The only thing I dislike about decorating cakes (besides making tons of icing) is cutting the dowels!!!! Is there some tool out there that I do not know about that can shave the 15 to 20 minutes it takes me to mark, saw, sand and then wipe down these dowels????? I was using a kitchen knife (until I dulled them all and my husband saw me pull out the expensive steak knives ) I bought a special little saw just for my dowels and I just hate doing this!! There must be a better way........... Ladies, please help!
bj
I started using the long white balloon sticks that are sold at party stores. They are hard plastic, really cheap and can be cut a little and broken off the rest of the way. Most times they break evenly. Much quicker than the regular dowels and seem to support just as good. Sorry I can't offer much help on the regular dowels.
I bought the best thing ever at target. It's a pair of cutters from the garden section. They cut the dowels like butter, I am amaized at how well they work. They are kind of flat on one side and sharp on the other as opposed to a pair of sicsors that are sharp on both blades(does this make sense?). anyway, thay are $9.99 and worth every penny!
ml
I am off to Target tomorrow!!! I am going to busy with cake orders this weekend and do not want to use that stupid saw or beg my husband to cut them for me. Thank you!!!!
bj
yes, make sure you get the ones with the one flat side, the scissor kind dont cut as evenly as this kind.
I use a pair of shears for cutting PVC piping. They cut so nice and evenly, that you don't have to mess with the sanding bit.
Someone here once suggested large dog nail clippers (new of course). I works like a dream!
On a similar note- Anyone have suggestions for cutting the columns that push all the way through the cake? Same problem, but the clippers crush instead of cutting.
I have to say the dog toe nail clippers struck me by surprised but then I thought about my huge dog's toenails and said, "HMMMMMMMMM". I got a piece of dowel and the toenail clippers that we bought to use on the dog but she totally freaks when she sees them so we have never used them. I tried it and it works like a dream! I LOVE it. I went today and bought a new pair. We never used the old ones but I just felt better with a fresh, new pair that the dog will never see.
Thanks again!
bj
In Toba Garrett's book, she used lollipop sticks. She used an exacto knife to cut them but I'm sure any sharp knife would do. This seems so much easier.
Gardening shears are the best. Fast, sharp, even cuts every time. I think I have pruning loppers. Not sure, but they aren't very expensive at Home Depot. The work amazing.
Angie
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0925389047.1144846699@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccihaddhhkfglmecegecegjdghldggo.0&vertical=SEARS&gobutton=find&keyword=%2300937300000.&displayTarget=searchresults&gobutton.y=17&gobutton.x=17&verticalFullName=&ihtoken=1
I've heard people say that these were like cutting through butter when they cut dowels!!! That there was absolutely no effort involved.........even better than gardening pruners supposedly....don't own any yet myself...but they look interesting
I have a little hand saw that is used for cutting meats (I guess) and after I measure the dowels, I set them on the counter and roll it as I cut and then use the first one cut as a guide for the rest.
Tabby
I found the perfect tool to cut those wood dowel rods, at of all places, a Hunting & Wildlife show. Its called the E-Z Kut Heavy Duty Ratchet Pruner. The cutting capacity is 1" and its like using a pair of scissors. It was relatively inexpensive ($19) and came with a lifetime warranty. I've had it for about 4 years now and it's still as sharp as the day I bought it. I actually had to fight my husband for it but it was worth the fight!
Garden shears (1/2" works well) are good, but ratcheting garden shears are the best! It is absolutely effortless with a decent pair of ratcheting shears.
Hmmm - and then do you use sanding paper or something to kind of clean up the end of the dowel rod or does it come out fairly clean? What about cutting them all the same length? Any problems using those scissor/shears?
Hmmm - and then do you use sanding paper or something to kind of clean up the end of the dowel rod or does it come out fairly clean? What about cutting them all the same length? Any problems using those scissor/shears?
I use the Pampered Chef kitchen shears for my wooden dowels. The bonus is that I can just throw them in the washing machine and they never rust.
I'm special. not really lol. I have a bandsaw in the barn. My father was a cabinet maker and so is my brother. So I have an actual saw to cut mine.
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