I will be helping a friend ice a half sheet cake in buttercream soon. This will be the first time either of us has iced a cake so large, and are wondering what the best technique for smoothing is. Would those of you who have worked on this size of cake recommend the viva method or spray bottle method of smoothing?
Thanks in advance!
Linda
I use the viva method on my sheet cakes. It's never failed me. HTH
viva it is. I just did a large cake on saturday and trust me the viva is da BOMB!! witht he crusting buttercream recipe though! 
I vote wax paper, computer paper, or Viva--all the same procedure.
...and, yes, you can use the cake icer tip on sheet cakes, too...
Another Viva vote here! I tried it on my last cake I did for my Wilton I course and everyone in the class couldn't believe how smooth it worked! I'm hooked on it!!!!!!
i use non crusting b/c the icer tip and a spackling tool from a hardware store...
the technique u use really depends on taste...if u like the taste of crusting b/c then viva methos works well...
if u like a meringue type buttercream made with butter then that method won't work, but it's also a different consistency so i find it easier to smoothe. once it's on with the icer tip, i just smoothing it out with a spatula or spakling knife is simple!!
Viva Paper Towel here and a spackling tool!! I've also tried just using the spackle and warm water but I just like the paper towel method better. I have used it with the Crusting Buttercream and Buttercream Dream recipes from this site.
I just smoothed the top of my course II final cake last night and it worked great.
I've used the icer tip on sheet cakes and round cakes both...but people have complained that there wasn't enough icing on the cake for their liking. So I quit using it and started just putting it on with an offset spatula as usual. For large sheet cakes, I pile on the icing and then just get it pretty uniform (in height) over the whole cake and the sides. Then I use the 12 inch taping knife, pic below. It's just the right width, even though it does come in smaller and larger sizes. I also like that it's stainless steel and not plastic...just seems to have a sharper edge and work better. Then I use a bench scraper on the sides. And then I finish off the top with the viva method. I do the same with the icing on my cupcake cakes too. Works every time.
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