Just a quick question, when you use foam board for a base, what do you cut it with?

I have used an exacto knife, and then you can cover the edges with ribbon hot glued on or another decorative trim to cover the inside of the board to prevent the actual foam from getting on the cake. Oh...or you could just cover it with foil or wrap it in paper. Hope this helps!

I cut it with a box cutter & then cover with scrape book paper from Hobby Lobby it's 2 for $1.00. I put the cake on a cake board cut so that you can not see the board under the cake & then tape that to the covered foam board.

I wrap mine in white plastic or vinyl. And just place the cake right on that. You could put a cake board cut to the size of the cake to seperate the two if you wanted to.

I cut mine with a hot knife (an electrified exacto knife) by Creative Hot Marks--works like a charm & worth every penny. I got mine at Michael's and it's available at JoAnn's & Hobby lobby.

http://benfranklin.com/CREATIVE-HOT-MARKS-TOOL-KIT16.5-WATT/M/B0013JLFL0.htm

Rae

An exacto works for me.

What thickness does everyone buy? I am always concerned that the 1/2 inch the store has isn't thick enough...

(sorry to highjack the thread..... but I was curious...)

Thanks

I normally use the 1/2 inch and haven't had any problems with it. Thanks for the info on cutting and covering the board. Great info as I have always struggled with that part of it. I've tried small braids of fondant and other "covering" tricks but have never been happy with it.

I use the 1/2 inch board. I have tried them all; exacto cutters, hot knife, even an electric scroll saw.. the absolute best is an old fashioned electric knife.. See, I told DH that it pays to never get rid of anything.. LOL That thing has been in a drawer for years, and years, and... well, you get it..

I have always used a large serrated knife and haven't had any real issues, other than getting distracted which caused my line to wobble a bit. That is totally due to my ADHD and not the knife. Funny how we rely on our old stand-by's isn't it? And, a good reason to never throw anything away!

bettinashoe: I know all about wobbley lines from not paying attention! I have ADD and I have never been able to cut a straight line for anything for that matter and have it look good! I feel your pain.
Jen...

Funny, mellormom. Our lines may be crooked, but we are so good at doing 4 other things while we're cutting those foam boards, can't we? Who else can say they can watch tv, beat buttercream, yell at the kids/dogs and all cut a foam board at the same time?

You got it! I'm also very good at daydreaming too! I do that all the time while decorating.
Jen...

Just a little FYI for you. I have begun hot gluing buttons on the bottom of my foam boards so they sit a little off the table. It makes it much easier to move the cakes once completed.

Where do you all by the 1/2 inch foam boards? Online or at a particular store?

Yes, Bettina, gluing something under the bottom board to raise it above table level is a great "finger saver". I've used silicone "bumpers" used on glass tabletops, pieces of foamcore, napkin rings, etc.

I buy the 1/2 stuff from Hobby Lobby when they put their foam boards on sale 50% off--runs about $2.50/board. I can't always get there, so I ordered some from a website having a sale and it ran about $3.25/board with shipping.

http://www.artsupply.com/foamcore/sturdyboard.htm

HTH
Rae

why foamcore? is it cheaper or sturdier than the cardboard? just curious.

So much sturdier than cardboard--no cracked icing, no broken tiers because the board flexes, no absorbing grease or moisture and getting mushy.

Rae

Sometimes I don't feel like 1/2" is sturdy enough actually. Like when I'm doing a big 3D cake on it I have to use another 3/16th glued on to the 1/2 in...otherwise it will bend.

3/16 boards are on sale at Michael's this week for $1 each!!! Normally they are about $2.79 there...

how far does one board go? can it be cut into smaller sizes, etc?

I use mason jar lids to "lift" my cake boards off the table and give me more room to pick it up. I just hot glue them to the underside of my bottom board.
I often wondered on the Food Network challenge why they build 300 lb. cakes and do not leave room to get under and pick it up

Sue

The 3/16th and 1/2" boards I get from Michael's and the website in my post above are 30x20 inches. I get several cake sizes out of 1 and often 2 decorative boards out of a 1/2". There are larger sizes, like 30x40, but those babies run $15+, so they're not cost effective.

Rae

I used my 50% of from Michaels today and bought the hot tool gun as suggested above. I haven't used it yet, but I am excited to try. It brought the price down to $15.

You can always go to Michaels, or Hobby Lobby's websites and print off extra coupons, but you can only use one a day, unless you go back when the person that checked you out the first time isn't there.

I bought a 1/2" foamcore for $5. without the coupon, I used it on the glue gun. But I plan on going back over the weekend to get a couple more. I will give a coupon to my DIL, and one for myself.