If you are an expert pumpkin carver, which tools do you use please?

[Musthurry]

I have six large pumpkins to carve this year; three for us and three for a friend. Looking for some tools to speed up the process and to help me make accurate cuts. Does anyone have any tips or recommendations please?

I've used pumpkin carving kits from the supermarket. The ones that come with little saws. I print templates from the Internet and use them to transfer the pattern to the pumpkin. There's a wee plastic poker thing that you punch the holes around the pattern and then you use the saws to cut around using the holes you made.

I normally use a knife.

BUT this year I randomly picked up a pumpkin carving set from Lidl, and the little spikey one is a revelation - it honestly made carving a walk int he park and for the first time I could have round eyes rather than the jagged triangles i normaly do with my vegetable knife.

It was something like this:

www.artnhobby.ie/colossal-pumpkin-carving-kit-10-pc?currency=EUR&gclid=CjwKCAjwk6-LBhBZEiwAOUUDpyqCgKcZG-ymGI-MTdGW_5JJuy_Dd6nsKA4YdHiJf8IHMNMXyxJSIhoCF7gQAvD_BwE

and my favourite is the smallest little one with the sort of serrated edge.

www.dltk-holidays.com/Halloween/mpatterns.htm

I have used some of these templates before

I use these type, usually found in a pound shop, wilko, asda for £1 and draw my own template on paper then use the pin prick tool to mark it on the pumpkin.

The picture might be useful here

Argh, why is it not attaching?

I see your picture....twice

These are great for making holes, I used them for intricate patterns… www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SET-4-ROUND-HOLE-CUTTERS-POTTERY-CLAY-CERAMIC-TOOLS-4mm-8mm-12mm-20mm-RSET-POT13-/390908608561?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=CjwKCAjwk6-LBhBZEiwAOUUDp4Sv8Lu83LCDa6iaQq-8ogd6Jfnw8D76zGTCNASvBA2B46myK8ZiThoCp3QQAvD_BwE

I have a couple of saws of different sizes. Definitely a game changer when carving fiddly bits

These are some i have done in the past

DH uses a sharp kitchen knife and some small saws/cutting tools from his tool box. I don't know what they're called but small knife like things for cutting wood (maybe have a look in B&Q).

We have some plastic carving sets but they're hard work, not very sharp because they're made for kids and the plastic snaps. Proper woodworking tools cut through with ease.

@dementedpixie

I see your picture....twice

🤦‍♀️

One of the cheap sets from the supermarket plus a sturdier pumpkin spoon which is similar to a tablespoon but serrated on one side for scooping out the innards.

I agree about the saw-like tools, they were a game-changer when I discovered those. I also use my trusty curved vegetable knife a lot.

Melon baller to scoop the insides.
Also useful if you do a traditional Scottish turnip lantern (tumshie), but in that case more to even out the sides once you chisel out the middle .

I've seen people on tiktok using a pressure washer recently 🤣 they aren't the tidiest holes but would remove the bulk of the stuff and you could then tidy up.

More crafting or model making type tools as they give good level of details

I have used the drill before! It is good for making holes but less good for other shapes.
Pin pricking the pattern first using a template really improved our pumpkins last year.
I might get one of those little saws this year.

Metal (Halloween themed) cookie cutters tapped into a pumpkin with a hammer

Wow! Thank you so much for all of these responses! Some great tips here which are much appreciated.

I am going to have a look in Lidl!

Also I had no idea that such a thing as a pumpkin carving spoon with a serated edge existed!

And I am going to invest in a sharp veg knife and some saw attachments for dh's power tools.

Thanks all for the advice, links, and great photos!

Can anyone remember how long a cut pumpkin lasts please before it start going off/shapeless? I basically want to know how long in advance I can start carving so that the pumpkins remain fresh for Halloween.

Demented those are amazing!

@ power washer! Think I would be washing pumpkin flesh off my patio doors for the next few months if I tried that

And hopeisallineed your tip about pottery tools is fab thanks!

And thanks HumbugWhale and others for tip about pin pricking technique.

Another tip I have is; once you have done your pin pricking rub flour over the pattern so you can see the holes more clearly

I sellotape the pattern onto the the pumpkin to hold it in place. Or you can use drawing pins

A really sharp and thin-edged kitchen knife as well as the drill.