Guiro's. Step by Step "how to make" thread - Pics inside, how I made my guiro's.

[ABAKUA]

Below you can see the gourd I will use for chekere drying out in the light and the guiro upside down.

I place the guiro upside down (once inside coats are dried) on a broom handle I have secured to the work bench, this allows me to evenly apply the floor sealer to the body of the gourd without having to touch it or have it come into contact with any other surface.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CN1216.JPG

[ABAKUA]

Apply 1 - 2 coats of floor sealer to the exterior of the guiro.
Allow 24 hrs minimum between coats. Can be applied with a clean cotton rag/clothe or paint brush. (I prefer using a paint brush)

Here, one guiro is almost fully coated, with the second one ready for its first coat...

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CN1226.JPG

[ABAKUA]

Both gourds now have floor sealer applied and are left to dry.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1124775415

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... CN1227.JPG

[ABAKUA]

I am now currently waiting for the coats to fully dry. (its winter here at the moment, so lack of nice hot sunny days is hindering the drying process.)

Once dry, I will apply a medium darkness timber stainer to the gourds to give it a darker, shiny finish. It will also make them alot stronger.
Once Ive done this, I will post up more pics of the finished product.



So there you have it! Hope its been of some help/entertainment for you.



From beginning to end, the cleaning, drawing, cutting, carving, sanding and filing etc took a total of approx 6-7 hrs broken up over 2 days, not including time of sealer application and drying times etc.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1124787664

[RayBoogie]

ABAKUA, those are some fine looking Guiro's.

You should definitely post when your planning on making the SHEKERE. I would love to make my own SHEKERE!

Thanks bro!!!!

[CongaTick]

Abakua,

Absolutely the best-damned, step-by-step, even-a-3-year-old-can-figure-this-one-out set of instructions I've seen for anything! Congratulations on your clarity, simplicity and showing me the kind of teacher you must be.

[ABAKUA]

Thankyou for the kind words guys, y'all make me feel warm n fuzzy inside! lol...

[franc]

abakua, great ''artesania'' of the guiro!!! great work. waitng for the shakere post. my best. keep it up!! áche!! franc

[RayBoogie]

To my conguero brother in NY. Where can I get gourds at. I definitely want to make my own shekere.

Abuaqua, looking forward to the step by step instructions to making shekere. Vaya mi hermano. Hasta la proxima!

[ABAKUA]

abakua, great ''artesania'' of the guiro!!! great work. waitng for the shakere post. my best. keep it up!! áche!! franc

Muchas gracias Franc! Fue bastante trabajo!

I wont have shekere pics for a while as the gourd is in its early months of drying, due to it being winter here, I dont forsee the gourd being dry enough til mid to late summer, prob Jan-Feb next year.

I will post some pics in the next few days once Ive applied the wood stainer to the guiro.

[rumbaman]

Hey abacua I have to say you're a gentelman . To this topic ,,,,,,, It is impresive ,,,,, awsome work my friend . I would love to here how they sound , but real pretty work .

Thanks rumbaman

[ABAKUA]

Hey abacua I have to say you're a gentelman . To this topic ,,,,,,, It is impresive ,,,,, awsome work my friend . I would love to here how they sound , but real pretty work .

Thanks rumbaman

Thanks rumbaman!
As for how they sound, they virtually play themselves, easy to play, big sound from them, nice and crisp. Played gently they are sweet, but give it a bit of attack and the guiro is in yo face!

The musicians from Cubanismo fell in love with the guiro when we supported them here in Sydney earlier in the year, hehehe they wanted to take the guiro back to Cuba with them!



Edited By ABAKUA on 1125504062

[rumbaman]

Hey abacua how are you . You know , what i would like to know where i can get some seeds to plant a plant myself or do you know where i can buy the fruit .

Thanks again rumbaman

[ABAKUA]

I have many seeds here from past gourds.
What part of the world are you in brother?



Edited By ABAKUA on 1125675083

[rumbaman]

Hey how are you man . Hey im in miami ,fla . Send me an e-mail to oceanrod@aol.com and i'll send you a federal express envelope or how ever it is better for you . I realy appreciate it . Hey abacua thank you again .

rumbaman