I went to Home Depot to purchase a bench scraper. While I was looking at the different tools trying to decide I noticed all these men looking at me. I bet they thought it was weird of me looking at a manly tool for purchase. It made me feel uncomfortable so I just left. I told my daddy and he said they probably just thought I was a contractor, he's funny like that. But anyway, as I walked out of the store I thought about if anyone else had felt like this too while purchasing their "cake tool". My dad said he would go with me next time so I can buy it.

I'm sorta feisty and have a quick tongue and I would've said to them "You're staring mighty hard..do you see something over here that you like". Don't feel embarrassed maybe they were checking you out!

I recently just went through the same situation. I went to Lowe's to buy a 6 in round piece of connector for an a/c unit, to cut a cake with. I don't have a 6 in round pan so, I thought of something different. When I was asking the guy where it was, he asked me what I was using it for and when I told him I got some funny looks. But hey! It worked! The cake turned out great, and as soon as I get the picture from my friend that took it I will be putting it on the site.

Just wait until the first itme you tell a non-caker that you use a paint roller to ice your cakes
Now that will get you some funny looks

I was in a real rush when I went into the hardware store to buy a level. The guy who helped me was great and only paused for a millisecond when I told him what it was for. (No I don't need magnetic sides.....)

which reminds me of a question.....I bought a level that was fairly short to fit inside my caddy but am now worried that I really needed a longer one. do you guys use one?

I am in Home Depot and Lowes all the time. I am an electrician (20 yrs) and female. I buy my cake tools all the time in there. They were probably just looking at you trying to figure out if you were a contractor or worker. Seeing a female is still a novelity for some guys. I would go back by myself and not let the looks get to you. If you need help ask for it and just ignore the other stuff. You are a women and you don't need a man to hold your hand.

Buy your cake tools at Home Depot/Lowes and be proud.

Sounds like to me they were more interested in checking you out and trying to figure out a way to help you. I do go all the time and now more about the items they sell than most men. As far as the bench scraper, I actually had better luck, not at Lowe's or Home Depot, (I checked there), but I got a straight edge, both sides, chopper at one of the Bed, Bath, and Beyond, or the now defunct Linen and Things. You should see the looks I get when I buy the drill/sanding bits for my Dremel Motor tool and when they ask what I need it for I tell them sanding my gingerbread house.........I don't think they ever figure that one out.

Dang... I'm in Home Depot a lot...lol Let's see:

Hammer for dowels
Small PVC Pipe Cutter for wooden dowels
Level - obvious
Paint Brush for crumbs
Stanley Mobile Work Center for cake stuff on the go
Plywood for heavy duty bases
Screw Caddy (?) for tips
Wire Cutters for Gumpaste Flowers
Bench Scraper - But, I did go and get the one from Bed, Bath & Beyond

I'm sure there is more that I can't think of right now...and that's just for my caking...lol Amazing what you can find in the hardware store!

Happy Caking...chuckle...
Pat

..... level...fairly short to fit inside my caddy...worried that I really needed a longer one. do you guys use one?.......

Actually I use a bubble level that you get at RV supplie places. I guess you could find them at Lowe's or HD too. It's a circle about the size of a 1/2 $.

In this day and age, a woman buying a tool is NOT an anomily. My husband is as traditionalist as they come and he is laughing at your reaction. Since you mention you would take your dad with you, we are assuming you are young (and good looking) and THAT'S what they were looking at.

But they were not staring because you were buying a "man" tool. It's just not that uncommon; you are not doing anything out of the ordinary.

They were checking you out. Lots of men get hot'n'bothered about women using tools. My husband gooses me all the time when I'm working on the house. Something about women and power tools!

I jut had to chime in on this one!
Years ago when it was more uncommon for females to use or do "man things" I used to be in the hardware stores all the time. I am an artisan and use many "man tools". When I would purchase wood the sales guys would say...."oh we'll throw in an extra foot coz your sure to make mistakes etc." Well in time when they got to know my work and soon that ended but I used to get the biggest chuckle out of them thinking I couldn't use the tools just because I was a girl! It was nothing for hubby to be in the kitchen cooking and me in the basement with the tools!
Nowadays it is so common place for females in the hardware stores....go and enjoy!

i think i might have the best one: when i did my cupcake bouquets for the neighbors and ended up running out of packing peanuts for the bottom of the buckets, i resorted to using gravel...you should have seen that dudes face when he carried it to my car and commented that it was a great day to do some gardening. i said "oh, they're not for landscaping...they're for a cake!"

the strangest expression...i savored it for about 5 seconds, then had mercy on him and explained it. still makes me chuckle!

