you are spraying minwax or any other liquid sealers you should be wearing a painters mask. These mask have charcoal filters that keep you from breathing the FINE mist of the liquid you are spraying.

[Krisztina Lindsley]

Thanks For sharing this info! I've been naive-ignorant, and need to take better precautions!

[Beth Mosier]

I do wear a mask and take precautions. This is not my first gourd but it gets everywhere anyway. I have never had one smell this bad after cleaning and sanding. I ended up letting it set for a few days and painting the inside with two coats of acrylic and a finish. I am still hesitating on putting even wrapped food inside. We may put a electric candle or something else.

[Beth Mosier]

Thanks for your replies!

[Joyce Laverty]

Charcoal will sometimes absorb bad smells. Do not know if it would work on gourds.