justforfunOct 26
Ben Zanin

For anyone else considering the seasonal pursuit of carving a pumpkin and spending time looking through dollar store toolkits or scrolling through dozens of identical crappy plastic tool sets in attractive clamshell zip cases on Amazon, let me save you some time.

The magic term you want is "drywall saw".

(If you're one of those maniacs who uses high speed rotary tools on your gourds, disregard my words. I have no wisdom for you.)

Oct 19 at 2:09amTusky
Show threadStewart RussellOct 19
@gnomon this is why it is traditional to carve a turnip/swede/wurzel (pick your name) in Scotland. You need a power drill with a hole saw or spade bit to even make a dent in it
Show threadThomas WodarekOct 19

Wouldn't the blade serrations on a drywall saw leave ragged edges? Genuinely curious.

I usually use the BIG kitchen knife, then do detail work with a small fillet knife, but I'm always looking for easier/better ways to do this.

@gnomon

Show threadBen ZaninOct 19
@twodarek as it turns out, no, it does not!
Show threadnoplasticshowerOct 26
@gnomon I used an advanced technology called paring knife
Show threadBen ZaninOct 26
@noplasticshower *looks up from adjusting clamping forces with a tenths dial indicator holding a gourd in place on the bed of a CNC mill* yeah a paring knife works too
Show threadJulia EvansOct 26
@gnomon I just saw this at the perfect time because i’m going to a pumpkin carving party today
Show threadBen ZaninOct 26
@b0rk oooh I hope you can post your pumpkins when they're ready!!
Show threadJulia EvansOct 26
@gnomon the drywall saw was great
Show threadBen ZaninOct 27
@b0rk aaaaaaah your pumpkins look amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Show threadsarnaOct 27
@b0rk @gnomon love the turkey pumpkin
Show threadNelson MinarOct 27
@b0rk @gnomon lol is that a recursive pumpkin?
Show threadJulia EvansOct 27
@nelson @gnomon i guess so though the person who made it isn’t a programmer so probably wouldn’t describe it that way :)
Show threadPaddy O'BrienOct 26
@gnomon sometimes also called a jab saw
Show threadBen ZaninOct 26
@Tapi oh! Thank you, I haven't heard that term before.
Show threadPaddy O'BrienOct 26
@gnomon That’s what my father in law called it when we had to rehang all the drywall in my gouse and the guy at home depot knew what I meant whenI asked 😅
Show threadBynkiiOct 26
@gnomon a nice dremel with the right attachments makes it easy
Show threadBen ZaninOct 26

@bynkii I have it on good authority¹ that the Milwaukee gen 2 right angle die grinder² leads this class of tool right now, though I think Christine McConnell prefers a different industrial option that can be outfitted for pedal operation.

¹: a pair of talking hands with a YouTube channel that is about 45% dad jokes by duration, https://youtu.be/sBswDxpAoWM

²: https://www.milwaukeetool.ca/products/3485-20

Right (angle) Tool For The Job!

YouTube
Show threadBynkiiOct 26
@gnomon oh that’s pretty
Show threadMaria Langer | 📝🛥️💎Oct 26
@gnomon @rpmik Yes. This is the perfect tool for carving a pumpkin. 👍🏻
Show threadTom BortelsOct 26

@gnomon

Thank you.

My wife has been going thru a seasonal "roasted pumpkin seed" phase, and she's going to chop a finger off with the big carving knives she's been using opening *literally dozens* of pumpkins. Was considering a chainmail glove - this is the perfect partner.

Show threadBen ZaninOct 26
@tbortels brilliant, I'm delighted to hear that it might reduce injury!!
Show threadAdam Williamson Oct 26
@gnomon logically speaking, does this mean I can patch holes in my walls with leftover pumpkin?
Show threadBen ZaninOct 26
@adamw if there is a hole in your logic it is beyond my ability to spot
Show threadHugo Slabbert ⚠️Oct 26
@gnomon k, this is helpful because we definitely do have a drywall saw kicking around somewherez but now you've giving me Thoughts about the rotary and oscillating tools for this function...
Show threadArena Cops 🇺🇦✌Oct 26
@gnomon 😎🎃👍👍 Valuable advice for every seasonal wannabe-pumpkin butcher!
Show threadEwen Bell 📸Oct 27
@gnomon

Cannot imagine anybody over the age of 35 who hasn't got a drywall saw in their toolkit.

They're the cotton buds of home repair :)