How to make a Water Fountain from a Gourd and Scraps.

How to make a water Fountain From Gourd and Scraps

This is not a easy project or at least for me. Could not have pulled it off without the Proxxon Tools.

Finished Project

Tools Required

Proxxon Scroll Saw 

Proxxon Delta Sander 

Proxxon Jig Saw 

Drill with long drill bit 12 to 14 inches long
hole cutting bit 1"

Small water pump & Tubing

Tools for cleaning the gourds 

Drain Plug 

Supplies 

Glue 

Bamboo - length cut according to design. I used 14"

Plaid  Folk Art Paints

Gorilla Glue 

Silicone Glue

Thin wire

Greenery  Optional

Rocks and shells 

L shape PVC pipe to ( attach bamboo to bottom of bowl & tubing to pump)

A very Large Gourd 

Three pieces of scrap gourd for waterfall. 

Rubber gloves if pouring

Your first step is to cut your bowl I used the Proxxon Jig Saw to cut the top off leaving enough of the gourd that is deep enough to hold a considerable amount of water.

Clean out the gourd guts using scrapers or gourd tools.

Then I used the Proxxon Delta sander to smooth the inside of the gourd. Next I used a two part resin. (Make sure you mix it evenly or it won't dry properly) to coat the inside of the gourd.

I poured the paints for the outside of this bowl.  I thought it would look better than a straight brush stroke on the fountain. If you are not familiar with the pouring process You Tube has several instructions videos. Facebook also have sites that show step by step directions. If you are not interested in pouring use a brush and any design you like. 

 I Used Plaid Paints 

Martha Stewarts Celadon #18065

Apple Barrel Key west #21481

Folk Art Sap Green #458

Floetrol ( to help paints flow easily. 

Folk Art winter white #429

to paint the outside of this bowl. 

Pouring is quick and easy but very messy. I use two huge pieces of cardboard and placed the bowl upside down. I poured each cup and let it run over the sides. I would lift and turn the bowl the this way and that as I needed the paint to run. Again if your going to pour watch a few demonstrations first to see how to mix and layer paints.

Now I painted the waterfall pieces the same way.

These are the petals that the water will flow down.

I free handed the fish and painted them around the bowl.

Cutting of  the Bamboo was done on the Proxxon Scroll Saw 

Next the bamboo had to be drilled out at the nodes so the water would flow freely.

Sorry I did not get a photo of that process could not figure out how to hold two pieces and a camera.:-)

At this point we tested the bamboo length to make sure it was going to work.  Noticed that our pump had an adjustment for water flow.  I didn't want the water shooting to the ceiling.  So we adjusted the flow to more of a trickle.  Length of bamboo plays a role in this as well.  Check it out before the next step.  

 Yes, Yippee it worked good.

Now to add the L Shaped  PVC to the bottom of the bowl.

With Gorilla Glue.  This gives support to the bamboo and keeps the tubing inside from crimping.

Ok after that we had to cut a hole in the lower part of the bowl to be able to get the rather large plug on the outside of the bowl. (I did not want it up high on the bowl.)  Do not cut and splice the cord.  It is too close to water.  

Now a lot to be done this to make this water tight.

We used a drain plug used to seal the hole. 

Take the drain stopper and cut off the ring that pulls plug and drill a 3/8 hole in middle. Next make a cut  from the outside to the hole across the stopper, spread it slightly and put the cord inside the hole. After you have it where you want place a good amount of silicone glue inside of the plug and snug it up against the gourd.  Secure with tape until dry.  

The wire that was not cut was painted black.

Now we are trying to attach the petals that are to direct the waterfall.

the top petal has a hole drilled and is pushed on to the bamboo.

The second petal is attached with wire and secured with Gorilla Glue

 The third Petal is put on the same as second

Test the project to make sure all is working 

Add some shells and rocks to the inside of the petals with  Gorilla Glue 

trying to place then to direct the water the direction you want it to flow. 

I could not find  the greenery I wanted so had to make do with what I did find.

Finished project

Thank you for visiting and commenting on this project. Also I would like to thank Proxxon and Plaid for their support.
I also have to thank my Blog partner Carol for assisting with this post as it may never have been completed without her help.

This is a original design by Misty Orlove and this project is the prototype

I am sure it has room for improvement.
But I was pleased it turned out as well as it did. 

Please feel free to use and add or delete steps and design.

Your Input and comments are most welcome.