Pumpkin Masters Power Saw Review: The Electric Pumpkin Carving Saw Fails Flat

When I first saw the Pumpkin Masters electric Power Saw pumpkin carving knife, I was beyond excited; I have been a fan of the Pumpkin Masters line of pumpkin carving patterns, tools and idea booklets for years. Just think of the time you could save carving pumpkins if you didn't need to take a break after the third one to rest your hand! I purchased my Power Saw on sale, which made the $9.99 price tag-at 50% off-even more a bargain.

My Pumpkin Masters electric pumpkin carving saw came with 1 power saw body, two different blades, plus one of the "poker" tools used when transferring a pattern onto the pumpkin. As a bonus, I got two free pumpkin patterns, which included a Jack-O-Lantern face and a cute bat; I used the bat, of course. I felt that the bonus tools and patterns made the $9.99 price tag even more reasonable-until I tried the saw, that is.

After preparing my pumpkin for carving, and painstakingly applying the dots to outline the design, I plunged the blade of my Power Saw into the flesh of the pumpkin. I will give Pumpkin Masters credit for making the blade of the saw somewhat flexible, and the handle of the electric pumpkin carving utensil wide and easier to hold than one of the tiny, non-electric saws. However, I immediately noticed that the power button placement-the on/off switch, which must be held down-was incredibly awkward. Instead of having the button on the edge of the Power Saw where it is natural to place your fingers, it sits on the side. I couldn't seem to place my thumb or fingers in a way that I could wield the Power Saw comfortably.

Even with the awkward placement of button, the ultimate failure of the Pumpkin Masters tool is the sheer lack of power. I started by trying to cut the top of my pumpkin off, and ultimately used a knife in a fraction of the time it would have taken with the Power Saw; I am not exaggerating when I say this thing struggled to cut through the pumpkin at all, let alone with anything even remotely resembling speed. So, I decided to wait and use the Power Saw for the more intricate, delicate sections of my "easy" level pattern. I used it to go around the eyes of my bat, the smallest section, but the slow speed and chugging struggle of the blade was beyond frustrating. The blade would choke, catching and barely sawing through my pumpkin; in the end, I stopped pressing the power button and used the saw like I would any non-electric Pumpkin Masters saw tool. Ironically, the larger handle made carving more comfortable for me, but the flexibility in the blade-which can slip further inside the handle with pressure-and having to avoid the power button made even that compromise a challenge.

The Power Poker & Saw will give you the power to carve intricate patterns in minutes. It also has been designed for comfort and detailed carving," states the official Pumpkin Masters store listing for the Power Poker & Saw. Are they kidding me? This thing couldn't cut through a banana peel any easier than my fairly good sized pumpkin-and yes, I did test that. Using it to carve a Jack-O-Lantern face into a pepper might work, but it certainly doesn't assist with pumpkin carving.

Ultimately, no-I cannot recommend the Pumpkin Masters electric pumpkin carving saw to anyone, whether an experienced pumpkin carver such as myself, or a novice with an easy pattern; I certainly wouldn't hand it over to a kid. The Power Saw product is a perfect example of a great idea with poor implementation; more power in the saw would have made a difference, but the awkward handling and power button placement really sealed its fate. I would rate this product 1.5/5 Stars.

Sources,

Pumpkin Masters | Products, "Power Poker & Saw" item description.