How to Carve a Fancy Pumpkin With a Dremel

So, you want a fancy carved pumpkin, but you don't want to spend a lot of time on it? Welcome to the age of technology. An electric dremel tool and a few cookie cutters will have your pumpkin up and glowing in a flash.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Votive Candleholders
• Votive Candles
• Pumpkins
• Cookie Cutters
• Paring Knives
• Old Newspaper
• Old Newspaper
• Permanent Markers
• Dremel Tools
• Safety Goggles
• Safety Goggles
• Pumpkins
• Permanent markers

1. Select a pumpkin with a smooth surface.

2. 

   Draw a pattern on a separate piece of paper. Some suggestions are bats, skulls, spiders and ghosts. Or find cookie cutters in scary shapes to use as an outline.

3. 

   Cut away the top part surrounding the stem, and remove any seeds and pulp from inside the pumpkin.

4. 

   Draw the pattern on the surface of the pumpkin, and cut around the outline with a sharp knife. Alternatively, press the cookie cutter of choice into the orange skin to create the outline.

5. Use the dremel drill to remove the areas that are to be completely cut out -eyes, mouth, nose, etc.

6. 

   Remove the orange part of the skin inside the outline with the dremel tool. A dremel tool resembles a bulky electric toothbrush but is actually a small drilling tool. There are many types of attachments available for this versatile piece of equipment, including high-speed cutting bits, saw blades and drilling tips.

7. 

   Select the bit (tip) of the dremel tool based on the finished effect you desire. The deeper you cut into the pumpkin's flesh, the more light will shine through.

8. Place a votive candle inside the pumpkin once you are finished. The light from the candle will provide an eerie glow.

Tips & Warnings

• Mistakes and slips of the knife can be mended by pinning the skin back in place with a toothpick or two.
• This job is beyond messy! Wear an apron and safety goggles, and cover the surrounding work area with newspaper or plastic sheeting to prevent a daunting cleanup job.

Resources

• Halloween Pumpkin Carving Templates

on 11/22/2005 If you cut out the top you end up reaching into your pumpkin with a match to light the candle. By cutting out the bottom of the pumpkin instead of the top, you can set the candle on the base of the pumpkin, easily light it, and place the pumpkin over the base. Works very convienently!

on 11/22/2005 Some models of Dremel tools offer a long flexible bi5t extention. I find it's much easier to do precesion work without the weight of the tool or the torque of the motor putting twist into your wrist.

on 11/22/2005 If you do not have a dremel, local department stores like Wal-Monster have $10 electric pumpkin carvers.

on 11/22/2005 Place the Dremel (minus the bit) into a plastic bag. Punch a hole in the bag, add the bit, and use the Dremel either in or through the bag. Dremels get the pumpkin mush flying - this saves a lot of cleanup and protects the Dremel.

on 11/22/2005 Your pumpkin doesn't have to have a Halloween motif! Make a paper stencil to copy your kids' favorite video game character (like Sonic). Place your tracing onto the pumpkin and make little, shallow holes into the pumpkin along the lines
and carve away!