How to Empty and Carve Pumpkins with Power Tools
Just when you thought carving pumpkins couldn’t be any more fun, we found a way: MORE POWER!
Not only will we teach you how to empty a pumpkin in under 2 minutes, but we will also show you how you can use your power tools to carve your pumpkins faster, and better than ever before. We used the following items to carve our pumpkins, but the tools you need will depend on the pattern you choose:
- Safety Goggles & Gloves
- Drywall Saw
- Jigsaw
- Hand Mixer Beater
- Drill and Drill Bits
- Router
- Rotary Tools and Attachments
- Carbon Tracing Paper (optional)
Clean Out the Pumpkin
Using a jigsaw or a drywall saw, cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin, just like you usually would. Next, slice the guts off the top using a drywall saw; the teeth make much faster work of this task than a knife.
Now for the fun part! Insert a hand mixer beater into your drill, have someone else hold the pumpkin down, and starting from the top, lightly touch the beater to the walls of the pumpkin while squeezing the drill trigger. Be careful not to apply too much pressure as you may break your beater or burst through the wall of the pumpkin. Do one pass around the entire pumpkin, turn the pumpkin upside down to get all the guts out, and then do another pass to clean up any remaining guts. After your first pass you may have some strings built up on top of the beater; just slide a knife down the side of the beater to slice them off.
Carve the Pumpkin
First, start with a pre-made pattern, draw your own, or trace someone else’s design on the pumpkin. For fast, accurate tracings, tape down your pattern and use carbon tracing paper to easily transfer the pattern onto the pumpkin.
If there are any circular patterns on your design, such as eyes, use your drill to create those before carving any other parts of the pumpkin. Be careful not to apply too much pressure or you might crush your pumpkin. To cut out the large sections of the pattern, use a jigsaw. The jigsaw is perfect for all sorts of intricate cuts, it can cut large areas quickly and can turn corners precisely. You can use any type of jigsaw blade since pumpkins cut easier than both wood and metal. For patterns that need you to remove the top layer of the pumpkin without going all the way through, use a Router or a Rotary Tool with a small grinding attachment. For embellishments and small details, use a Rotary Tool with a small grinding or stylus attachment.
Light Your Pumpkin and Enjoy!
Now that you have finished carving your pumpkin, it’s time to put it out on the porch! Light your pumpkin using a candle, outdoor LED, or flameless tea light. If you use a candle, make sure to cut a small chimney in the lid of your pumpkin to allow heat and smoke to escape from the pumpkin.
We hope that this guide will help you carve your pumpkins. Make sure to always use caution, keep your hands away from moving parts on your tools, and always wear proper safety equipment!
