_EXTREME Hack-O-Lanterns By Arwen O’Reilly

Photograph by Mike Thomas

Pumpkin-carving websites are usually fam- opinion on his or her favorite tool, but most agree that ily friendly, but a few take pumpkin carving to the since pumpkins are 90% water, torching is nearly extreme. Probably the funniest one out there is impossible. Extreme Pumpkin Carving (Fox Chapel extremepumpkins.com, which proffers advice for Publishing) is also the title of a recent book by Vic avoiding the tedium of classic carving. Hood, an authority on historical restoration, and Jack

Wielding jigsaws, routers, Sawzalls, and the Williams, a woodcarving expert. These guys disdain like, Tom Nardone and his buddies hack their way power tools (you sacrifice control), but do amazing through literally dozens of pumpkins. The site things with everything from kitchen knives to carving includes sections like “Power Tools” and “Fire, gouges and chisels. Think gargoyles at Notre Dame Light, and Pyrotechnics,” which advise such things rather than foaming brains and flaming heads. The as “What a Regular Person Would Use. Why You book has two step-by-step projects as well as instruc-Shouldn’t” and “Road Flares. Awesome.” This site tions for many more, plus tips on bringing out the will give you all the resources you need to hack up, Renaissance craftsman in you. blow up, and light up your pumpkin. He also has And if you get hit with post-Halloween depression, tips on preserving your jack-o-lantern, his favorite there’s always Funkins, a carvable styrofoam pumpkin roasted pumpkin seed recipe, and an amazing alternative, or the world of competitive gourd carving gallery of images from his popular pumpkin carving to sustain you until next October. contest (check out the Balinese pumpkin for a little global perspective). For more great pumpkin-carving resources go to

Other websites add to the mix by suggesting lino- ^{makezine.com/03/pumpkin.} leum tools for surface detail, handsaws, and different