I got a Makin Clay Extruder to use for a cake I made last week after seeing several posts about them. I had a problem, though. I used one of the small plates that extrudes a circular rope to make black stripes on the side of a cake. I worked with the fondant till it was a good consistency. It felt right...the way fondant should feel. When I started using the extruder, every single stripe came out very fragile and with little striations all over. I don't know what I did wrong. Should I bee greasing the plate or fondant? Something else? I'm not sure how to fix the problem, but I know the extruders have to work, because I've seen some great results from other people! Thanks!

I add just a little gum-tex to mine and it works like a charm.

Knead some crisco into your fondant. You want it really soft, much softer than you'd want it for putting on a cake.

You can add tylose for something that needs to be stronger, like a string that's hanging across an open space. The crisco helps make it come out with smooth edges.

I already knead shortening into my fondant, but I'll try kneading more into the fondant I use in the extruder. Thanks for the advice!

hey meggiebeth.. did it work.. i also had the same issue i tried making a rope with marshmillow fondant.. i put it in the microwave and added shortning but it still didnt work. im gonna try adding more crisco it might work

You can also use water. Take a cup of water, dip your fondant in it. (Just dip, like dunking a doughnut, to get the surface wet.) Knead it. Repeat until the fondant has a texture like chewing gum.

I learned this in a Lindy Smith class. It works like a charm!

I agree, add alittle crisco into the fondant! Works like a charm!

One thing I've seen done to make a rope nice and smooth once it's extruded is to take your fonant smoother and roll the rope underneath that. It smoothed out all those striations. I hope that makes sense

In addition to the above suggestions, make sure you are smoothly cranking the handle to prevent the tool chatter.

I microwave the piece going into the barrel before putting it in & have just started adding a small amount of Wilton's glycerin to coat the outside....The results are awesome, I won't extrude any other way!

(This is without tylose, just regular fondant)

i brush the whole inside of the extruder with some crisco and the plates and it work really good.

I use the wilton glycerin also!! works like a charm!!!

I recommend using warm fondant. Works for me because you don't loose the integrity of the fondant, so it won't be weaker or looser, cause as soon as it cools down it's the same old fondant. HTH

Patty*