What is a clay gun, how do you use it and where can I get one? Missyek told me she used one to make her princess crown and would like to make one also. Do you use fondant or gumpaste with it? Is there a recipe or ratio to use? Please help as I have had no experience with this medium and would like to explore the possibilities. TIA
I have the green plastic one from Michael's. I think the brand is Makins Clay, but I don't remember right now. It came with different dies for making different shapes and sizes. I got it for about $4 or $5 with a coupon, and have been using it for about a year. I figure when it breaks, I'll just buy another like it rather than spending upwards of $30 for a "real" sugar gun. Plus I used the "real" one at the bakery and it's not that much better than the toy one from Michael's except it holds more fondant.
Deanna
I purchased the $30 one and still cannot figure out how the heck to use the darn thing. I have to use every ounce of muscle to get the smallest piece of fondant to come out. I figure I'm probably doing something wrong. I am softening the fondant and greasing up the gun, so don't know what the problem is. Its frustrating, though. Wish I'd bought the $5 one 
Cindy
Thanks girls for the tips, one more thing. Do you use a mix of fondant and gumpaste or just straight gumpaste? Have you tried the new premixed gumpaste in the gun from Wilton's? Do you think it would be helpful to pick up some of that Makin's Clay to practice with or would that be pointless? Thanks for the help
I have heard not to use fondant in the guns, 'cause it just gets super-stuck...I only use them with gumpaste.
I use my gun mostly for fondant, like for borders and tassels and stuff like that. Rarely for gumpaste. I put a little smear of Crisco on my finger, mix it in with the fondant (always knead your fondant to "condition" it!) and then roll it into a snake shape to get it into the gun and then squeeze away. Depending on the thickness of the extrusions, I can get about 16 inches of border from one barrelful of fondant.
The $30 gun is more like a caulking gun. You unscrew the end, put the conditioned fondant in it, screw the end back on, and squeeze the ratchet handle to make the fondant come out. The $30 gun has the advantage of being able to change dies without emptying the barrel, whereas the $5 one you have to empty the barrel and change the die and then put the fondant back in. But since it holds so little fondant, and all you have to do is pull out the plunger (no unscrewing to do there), it's not a problem.
Deanna
I will try it again with the fondant, and knead it well. I've used the Crisco, but maybe I just didn't knead it enough before I put it in the barrel...I will try again when I have to make some tassels in the near future.
Thanks.
The one that I use is the red sugarcraft gun--much better than the simple clay gun you can get a Michael's or wherever. Here is a link to Beryl's who has it with a pic: http://beryls.safeshopper.com/216/7424.htm?357 Have fun!
Thanks Missy for coming up for air! What a great site, thanks again for the great information.
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