Tools of the Trade
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 2:59 am
Since people frequently ask what tools I use to carve, I thought I'd take a photo of all my wonderful carving toys... err.. tools. So here is what I use to carve.
To cut lids, I just use a BFK... that's "really Big Knife"... *coff *
Below are the scoopers I use to "gut" my pkins... as well as the numerous knives I use to do the carving. I prefer Pumpkin Master's knives because they are thinner, straight, easy to work with... and I get new knives every danged time I buy a pattern book (which is when I see a pattern I like... so a lot). That pic also has 2 sculpting tools from a sculpting kit I bought-- it came with 4, but I broke 2 of them carving Darkness....
For sculpting, I use a set of small wood gouges my husband bought at the hobby shop for me. =)
Pkin Masters also has that 4-in-1 tool that's kinda good for sculpting. I bought two because it's plastic and I'll probably break it and not be able to find another one. I've also heard of people using clay-sculpting tools to carve pumpkins... I haven't bought any... yet...
Gouge tips:
Some not-oft-used-tools-- a saw and a dremel. I've never used the saw... because I'm worried about losing detail in my carvings and sawing off a leg or something... used the dremel once and wasn't a huge fan, but I keep it around just in case.
Some Pumpkin Pattern books I've collected over the years-- don't really use 'em all that much to be honest.
... as for definitions of carving... I use the following to describe different types of carvings:
Traditional Carving - Pumpkins carved all-the-way through
"Shading" Carving - When Pumpkins are carved through in some places and partially carved in others.
Sculpting - When the pumpkin shell is shaped to look like something else.
To cut lids, I just use a BFK... that's "really Big Knife"... *coff *
Below are the scoopers I use to "gut" my pkins... as well as the numerous knives I use to do the carving. I prefer Pumpkin Master's knives because they are thinner, straight, easy to work with... and I get new knives every danged time I buy a pattern book (which is when I see a pattern I like... so a lot). That pic also has 2 sculpting tools from a sculpting kit I bought-- it came with 4, but I broke 2 of them carving Darkness....
For sculpting, I use a set of small wood gouges my husband bought at the hobby shop for me. =)
Pkin Masters also has that 4-in-1 tool that's kinda good for sculpting. I bought two because it's plastic and I'll probably break it and not be able to find another one. I've also heard of people using clay-sculpting tools to carve pumpkins... I haven't bought any... yet...
Gouge tips:
Some not-oft-used-tools-- a saw and a dremel. I've never used the saw... because I'm worried about losing detail in my carvings and sawing off a leg or something... used the dremel once and wasn't a huge fan, but I keep it around just in case.
Some Pumpkin Pattern books I've collected over the years-- don't really use 'em all that much to be honest.
... as for definitions of carving... I use the following to describe different types of carvings:
Traditional Carving - Pumpkins carved all-the-way through
"Shading" Carving - When Pumpkins are carved through in some places and partially carved in others.
Sculpting - When the pumpkin shell is shaped to look like something else.
