So how hard or soft do you make your fondant or gumpaste to successfully get a smooth rope from a clay extruder. Do you work in a lot of shortning or leave it dry. Do you push out the rope really slow or fast. I have tried regular MMFfondant and some with extra shorning and it has a rough texture on it. What am I doing wrong?

I add quite a bit of shortening to my fondant to make it soft enough to go through my gun. It comes out very smooth.

sorry to hijack your post, but having the same trouble. ?-if I add alot more shortening will it still dry hard. need to mak a number to stand on bday cake.

hijack away sweetie... I have tried and tried and I think I need a better gun. But as to the shortning yes peices will still dry they just need more time- a couple days. I so want to make beautiful clean and even rope, snakes, whatever you call them.

how much shortening are we talkin? i added about a tsp to each glob that i put in the extruder, it didn't seem to make a difference. still not smooth. maybe we have the same extruder? mine is by makin clay.

There must be trick to it like doing it at a snails pace or like speed racer or something..IDK...? I wish someone had a youtube on it.

Which clay extruder are you using? The push one that kinda looks like a syringe? The clay gun type or the ultimate clay extruder which looks like a "T"? I have heard many people say that the "T" one is the easiest one to use. I don't have one yet because my Michael's and AC Moore don't carry anything but the cheap one that looks like a syringe, and Hobby Lobby is always out of the "T" one.

i actually have shortening on my hands when i work with thd fondant.. i knead it good.. i put some shortening on my finger and rub the extruder end and whatever i am using to make the design, i want. it works beautiful this way for me. hth

ptanyer and icer101, I am using the T type. It's made by Makin Clay. Much easier to push thru that th syringe type, but even with kneading a lot of shortening in the fondant, i still can;t get it smooth. ptanyer, what kind of fondant are you using. I use homemade MMF. I wonder if that is my problem.

I don't know if this is the "right" answer, but it works for me. I not only work a little shortening into the fondant, but a little water as well. If I wear food prep gloves, the fondant doesn't stick to my hands as much, and I can work the water and shortening in to a very soft consistency.

Hope this helps!
Becky

I finally found the Ultimate Clay Extruder by Makin and purchased it. Excitment abounds and anticipation grows as I drive home. Can't wait to try it out and see if I can do anything with it...

Ladies and Gentlemen: the answer is............... Eureka!!!!!!! It works! Just like I hoped it would. I am so happy. I have a new toy that works, and doesn't make my carpal tunnel inflammed hands hurt, and I didn't have to ask the men in the house to help.

Now as to what consistency fondant to use...I used Satin Ice and did not need any water, shortening or any additional substances. Satin Ice fondant is soft when warmed with your hands and worked great.

So, in my humble opinion I would say:

The Makin Ultimate Clay Extruder and Satin Ice Fondant were made for each other.

Is this clay estruder found in the polymer clay section at Hobby Lobby or is it a Wilton product? TIA

I also but a generous amount of shortening in the tube and on the disk itself. That really helps keep it smooth also.

I just bought the Ultimate Clay Extruder at HL.
I'm excited to try it...thanks for all your tips!!

I just got the green Makins gun and it's much simpler to extrude with than the sugargun most of us have.

For Canadians, I got mine through Shades of Clay online for $24.99 plus 6.75 shipping. It came in only a few days. That is in Canadian dollars so it is about 25% cheaper than paying that in the US. I couldn't find it in any store around here.

lorrieg, what type of fondant are you using? I'm still trying to get a smooth rope, but it comes out looking like it has slices all the way up on side. I'm going to try Michelle Foster's fondant recipie, so far I have only ever used homemade MMF.

I use MMF in my gun and it works great. You just have to make sure the sides of the gun have crisco and the disk too. Mine comes out smooth after that.
Jen...

I was just having this problem two nights ago.
Anyone know if Joann's carries this fantastic extruder you speak of?

Alaina, I've tried the extruder with Jen's chocolate fondant, Satin Ice, and Mill's Lane?(the one Creative Cutters sells) and McCall's Easy Ice. All worked well. I kneaded it well, rolled it into a cigar shape and put it in from the bottom of the gun. Apart from one or two bubbles in one that I didn't knead very well they all worked. If the fondant feels dry use a little shortening on your hands when you work it.

I've also read that adding a touch of watch makes it work better. I found that with the red sugargun that did help but mine just never squeezed quite right and was a pain to use. HTH Lorrie

I'll have to give the "more shortening" a try. I have the same problem of not getting the rope to come out smoothly. I love the extruder, it save lots of time and frustration, but I've never been able to get the nice clean surface I desire. Thank you for answer.

I finally got it to work yesterday! I kept trying and then kneeding in more shortning and lubing up the tube and die disk. It wound up being as soft as melty bubble gum and shiney like that also. The first couple times I tried to turn the extruder to the side to cut it off and it stretched right out of shape and broke. So then let it fall gently out of the tip onto a plate I rubbed with shortning and after I had more than enough I cut it off. After letting the rope firm up a few minutes I could handle it very gently. So keep trying, don't give up.

I'm gonng get this, cause it's driving me nuts! I tried the shrotening, but probably not enough, it wasn't that soft. So gonna work on it laterer this afternoon, I checked my MMF recipie against all on this site, and it's the same, so that's probably not my problem. i did warm it in the micro for a few secs and that made it pretty soft. just need to find the right ratio. My shop is pretty cold (basement) sooo (THE LIGHTBULB IN My HEAD JUST WENT ON! lol) maybe I should warm the clay extruder a bit, maybe toss it in the preheating oven a min or two??

I just bought the T Makin extruder at Clay Alley online. It was $19.95 plus shipping. It is SOOOOOOOOO worth it. It works great with satin ice fondant. I also used it with the premade Wilton fondant (added a touch of shortening). It's definitely worth splurging on this one.

I just bought the T Makin extruder at Clay Alley online. It was $19.95 plus shipping. It is SOOOOOOOOO worth it. It works great with satin ice fondant. I also used it with the premade Wilton fondant (added a touch of shortening). It's definitely worth splurging on this one.

Maybe because I have hot little paws and they finally came in handy for something I would hold work the fondant nice and smooth and warm in your hands with some extra shortning and then slide it into the barrel of the clay extruder and hold it in your hands tightly while threading on the tip... to get it nice and warm. if things get too hot youare going to have nothing but a puddle and I don't think I would used the micro that actually cooks the sugar if it gets to warm and will cause it to harden even harder once it cools.

sadsmile, you are definatly my extruder expert. I just saw your cake "Sugarshack bow tassel" and OMG! I am finally going down to work on this and I will do exatcly what you said. If I can achieve 1/2 of your quality I will be happy. Thanks for all the tips everyone

Gosh I am hardly an expert. That is only the third time I tried playing with that blasted syringe torture device blanking contraption and the first time working it successfully! ROFL my hand still hurts I should have iced it!
But I am happy to pass along what worked for me. I am serious about that melted bubble gum texture-nice smooth and shiny. Use steady pressur for the desired length and then give your hand mini rest breaks. Shortning up your plat and promptly cnad ever so lightly cover with cling wrap and go about your other decorating till it is needed. if the rope seems stiff just gently cup your hand over it for a minute and the natural heat and will soften it right up so it won't crack on you.
Dust it with any luster while still fresh so it sticks and comes off less when handled-though highlighters want to rub off no matter what. I must have painted the things 3 times..LOL Just brush with vodca and luster or highlighter.