I mostly have Wilton pans (and are very happy with them, by the way) but I do have a 16" half-round pan by Magic Line that is very nice. At the bakery, we used only Magic Line pans unless it was a novelty shape, at which time we used Wilton pans. The only complaint I have about Magic Line pans is that the square pans have such square corners, it can be a pain to get them properly cleaned out... Probably not much bother in a home kitchen, but when we had four dozen pans to wash and had to use a rose stick to clean out the pan corners with, it was a pesty job. 
My least favorite cake decorating item, the one where I spent the money and wished I hadn't, would *definitely* be the Wilton tilting turntable. I also don't like the vast majority of their wedding-related items.
Deanna
Interesting to read this. We just had a hobbycraft store open near us. I checked it out today and found the cake icing aisle. This is unheard of in britain we normally buy our cake decorating stuff from specalist shops. The aisle was stuffed with wilton products (which is a brand practically unheard of in Britain). I looked at a few products and discarded most of them immediately as being inferior to the products I can buy over here. i did buy the create your own message press though. I'll give my opinion on it once I've used it. if you want some really good British Brands to look out for look for Squires Kitchen, Patchwork cutters, Jem and Celcakes
This is also a link to a fantastic store near my home which does sell mail order to the States
http://newlook.design-a-cake.co.uk/
We have a member of our cake club that is originally from the UK, and when she goes back for a visit, we give her money and shopping lists. I use and enjoy Jem products and am going to order some things from Squires Kitchen soon.
Deanna
I'm pretty new to cake decorating so I don't have as much. I did buy the wilton 101 piece decorating kit with a 50% off coupon so I got a great deal. I haven't even used everything in there yet. My coupler covers fit just fine and fit well, but I find it easier to just use a sandwhich baggie anyway.
Wilton certainly has a corner on the market. Other than looking on the internet I wouldn't even know where to look for decorating supplies and I certainly wouldn't have any idea what's good and not. I like that I can run to any of the craft stores and pick up something if I need it.
you can unload on me....I think my husband is starting to realize how expensive my "hobby" is getting.. ha ha 
Hi all!
I am interested in Wilton's tilting turntable...is there a problem with it, or why don't you like it?
LinB
I second the Wilton turntable. I had two cake disasters with that puppy. Yes, you would think I would learn my lesson at one. It is supposed to tilt and then lock in place so that you can do swags and such on the sides of the cake. Perhaps mine is defective. Both times, the lock came undone and the cakes just slid off before I could prevent major damage. The second time, I didn't have the stand tilted very much at all. I was working on a bikini cake that was finished except for the border and I had to start completely over. Maybe it was just me or I got one that didn't work properly. But it certainly wasn't worth the $50.00.
I don't personally have the tilting turntable. I had anticipated purchasing it some time back but then I came across a forum (can't remember if it was this one or Wilton) and I read numerous complaints about this particular turntable. Most of them were that it would not lock properly. That was enough to keep me from forking out that kind of money.
Vicki, there are some Magic Line pans on ebay. Parrish Cake Decorating makes them. Their site is not that helpfull though. But there is a phone number for them there.
My least favorite cake decorating item, the one where I spent the money and wished I hadn't, would *definitely* be the Wilton tilting turntable. I also don't like the vast majority of their wedding-related items.
Deanna
Oh man, tell me about it! I have dropped that turntable about a hundred times because they didn't attach the top to it. I am glad I had my 50 percent off coupon for that sucker, but I want to replace it one day. What brand do you recommend?
Hi all!
I am interested in Wilton's tilting turntable...is there a problem with it, or why don't you like it?
LinB
Its a very bad design...It has this locking mechanism that is all plastic that can easily unlock. And the top part just sits on the bottom part, so you have to be careful when lifting it. Also, the turntable is a Locking Type and I don't know how many times it has locked on me while I was trying to get a smooth icing...
I have several of Wilton's regular turntables and love them, although when I started out doing cakes I used the bottom of a Rubbermade revolving spice rack. If I had the money, I'd like to have the kind of turntable we used at the bakery. It is a heavy laminated wooden one that has two sides, the one side is round and about 12" across, and if you turn the turntable upside down, the other side holds a half-sheet cake. Around here, you can get them at cake supply shops. I tried to find a picture of one online to show you all, but I couldn't find one. Just don't buy that tilting turntable. Blech. That top will come off on you when you least expect it.
Deanna
The only place I know to get the Magic Line pans is Elizabeth's in Euless, TX. They have a website:
http://www.imagin.net/~ewilcox/prices.html
If anyone's planning to attend ICES in Texas in July, Elizabeth's is less than 10 miles from the convention site.
Hi Everyone: Does anyone have a website for: Magic Line?
They have Magic Line pans on this site:
www.cakesbysam.com
I've got a Pampered Chef shortening/measuring cup thinga-majig that slides all over the place when I use it too. Maybe we could do a joint ebay auction--two cups for one! ha ha...
kos
Sorry to hear that about your measure all cups guys... I sell Pampered Chef and that was one thing I was so glad I had when I started making my own frosting. I have 2... one for my shows and one for home, and I have just the opposite problem as you guys... mine are hard to take apart to wash.
I know this is just a part of my consultant coming out... but did you wash them in the dishwasher? I know that if you do that it can slide easier sometimes.
Sorry I go all Pampered Chef consultant on ya... after 4 years, it just starts to be a part of normal conversation. 
chefdot I am glad you mentioned the dishwasher because I have one of those measuring cups (thought it would be perfect for crisco) I can't get the silly thing to budge!! I was told not to put it in the dishwasher but you know at this point the thing is useless anyway. I am gonna give it a try.
OMG I was going to ask for the Wilton cake leveler for my birthday next month. Is there a better brand for that tool?
Maybe they need to give it a thicker wire so that it doesn't bend when you pull it through the cake.
Michelle
Just go straight for the big Wilton leveller. It has a toothed blade and will level sheet cakes as well as the little cakes. The wire leveller will only do smaller cakes, so just ask for the big one and skip the small one.
Deanna
I have to say that I LOVE my Pampered Chef measuring cup! Mine doesn't slide apart easily. I put it in the dishwasher all the time.
I bought the Wilton triangle comb. BOO! 
I also bought the small Wilton cake leveller, that I have used 1 time. Waste of money.
I bought the message press and returned it immediately because It was so hard to slide the little letters in that I cut myself.
Was going to buy the garland press, but I think I'll forget after reading posts here. The paper cup tip is great.
TooMuchCake.........the big one actually cuts through cake???? I bought the small one (I was skeptical to say the least)...but after the first night of Wilton course 1 when I saw the teacher cut through a cold cake like a stick of soft butter with the thing I thought.....wow it does work!!!! So I bought one!! I have never been able to get the thing to cut....I've thought about trying to replace the blade with a saw blade or something. I have even tried starting the cut with a serrated knife then using the leveler and still nothing...it would get stuck halfway through the cake!!! I figured it must be something I'm doing wrong...glad to see it's not just me. So you're saying the large one actually cuts???? I already lost 8 bucks on the small one.......don't feel like losing 20 something on the big one too.
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