You are correct, the Loofah is a gourd. However the fisherman I got this from called it a Loofah so I now have to do some research to see what I have. I cast it in a Steve Spangler Science soda bottle test tube. After the first try, I realized that if I capped it the expanding Alumilite would provide the pressure needed to fill the voids in the sponge. That worked great. The test tube is plastic and will not shatter. I then cut both ends off with the band saw and turned off the plastic test tube to get to the casting. Finished with thin CA and polished with compounds.