Pumpkin-carve with care! - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/28/2009 01:16:16 AM · #1

I have a couple sets of pumpkin-carving tools. If you've never used them, they really do work well. Tonight

Becky-Lee had cleaned 3 of the 5 pumpkins by using a regular knife. I went downstairs to get the tools because they're easier and SAFER. Just as I was coming out of the garage with them, Becky yelled and her boyfriend barrelled upstairs. I got to the kitchen to see a trail of blood across the floor and her draped into the sink with a cloth clutched to her hand.

10 stitches later.... she won't be doing pumpkin-carving, or much else, for a while! At least she didn't damage any tendons, which was the doctor's fear when she saw the depth of the wound.

So please, PLEASE take extra caution if you're working on jack-o-lanterns!!

The worst part is that in the rush I didn't think to grab my camera. The doctor said, "You want PICTURES of this??!!" Hellll yeahhhhh.... would have been perfect for our Halloween display.... LOTS of blood.

Message edited by author 2009-10-28 01:17:05.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

10/28/2009 01:18:32 AM · #2

Bah...I used a power drill and a sawzall to carve my pumpkins.

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

10/28/2009 01:25:05 AM · #3

Actually a sawzall is probably a MUCH better choice than a butcher knife, pretty much a power version of the saws in the kit.

*counts spaz's fingers*

Bugzeye

10/28/2009 01:41:43 AM · #4

I always used an electric kitchen knife until the motor burned out, Then I went and bought a really nice carving kit. I am thinking about doing some Jacko's tomorrow night.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/28/2009 02:05:19 AM · #5

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Actually a sawzall is probably a MUCH better choice than a butcher knife, pretty much a power version of the saws in the kit.

*counts spaz's fingers*

I won't mention the fact that I took a metal serving spoon bowl, modified it to fit in the drill and used that as a power goop scraper. Now that kicked some punkin' ass.

Message edited by author 2009-10-28 02:08:47.

10/28/2009 03:33:35 AM · #6

There will always be blood.

10/28/2009 04:44:16 AM · #7

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

There will always be blood.

Very true.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

10/28/2009 05:17:05 AM · #8

Awwww, Art, thank you for your wonderfully kind (and accurate) comment! :D

bassbone

Nikon Z8

10/28/2009 08:22:12 AM · #9

I used the 'pumpkin carving kit' type tools to do ours. here is some of our efforts from a couple years ago.

10/28/2009 02:45:47 PM · #10

Originally posted by bassbone:

I used the 'pumpkin carving kit' type tools to do ours. here is some of our efforts from a couple years ago.

DNMC (no blood) :P

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/28/2009 03:22:50 PM · #11

It looks much better today than it did last night...

Message edited by author 2009-10-28 15:23:13.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/28/2009 03:39:13 PM · #12

Originally posted by BeeCee:

It looks much better today than it did last night...

Makes my fresh creep in sympathy just looking at it...

R.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/28/2009 03:43:12 PM · #13

Bear, her hand slid down the handle and onto the blade when she tried to push it into the pumpkin.
The dr was worried about the tendons when she saw the depth of the cut, but everything wiggled okay. (That was about the first thing Beck tested!)

eta; when I first saw it, gaping wide open, I had to turn away, not because I'm squeamish but because I knew I couldn't hide my reaction and didn't want to upset Beck any more than she was. It really was gross, and made my hand throb!

Message edited by author 2009-10-28 15:44:49.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/28/2009 03:48:21 PM · #14

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Bear, her hand slid down the handle and onto the blade when she tried to push it into the pumpkin.

Well, that's a *little* mitigating, LOL; I was imagining her *sawing* towards that hand, if you know what I mean? Which would have been pretty lame, no pun intended.

R.

10/28/2009 03:51:24 PM · #15

Lol, yeah. Like all those people who end up in emergency rooms because they've stuck their fingers thru' the hole when bagel-cutting.

10/28/2009 06:12:13 PM · #16

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Lol, yeah. Like all those people who end up in emergency rooms because they've stuck their fingers thru' the hole when bagel-cutting.

Who told you about that?? It's a common mistake! Sheesh.

Message edited by author 2009-10-28 18:12:42.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

10/28/2009 06:44:50 PM · #17

Hope you had some medical marijuana on hand! Just kidding.

Anyway, that looks nasty. Thank goodness it sounds like everything is ok. Hoping for a swift recovery!

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

10/28/2009 08:33:33 PM · #18

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Damn I love seeing the insides if people. Don't get me wrong, I wish them no harm - but if it's gonna happen I wanna see! You should have taken a quick shot of the gaping injury.
Since I work in the xray at the hospital, I get to see some gruesome stuff but we aren't allowed to photograph it. Not too long ago we had a guy who had a battle with his chain saw - huge gash to the knee, you could see even see the bones.

Hope you heal quickly and without much pain Becky.

Message edited by author 2009-10-28 20:35:36.

10/28/2009 09:07:08 PM · #19

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

Damn I love seeing the insides if people. Don't get me wrong, I wish them no harm - but if it's gonna happen I wanna see!

SAW VII Starring Linda "ShudderPug" Bailey - coming soon to a theater near you.

10/28/2009 09:54:59 PM · #20

Doc, of course we have. This IS BC, after all! lol

Linda, I'm the same; I'm fascinated with what's under the skin. But by the time I got to her at home she already had the cloth clamped to it and once I saw how much blood was already soaked through I wasn't going to let her take it off again so I could play looky-loo. And in the rush to get her to the treatment center before closing I just did not think to grab my camera. I hang my head in shame :(

She's read the comments, had a laugh at some, and says thanks :)

Lol, the funniest part, though, was when I told

dknourek she'd "pulled a Dave". He didn't even need a millisecond to think what I meant, but instantly said, "Oh no. Is she okay?" I guess he knows his reputation is well earned. (Dave, you know I wuv u!)

Message edited by author 2009-10-28 21:57:43.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

10/28/2009 10:01:50 PM · #21

Send that bad ol punkin down here. We'll show it who's boss.

I hope that the healing goes right, and there are no problems with that hand later. Ouch.
Next time you carve a pumpkin, think "chain saw".

Message edited by author 2009-10-28 22:03:53.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/29/2009 07:01:27 AM · #22

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Next time you carve a pumpkin, think "chain saw".

Hmmm... that gives me ideas...... :D

Spork99

OM System OM-1

10/29/2009 11:15:03 AM · #23

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Next time you carve a pumpkin, think "chain saw".

Hmmm...the sawzall was pretty messy...a chainsaw, you might as well be Gallagher with a watermelon and his giant hammer.