Pumpkin Carving Tool Basics

10 Must-Have Carving Tools

• Mini Saws (1 & 2): When cutting out details like the eyes and mouth of a jack ‘o lantern, mini saws are best since their small size allows for easy pivoting and precise cutting. Just be careful when using any sharp tool for carving pumpkins, and always supervise children.
• Knife (3): Cut open the top of your pumpkin to create a lid by carefully using a sharp knife. You can also keep the top of your pumpkin intact by using your knife to create an opening in the back of your pumpkin for cleaning out the insides.
• Needle Tool (4): Needle tools can be used to create patterns of small holes that allow light to shine through. When using templates or stencils for pumpkins, set the paper pattern against your pumpkin and use a needle tool to poke along the lines of the pattern, piercing through the paper and pumpkin. This will create an outline of your design on the pumpkin that will also make cutting out shapes easier.
• Drill Bits (5): Drill bits of all shapes and sizes can easily be used to create holes for various styles, like a polka dot pumpkin that looks great as a luminary. You can also use drill bits to create holes in smaller pumpkins so you can feed twine or wire through the hole, then hang the pumpkins as part of a fall arrangement.
• Groove Cutter (6): Instead of completely carving through pumpkins, try scraping away the skin to create festive designs with a groove cutter. You can also combine this effect with traditional carving techniques for a dynamically styled pumpkin.
• Chisel (7): You can use a chisel in a similar way as a groove cutter to make larger grooves and chip away at pieces of the pumpkin skin. A chisel can also come in handy when prying the lid off of your pumpkin.
• Sculpting Tool (8): Using a sculpting tool, you can refine the shapes you’ve scraped and cut out. The loops of the tool are also great for creating stylized etchings in the rind of pumpkins after you’ve removed the skin.
• Scoop (9): Ice cream scoops and melon ballers work great for scraping out the insides of your pumpkin that a basic scraper can’t remove. Scoops with dispensing levers are especially useful since they allow you to quickly remove pumpkin pulp from the scoop.
• Scraper (10): Once you’ve cut an opening in your pumpkin, use a scraper to remove the loose seeds and pulp. To make carving your pumpkin easier, spend extra time scraping away the inner rind to thin it out.

Try a New Technique: Silhouettes 
Once you’ve assembled your collection of basic pumpkin carving tools, try using them for a new technique. By chipping away at outer layers of your pumpkin to expose the rind without fully cutting through, your designs will glow an eerie orange that will leave a lasting impression:

• Plan Your Design: Find a Halloween picture, like the solid shape of a spider, and print it out at a size that is appropriate for your pumpkin. Tape the page to your pumpkin, then use your needle tool (3) to poke holes along the lines of the design. When you remove the page, you’ll know what area you need to scrape away. You can also use a pen to sketch your own design directly onto the pumpkin, or try using the silhouettes of family members.
• Chip Away: You can chip away at the skin of your pumpkin in one of two basic ways. For the spider pumpkin, you can remove the skin inside the lines of the design to create the spider itself, or you can scrape away the skin around the shape of your spider. To chip away larger chunks, use a chisel (7), for lines, a groove cutter (6), and for more detailed cuts, use the edges of your sculpting tool (8).
• Let it Shine: If the rind is too thick after you’ve created your design, it will prevent the image from glowing. Thoroughly scrape the area inside of the pumpkin with a scraper (10) and use a scoop (9) to thin out the rind behind the design, so when you do place a light source inside, it will illuminate your artwork.

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