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It's almost that time of year again. Once all the weigh-offs, fairs & contests are over it's time to think about what we intend to do with all these giants. Obviously we want our seeds & this subject get's good coverage & is about as exciting as watching grass grow. Cut, scoop, wash, dry, yawn, dust, store, etc....

But what about carving? It's almost Halloween! I've seen all sorts of paid subscriber sites that promise to make us experts & supply us with endless useless plastic Chinese made gadgets that break or dismember the user in seconds. Now there are some fine images here at BP. But I'm about as artistic as a rock.

So 3 questions come to mind.

1.) Where can I find really large paterns (free on the web of course) that print on multiple pages for taping onto the pumpkin for dot transfer? You know what I mean. Not those dumb little basketball sized ones on single 8 1/2 x 11" sheets. Big honkin' AG sized paterns!

2.) What methods do folks here use to help preserve their efforts? I've tried Petroleum Jelly, Lysol, & Bleach. All seem to help a little. But let's face it, all carved pumpkins go down eventually. Any other ideas?

3.) What are our favorite carving tools? I use everything from little sheetrock cutters to jig saws to an 18 Volt cordless Milwaukee Sawzall. But I still haven't tried a chainsaw nor do I have any decent gouges that I really like. Any thoughts?

Steve

9/28/2003 10:19:24 PM

Oz

there is a roto tool that is a small wheel with a chain saw chain on it in a loop..about 4in dia.

9/28/2003 11:20:40 PM

Cheyenne, Wyoming

I just got through cutting up two of my pumpkins with a small hand saw. It has about an 18 inch blade. The tip is about 1/4 inch wide, and the base is about one inch wide. It really did well. I was able to cut any direction I wanted very easily.

John

9/28/2003 11:25:47 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Favorite Tools.
1. Potato Peeler(Will out do any fancy wood gouges)
2. Wood chisels
3. Grapefruit Knife
For Patterns I use a "Projecta Scope" transfer it to a Huge 3M Post it note, then trace with a ball point pen. Using enough pressure to leave impression.

I have had luck preserving them a little by making a strong citric acid solution for a spray bottle using unsweetend lemon aid mix. But one of the professional carvers told me to use vegetable oil.

Now whos interested in the BigPumpkins2003 Pumpkin Carving contest. We will have a voting system by our peers. Entry Fee will be some of your seeds, and/or a few that you don't plan on putting in the ground. Only exception is you must not be a professional paid pumpkin carver.
Shannon

9/28/2003 11:26:35 PM

Key West, FL

I think you will have to make any paterns like Shannon said. I don't make any patterns, I make the sculpture up while I go. I start with an idea and go with it.

I've just let mine rot in the past but I've heard lemon pledge will help preserve it?

I use a certain type of pottery tool called a ribbon tool, I use a bunch of different types of these, and a big knife.

9/29/2003 12:01:12 AM

Western Pa.

I've used melonballers and fish scalers, as well as, the above listed tools for carving. Several years ago I bought a small set of wood gouges and knifes that works well. If you do use a chainsaw, you must disassemble and clean and oil everything, or the sugar in the pumpkin will rust everything up! Rather than using a pattern, divide the "face" into four segments by drawing a vertical and horizontal line. This helps when "freestyling" a design. I've used polyurethane to seal the fruit, it looks nice for a while, but then moisture underneath turns everything white. Lemon pledge makes a pumpkin nice and shiny, but I don't think it will preserve a carving.

9/29/2003 8:12:57 AM

Montoursville, PA

I have read where oils rubbed in or sprayed on will add lawn shelf life to your carved pumpkin. I know that calcium sprayed on will also add shelf life. Beyond these two practices I know of none that your would want to place within touching distance of other people.

Try the best of both worlds. First spray and blow dry or air dry with calcium both inside and outside. Secondly mix up an oil spray and do the same. That should just about cover the field of added lawn shelf life for a carved pumpkin. A good sticker may be a worthy consideration in either spray mix. I think this is a two step process that should not be made into one. Get the calcium on first then seal it with your oil spray. The oil spray will enhance the skin surface of the pumpkin and be invisable on the carved surface. This may give you two more weeks of giggles.

9/29/2003 8:56:32 AM

Montoursville, PA

One of my favorite tools for carving is an ice cream scoup that looks like a spade. I sharpened the bottom and up the sides about an inch or so. Eyeball sharpening on a grinding wheel has seemd good enough for me. I used a two dollar K-Mart special which has a neopreme grip.

When you push this one along it runs the curls out and away from your pushing or driving hand. It is rounded on the cutting edge enabling small to larger curls or cuts. It acts like a big woodworkers gouge on soft material.

9/29/2003 9:03:06 AM

White Plains, NY

Sawsall l2" corse blade - Large pumpkins

Jigsaw / sabresaw -corse blade for small pumpkings.

Draw your design with a marker first. Depending on the size and shape I carve 2 or more faces. A big hit last year was our star pumpkins. Stars were made all around the pumpkin. With the big pumpkins light bulbs are used instead of candles.

9/29/2003 1:05:07 PM

Brillion Wisconsin

I had great success using a wood boring bit on a drill. The bit itself is flat and has a angled cutting edge that really goes through pumpkin flesh. I made some really cool looking designs on our pumpkins last year.

I still can't figure out how the local vandaluse kids got that pumpkin out in the road to smash it. I took 3 grown men to move it after it was carved.

Those kids will have quite a job trying to smash the whopper we are putting in the front yard this year. Dean o

9/29/2003 1:54:53 PM

wilmington,ma.

Hay Dean o They will find a way. I had a dozen of them try
and smash mine and they did!

9/29/2003 3:34:45 PM

Whidbey Island

For vandals......smear wet dog poop on the bottom and the back. They may still tear it up, but you will get the last laugh thinking of them in their car with their hands stinking to high heaven!

9/29/2003 11:30:30 PM

[email protected]

ROTFLMAO! I used to use Miller's Hot-Sauce. I know the vandals will touch their faces as they're laughing. It's the same as being hit in the face with Police Pepper Spray. But Dog poop is much safer & just as satisying! We'll have to leave one out & try that this year.

Thanks for all the great ideas!

Steve

9/30/2003 7:31:56 AM

New Brunswick

Speaking of carving, has anyone ever drilled little holes along in a chosen design and instead of cutting along them just stuck christmas mini lights through from the inside out? A friend suggested this just might work...any thoughts?

10/1/2003 11:07:15 PM