How to Use a Coping Saw to Cut Gourds
Gourds are technically classified as vegetables, although they are more frequently used as ornamental objects. According to the American Gourd Society, the three main types of gourds are cucurbita, lagenaria and luffa. The cucurbita and lagenaria types of gourds are popular additions to fall ornamental displays and as bird houses. The luffa has a tough, fibrous interior, which is dried and used to make loofah sponges for bathing.
Instructions
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1
Place the gourd on a flat work surface. Use a pencil to draw a line all the way around the surface of the gourd in the location you want to cut.
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2
Put on a dust mask to prevent breathing in the dust from the gourd. The interior of a dried gourd may contain mold, which is unhealthy to inhale.
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3
Lay the gourd on its side and grasp its base securely in one hand.
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4
Grasp the coping saw in the other hand and place the blade of the saw onto the pencil line.
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5
Press down on the coping saw and move it in a forward and backward motion to cut into the gourd. The first few saw strokes should be short until the teeth of the saw are embedded into the gourd. After the teeth grip the gourd, you can use longer saw strokes.
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Continue sawing until the coping saw cuts all the way through the gourd.
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Tips & Warnings
Only use a coping to cut off the top of the gourd, as it is too large to make smaller, more intricate cuts. To cut more intricate shapes and designs into the gourd, switch to a jigsaw.
References
- Photo Credit dry bottle gourd image by ann triling from Fotolia.com
