Snake Gourd Rainstick
by David Drake, member of The Georgia Gourd Society
submitted by David Wuttke

Items needed:
  • snake gourd 
  • bamboo skewers 
  • small beads/gravel/sea shells 
  • 3/8 to 1/2 " strip of leather 
  • super glue gel 
    		•
  • tool to clean inside of gourd
  • fine saw to cut gourd
  • small drill size of skewers
  • cloth/paper measuring tape
  • wire clippers
    		•
    Rainstk1.jpg (9329 bytes) 1.   Accept the snake gourd that is calling you

    2.    Clean the outer surface

    3.   If you are going to paint or burn a design on your gourd, do it now.

    4.   Select one end of the gourd and about 6-10 inches from that tip, cut around the gourd to open it up.

    5.   Clean the inside of the gourd.  The cleaner the inside, the better the sound. (you will probably have to create this tool).  The flexibility of your cleaning tool will depend on the curve of your gourd. (I bought a cheap plumber's snake and cut it to various lengths I might need/like and secured a plumber's cleaning brush used to clean copper tubing.)
    Rainstk2.jpg (21402 bytes) 6.   Now that the inside of the gourd is clean, take a cloth or paper tape measure and secure it (tape it) to the cut end of your gourd.  Bring the tape around and down the length of your gourd in a spiral and again secure it at the other end
     

    7.   A) Using the spiraling tape measure as a guideline, begin to pierce holes through your gourd at every 1/2" measurement of the tape.  Continue making holes until you reach the bottom of the gourd. (Use a drill size that matches the bamboo skewer for a snug fit.  2. Put a drop of super glue gel on the tip of the skewer to hold it against the other wall of the gourd.)
    Rainstk3.jpg (11304 bytes) Rainstk4.jpg (9567 bytes) B) Remove the tape measure, insert a bamboo skewer through the top hole until it hits the other side of the gourd wall. (Use the smallest diameter bamboo skewers, not the thick, heavy ones.)

    C) Use wire clippers to cut off excess skewer that protrudes out from hole. (I like to use nail clippers for a closer clip.)
    Rainstk5.jpg (20947 bytes) Rainstk6.jpg (16544 bytes)
    8.   Here you become creative again as you can use small beads, gravel that is used in fish tanks, very small and/or broken sea shells, etc to put inside your gourd to give the rain sound.  Try about 1/3 t0 1/2 cup and adjust to the sound you like by adding more or removing some.

    9.   To secure the other end of the gourd back on, use any of the super glue gels and go around the rim of the gourd and match up your cut end.  Hold in place for 15 to 20 seconds for them to bond.  I like to reinforce this joint with a leather collar glued over the cut about 3/8 to 1/2 inch wide.

    10.   Your rainstick is basically together at this point.  All that is needed is to fine tune your design to your liking. (Keep upright until glue sets so "noise makers" stay at the bottom of gourd and do not stick to glued joint.)

    For a picture of one of David's Rainsticks, click HERE.   Thanks, David!!!!  (and David W. too!!!)