I just purchased a Sugar Art gun from Sugarcraft--the one recommended by Earlene. I followed the directions on the back of the package, thinned my fondant a bit and I can only manage to get a little squeezed out of the gun--not enough to do a rope swag 
Am I doing something wrong??? I put the fondant in the barrel and place back on the gun. Depress the lever so that the plunger pushes the fondant down to the end of the barrel. But if I want any fondant to come out of the disc, I have to push the plunger with my hand. I thought the lever was suppose to push the plunger??? I am so mechanically-challenged, it's not even funny. Any suggestions? TIA--Pam
I just have a cheap plastic version from Michael's, but when my fondant will not come out ( I know this may sound kinda silly) I turn the gun upside down and press against a table, letting the table push it out, if that makes any sense at all???? I am not sure how you gun works, so I am not sure if that helps....
Also, I sometimes rub crysco in the barrel, that helps too
I have the older version that has a plunger and not the nice lever. I work my fondant a bit with some pand coat on my hands. The smaller the die the harder to get through. I had to do one flower for OSSAS and it took me about 10 hours of work. i love the look though. I also grease the barrel. I als noticed if the die is flipped it does not come out as easily. One part of my die is raised and the other side is depressed.
I can't get mine to work either. Some people like them. not me.
what is the secret Nati? You do the most amazing hair on figures that I have ever seen!
Is it adding something to thin the fondant down?
I can't get mine to work well either!
what is the secret Nati? You do the most amazing hair on figures that I have ever seen!
Is it adding something to thin the fondant down?
I can't get mine to work well either!
Keira
I dont really thin my fondant at all, i just knead it until it's soft. If you water it down it will be too sticky to come out. I sometimes also use gumpaste for hair as it dries harder quicker. I use fondant mostly for ropes.
cheers
Nati
Nati--
That's the one I have. But how do you get such long strings??? I do work my fondant until it is soft. When I use the lever handle, I can only get it to push the fondant down to the end of the barrel. I thought that if you kept pumping the lever, that it forces the fondant through the disc but when I let up on the lever, the plunger comes back up.
Next time I depress the lever, it goes just to where the fondant is and maybe pushes out a small amount. Not even 1/4 of an inch. So I resort to flipping it and putting the plunger on the counter to apply pressure.
Any other suggestions???
Hi, Mac
I got that same clay gun. Given that mine is defective and I won't be getting any money back since the 30-day-period already passed, this is what has worked for me. Let's see if I can explain it in English (not my first language). I don't squeeze the handle a bunch of times, I just do it once and keep it pressed until all the fondant comes out. Does that make sense?
Inma
I know what you mean. I thought it was because I wasn't very strong since I imagined that having the handle would make everything super easy. I know there are some fondants softer than others (SatinIce is softer than Pettinice, for example). Maybe the same happens with FondX, which is the one Nati uses, I think.
Inma
I have tried it that way, too. But it's so slow. It's slower than a slug...it just creeps out, you can barely see it moving!
Mac
I have used fondX and Orchard icing in my sugarcraft gun. I just squeeze the lever several times, kind of the way you use those little hand exercise contraptions, after a few squeezes it all comes out. Do you use Wilton fondant normally??
I have only used wilton fondant once, it was pretty bad, waxy and not terribly pliable. I never tried it in my sugarcraft gun, but i can't imagine that it would work really well
Nati
Thanks Nati--
Locally, Wilton is all that is available. I will be putting in an order for fondX. Thanks for all your help.
Mac
Do you ever use MMF? I have never used it, BUT I have heard from people that use MMF and have tried fondX that they are very similar.
It may be worth giving it a try??
Nati
Nati--
Thank you so much for all your help. I made the MMF and it works SOOOO much better in the gun. Wilton fondant--you are GONE!!!!
Your patience greatly appreciated. I will post the wedding cake later today that I needed the strings for.
You're very welcome. I tried Wilton once, and that was enough for me, it not only tastes bad but it is hard to work with. Im glad your MMF worked well.
Can't wait to see your picture
Cheers
Nati
hmm, I had better get some fondx for modelling use!
I got a Sugarcraft gun awhile ago, and I have only used MMF in it. When I use it, I "pump" it up by squeezing the lever several times and I guess it must create a suction. If you only squeeze the lever a few times, not much will come out, but when you do it several times, you will find that it will come out fairly fast. I don't buy fondant, I only make mmf, and haven't had a problem with it...I haven't even had to thin it out or add shortening. HTH!
Oh, Nati--
I let myself down. I wasn't able to use the sugar art gun with the wedding cake. I have a helper that did not show up until 1 hour before delivering cake so I did not have the time to use it. I ended up just using BC for the strings...
Several fell off in transit and I had to redo them at the reception site. Not as good...my hand was shaking and the loops were not even...
The bride and bridesmaids were there getting ready and they all loved it...that's the important thing, right?
Oh well, back to cleaning the kitchen, there was a powdered sugar storm in there today... 
hmm, I had better get some fondx for modelling use!
Keira
what brand of icing do you usually use?
I've tried Bakels, Orchard, Pettinice and fondX. FondX is my favourite by far, but i've heard others have had problems with it.
I now use it for everything
Nati
I still use Bakel's pettinice mostly as I find it stands up to the shockingly hot temps we got here last summer. It is the easiest for me to get from my supplier too. I have heard of satin ice and fondx but would have to order from interstate for them. I still think I will try fondx, I think bakery ugarcraft or cakedeco will probably have it, and I want a book too, so might combine the order.
It is probably a good idea that I suss out other options eg fondx which can be refrigerated, as the high temps and humidity we are copping the last few summers here in Brisbane have made it hard to keep fondant from sliding a little, and I ended up living in constant airconditioning and using closet hippo things to eat up the humidity.
Maybe this year I will just stick the cake in the fridge.. Might have to buy a bigger fridge though 
Keira
I've found a supplier that gets the fondX straight from Sweet Inspirations in Sydney. They bring it from the States, they get me the buckets at $19.85 each, which is dirt cheap compared to what other places charge. I would start by getting in touch with Sweet Inspirations and asking them if they have a supplier in Brisbane, that may be the cheapest way to get it. In Melbourne CakeDeco sells the buckets for $36.00, so there can be a BIG difference in price from one place to the next.
http://www.sweetinspirations.com.au/
cheers
Nati
wow, that IS quite a saving! I will jump on their website now.
Thanks Nati!!! 
Yay, they have a distributor in Brisbane. Other side of town, but I will ring them tomorrow and see if they deliver!
Oooh sugarcraft gun grass here I come! ( I am really tired of using my garlic press and it just broke )
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