Carving pumpkins with Power Tools, MWHAHAHA!

[Administrator_JSVN]

That's right, it's that time of year.  Or for most of us with children, it's probably already been that time of year.  Time to carve the pumpkins.  Surely I'm not the only dad out there that think pumpkins are fair game for the power tools.  (Maybe not the nice ones though).  Heck, the kids love using the jigsaw and I have to argue that it's safer than the knife method.  And it's a good way to expose your kids to the Dremel or other tools.

Anyone care to share their power tool pumpkin carving story or photos?

Happy pumpkin carving!

 

[Dane]

I've done this a few times.  You know what works really well?  A cordless drill with a regular old twist bit in it, you can use it like a spiral saw and just cut with it.  The edges of the bit are sharp enough to cut the pumpkin and it doesn't spin so fast like a dremmel or a rotozip.  I've never tried it with a rotozip but that'd probably work pretty well too....

 

[tbellemare]

I am adding a 50-amp circuit to my kitchen (new stove - old was all gas) and popped a hole in the wall behind the distribution panel this afternoon - between watching football.

Anyway, after making an access hole to run the cable, I had to make a hole in the back of the panel and in the Hardi-plank siding behind it.

I'm going through with a 3/4" close nipple so the hole is about an inch through Hardi-plank...

I started out with my father's old brace and ship auger bit and it started to work but was not satisfying me. This combo is old and dull... I had already drilled a location hole (to get things lined up just right) with the C 12 and a cheap 1/8" bit. I then tried the old brace and the 1" auger (about 20" long). The bit wasn't hitting the knockout hole in the back of the distribution panel, which means that I'm lined up just right and won't hurt the bit.

So I decide this isn't going fast enough to do between watching the game and getting stuff done. I pulled the big bit out of the antiquity and slapped it in the C 12. In a few quick turns, I was back watching football.

I love my Dad's old brace - I'm pretty sure it's much older than me.

I also love my C12.

When I was reading about Shane's pumpkin carving, I was thinking of how wild I looked walking around with that HUGE bit hanging out of an odd looking drill, and then turning it fast...

Maybe for trick-or-treat, a few pumkins and that set-up... The kids might like a little performance art. I'm starting to see what you mean, Shane.

Tom

 

[Neill]

I am adding a 50-amp circuit to my kitchen (new stove - old was all gas) and popped a hole in the wall behind the distribution panel this afternoon - between watching football.

Anyway, after making an access hole to run the cable, I had to make a hole in the back of the panel and in the Hardi-plank siding behind it.

I'm going through with a 3/4" close nipple so the hole is about an inch through Hardi-plank...

I started out with my father's old brace and ship auger bit and it started to work but was not satisfying me. This combo is old and dull... I had already drilled a location hole (to get things lined up just right) with the C 12 and a cheap 1/8" bit. I then tried the old brace and the 1" auger (about 20" long). The bit wasn't hitting the knockout hole in the back of the distribution panel, which means that I'm lined up just right and won't hurt the bit.

So I decide this isn't going fast enough to do between watching the game and getting stuff done. I pulled the big bit out of the antiquity and slapped it in the C 12. In a few quick turns, I was back watching football.

I love my Dad's old brace - I'm pretty sure it's much older than me.

I also love my C12.

When I was reading about Shane's pumpkin carving, I was thinking of how wild I looked walking around with that HUGE bit hanging out of an odd looking drill, and then turning it fast...

Maybe for trick-or-treat, a few pumkins and that set-up... The kids might like a little performance art. I'm starting to see what you mean, Shane.

Tom

Tom,

Sounds like an idea for a Halloween themed movie, "Texas Cordless Drill Massacre".  The monster could use the Centrotec chuck and he would have two names.  In Europe he could be known as "Torx Face.  In the U.S. he could be known as "Square Face."

There could also be a Ni-Cad version which would be a short subject while the lithium ion version would run a bit longer.

Neill

 

[tbellemare]

"Square Face" has to use a bit holder...  [wink]

I almost swallowed my tongue laughing, Neill.

Tom

 

[ForumMFG]

Sounds like that could be a very scary movie. [scared]