Oh, duh, if I had read anything below post #2 I would have seen the references to BB&B. And the references to what the guys were really looking at. LOL

Yes, hon, it is true - they were checking out your boobs, not your drywall knife.

Men.

Oh guys you are so funny. I don't consider myself hot, but thanks anyway. I do look younger than my age though. I'm 34 and people think my 15 year old son is my brother and my sister is my mother. Go figure. Anyway, I figured a bench scraper was a type of carpentry tool or something. I was looking for something in that area. I do go to HD alot, either with my husband or by myself to the gardening area, I made a quick stop by myself and got a little self concious when I noticed the stares. When I told my dad and he chuckled too. He also said they thought I might be a contractor or something. But I will return...no doubt about that! It just caught me off guard. But I will also be trying BBB. I like that store too.

Thanks a bunch!!
Sandra

Sandra you were in the right place. The home improvement stores have a much better selection, i.e. size, price, etc. than any Bed Bath and Beyond. All of my "bench scrapers" (putty knives, wall paper smoother, paint scraper etc.) came from Home Depot and Lowes, and they're great for smoothing BC.

As far as shopping at Lowes or Home Depot, in my house I'm the painter, wallpaper person, leak fixer, etc. Being the youngest of 8 kids I grew up following my older brothers around. They taught me everything I know, thank goodness, because my DH can barely change a light bulb without asking me which way to turn it. But, don't tell him I said so.

DKelly27 - Happy Belated Birthday!! Thanks for the tips!!

Thanks for the Birthday wishes!

The home improvement store is my favorite place to shop! We've remodelled several bathrooms and painted out the wazoo so I'm pretty comfortable in the "men's" store. I take after my dad in that I'm pretty good mechanically. When we put molding up like baseboards, crown molding or chair rail, I am ALWAYS the one that does the cutting and I will admit that I'm pretty good, even better at it than my dad is. I think those genes came from my maternal grandfather as he was a finish carpentar.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack.

When hubby and I were in Lowe's getting mdf cut for bases, my hubby starts telling the guy about the elephant cake I'm going to make and he starts asking me how much I charge for one! His wife loves elephants and he would love to get her one for their anniversary. Of course, I already had pvc pipe and connectors and flanges in my buggy for the elephant's "skeleton". Yep, I love Lowe's!!

I shop at Lowes all the time too. Go in and get whatever you want and dont let them intimidate you and by all means tell them what you are getting the tools for and watch their faces.

Everytime I read a new post from you guys it makes me smile. I love reading your stories. I will be going back to my HD today and purchasing my "tools". It's amazing to me that cakes can be created with the same tools and even materials that a house needs.

Sandra

I missed the paint roller for frosting somewhere... what the heck are ya'll talking about?

Do you use the typical roller for texture or what?

Please enlighten me!

I am an industrial chemist, a highly male-oriented field, and I'm also teeny tiny. (4'11'' - that's why I'm LittleMom!) I'm frequently looking for tools and items from HD and Lowe's - hammer drills, concrete tools, power sprayers, etc... and I think mostly what guys respond to is my smile - and my cuteness, of course!

But...

When I was working on garage floor paints and automotive adhesives, I had some of my funniest times. I needed a tire for a test once. This was the conversation:

"I need a tire - cheapest one you have."
"What type of car?"
"No type, just a tire, please."
"We have to look up the rim size."
"There's no rim. There's no car."
"How do you know what tire to get?"
"Doesn't matter. I'm going to cut it up."

And just yesterday at Autozone -
"Can I help you find something?"
"Nope, just need some motor oil."
"What kind of oil were you looking for?"
"Least expensive."
"We have different kinds for different engines and climates."
"Doesn't matter. I just going to put it in the oven."

I live for those looks!!! Just like the gravel for the cake and the icing paint roller! LOL! Love it!