Each student got a 2x2x25" neck blank of Black Walnut. We made a template of the neck's side and top profile and then traced each onto the blank accordingly.
The blanks were then cut out and rough shaped. Next, we added the dowel stick that secures the gourd to the neck. Each gourd was drilled and fitted to each neck and then the dowels were glued in to a hole in the heal of the neck.
Next, we covered the gourds with the skins. With these, I think we used calf skin which is supposed to be better quality and more consistent than goat skin. The skins were soaked in water for about ten minutes so they become workable. Glues is spread around the rim of the gourd and the skin is stretched and held in place while tacks are tapped in.
Once the skin starts to dry out, it gets trimmed just below the tacks, and its ready to set aside to complete drying for a day or so.
