RSS
Subscriber Michael Williams wrote in with this clever modification of the traditional pumpkin incision. He explains the logic:
For years now I've been unhappy with the choices for cutting open a pumpkin for Halloween. If you cut the top off in the traditional manner, you end up with singed hand hairs (at best) when attempting to place/light a candle. If you cut the bottom off, you can get the candle in OK but you're stuck picking up nearly the whole pumpkin each time and it never sits quite right. This year is different - I've found the perfect pumpkin cut!
Thanks Michael!
Make: Halloween Contest 2009
Microchip Technology Inc. and MAKE have teamed up to present to you the Make: Halloween Contest 2009! Show us your embedded microcontroller Halloween projects and you could be chosen as a winner.
Simply brilliant!
Reply to this comment
While it does solve some problems, I have a couple of minor problems with this:
1. It's less attractive than the typical cut, and would leave a glowing square outline on the back of your pumpkin;
2. I'm not positive, but I'd guess that it significantly compromises the structural strength of your pumpkin, which could lead to problems with designs that cut away a lot of the front, and could cause premature collapse as the pumpkin ages even with normal front carvings.
For simple pumpkins with thick walls, it seems like a pretty useful idea, though. Regarding the burnt hands thing, though - why not just light the candle *in* the pumpkin? Barbeque-style lighters were invented for a reason, and I'm pretty sure (name aside) it was to light candles for jack-o-lanterns.
Reply to this comment
I agree with SolidSilver. Our pumpkin display consists of 20 to 30 pumpkins and putting a candle into each one and keeping it lit would take too much time. I too tired of burning my hand lighting all the candles (lighting them and placing the candle, placing the candle and lighting with fireplace match or lighter, etc...). We now put electric lights in all the pumpkins, connect them to one circuit and place them on a timer. Also, for some of the larger pumpkins (100-200 lbs) we use in our display, candle power just doesn't do the carving justice. We use 60 watt bulbs in those pumpkins!
Reply to this comment
Just use a longer lighter...
Reply to this comment
I've never been the one to carve the pumpkins in my house, whoever does just does it the traditional way through the top. The best idea to me would be to cut through the back then find some way of attaching the back on without it falling off (if it's actually needed), perhaps some toothpicks would work.
Reply to this comment
Cut a square hole in the back. Taper the sides to block the light. Make a hinge from duct tape.
Reply to this comment
why not use a longer match, or a longer lighter and just light your candle from the side. Say, from the mouth or something. I think this type of carving might be more useful for pulling out seeds rather than lighting the candle.
Reply to this comment
Thanks for the advise
Thanks for the advise
Reply to this comment
For years I watched people try to set the round top on correct, rotating it trying to get it to line up the way it came off. Early on I learned to make a slight point at the back of the lid cut, like a teardrop. Later it evolved into a larger point to allow wrist room to allow setting a lit candle inside without my hand directly above the candle. This pictured method is same concept but a tad overboard. I like to scuff up the inside of my lid and rub in cinnamon, allspice and cloves so as the lid gets charred on an indoor jack-o-lantern, it smells like pumpkin pie.
Reply to this comment
For the past few years, I've been using LED lights in my Jack O'Lanterns. I have both yellow (with flicker patterns) and RGB units. The RGB one does some cool color fading. And... no scorched fingers!
Reply to this comment
I really wish I had the 5 minutes I spent looking at this back. What a waste of time and brain power.
The first quote was right on about this reducing the structural integrity of the pumpkin. (did I actually just type that)
Obviously, use a barbecue lighter...common sense!!!!!
Reply to this comment
Rich, it took you five minutes to read the article? Let me know if you get your time back...perhaps you can spend it on reading classes.
Reply to this comment
This is *clever*.
Reply to this comment
I'll have try this clever technique this year. It does seem rather easy and effective.
Reply to this comment
Leave Richard alone. It takes him awhile to read to himself with his lips moving and sounding each word out untill he gets it right.
Reply to this comment
Cut the bottom of the pumpkin and not the top.. Then you light the candle then place the pumpkin down over the candle.
Reply to this comment
Smart, but I prefer a BBQ lighter. Though this is a good solution if you're into layering instead of carving...
Reply to this comment
If you don't have a BBQ lighter, use a lit piece of spaghetti to reach.
Reply to this comment
This would also solve another problem for me.... being able to scrape out all the goo. I found my pumpkin this year was too small to use my regular scraping spoon on all points inside. It would get "caught" in the pumpkin. This cut would make that a lot easier. I'll have to keep this in mind next year. Thanks for the idea.
(Oh, and I only do "simple" pumpkins so I wouldn't have to worry about structural integrity so much.)
Reply to this comment
What I find works really well is camping glo-sticks in the pumpkins instead of candles... This way you also get an eerie green (or whatever color you choose) glow.
Reply to this comment