Tried Melvira's Foam Roller Technique....wow!
Decorating By madicakes Updated 17 Oct 2006 , 10:09pm by BakeQueen
I don't understand how if the frosting is crusted really really well, how does the roller do anything but crack it? 
I'm confused...
Because it is really still soft on the inside so that part moves with no problem. 
Ok, the truth is, I don't know exactly HOW it works... I just know it works. At least for me... well, and the small group of people that have tried it so far. It's the same concept as the Viva technique. Or all the other techniques that require you to let the icing crust. If anyone has a technical answer, feel free to bail me out here. I'm sinking fast!! 
Melvira- I'm curious........was drove you to try this technique in the first place?? Did you run out of paper towels??? LOL I'm just imagining you in my head throwing the paper towels across the kitchen after the 900th finger mark in your cake 
that's due to go out in 2 minutes and the lightbulb goes off 
ahaaaa 
a paintroller
Like how did it happen??
You know, I can't exactly say the progression of it... but I know I was trying to smooth the top of a sheet cake with that God forsaken wooden fondant roller. (I didn't care for the Viva technique because of the finger dents) Anyway, I was whining about the little lines that the edges of the roller always leaves, and started thinking. What I was going to do was get out my palm sander and take down the hard corners on that roller, make it curved so that they don't touch the cake... but that was a lot of work... and would that make it not work as well for fondant? I just needed to get a roller with rounded edges... but what I really needed was a longer roller... yah, that would help... three inch roller is not cutting it... it would help if it was softer... not so rigid to make those lines... something like foam... I could get some foam and MAKE a roller... yah... I could make... wait... FOAM PAINT ROLLER!!! Holy SMOKES!!! *screeeeech* (Taking corners like I'm on rails to local home store* Fast forward back to kitchen) Standing nervously staring at cake... look timidly at well washed new roller... Oh please little roller... do Mommy a solid! Just work for me... *squinches eyes mostly closed takes first swipe at cake* WOAH. That totally worked. Ok, I might be on to something here. Did several more cakes... paint roller and I have been buddies ever since!
That is too funny . . . . but I can totally see that line of logic. I have my new paint roller sitting here, ready to go for my next cake.
I'm planning on making a cake for my mom's birthday this upcoming weekend. My fiance saw my paint roller sitting out on the counter, and he asked me what I was painting. I told him a cake. He just said "okay" with a very puzzled expression on his face. He is dying to ask, but he has decided to wait and see.
Melvira,
I went to Walmart yesterday and purchased the paint rollers. The 2" one came in a pack with two foam rollers. I also purchased the 4" roller & an additional foam roller. I can't wait to use them next week. Thanks for sharing the smoothing tip!!! You're the best!!!!
I don't understand how if the frosting is crusted really really well, how does the roller do anything but crack it?
I'm confused...
sunlover00 ~ you can't let it crust too much or it will crack. I learned that the hard way on my gift box cake. I learned to just wait until the icing has a slight crust on it and then roll. If it's not crusted enough the roller will leave a texture on the icing. That's no big deal, it will roll out when the icing gets a better crust on it.
I bought a roller, too @ Home Depot. I couldn't wait till this weekend to try it on a cake, so I tried it on a cupcake I had, I worked LIKE A DREAM...now if it'll just do the same thing for me this weekend...
If anyone has a technical answer, feel free to bail me out here. I'm sinking fast!!
I'm sorry! I didn't mean to "go after you"....I was just wondering. I will have to give it a shot! Then, I'll be adding to the list of posts of those who are raving your praises! 
Hmmm, gonna have to try it. They don't sell Viva paper towels here in Micjigan, so I'm always fighting to get smooth icing. Thank you!
~Beth 
Okay, Melvira, "Mistress of Cool Ideas". You have another convert. I tried the sponge roller yesterday and it is WONDERFUL!! I used it on a 11X15 sheet cake and the icing came out so smooth. Thank you!! I will never use another technique to get my icing smooth. I'll post the pic soon. 
Hmmm, gonna have to try it. They don't sell Viva paper towels here in Micjigan, so I'm always fighting to get smooth icing.
Have you tried Meijer? I live in Michigan and that's where I got mine!
Amber
Okay, Melvira, "Mistress of Cool Ideas".
You have another convert. I tried the sponge roller yesterday and it is WONDERFUL!! I used it on a 11X15 sheet cake and the icing came out so smooth. Thank you!! I will never use another technique to get my icing smooth. I'll post the pic soon.
Awesome!! And I think I might have to adopt that new nickname!!
ok, i am definatly running to home depot tomorrow to get a roller......i looked everywhere today and apparently edmonton,alberta does not sell viva paper towel!!!arrrrggggg!!!!!! i did my first fbct yesterday, and it did not come out as great as it should have...it still had the lines in it from when i was filling in the outline...any tips on what i should be doing????
I love it, love it, love it!! I used it on the onesie and booties cake and the good luck cake that I recently posted. I couldn't believe how great they look. Anyone who is still skeptical.........give it a try. You won't be sorry!
I used the technique today, too, and I loved it! It was the smoothest I've ever gotten a cake. I still have to figure out some kinks in putting on the original icing, and I had a few thin spots in the icing, but it was perfectly smooth. I'm sure the more I use this technique, the better I will get at it. I was using a 4 inch roller with a rounded edge on it, and it was so easy to handle. I haven't posted the pic yet to my gallery, but I will soon. I did a FBCT on it, and it was really great, and so easy to do! Thanks for a great tip - I'm a convert, also.
I'm certainly not an expert yet at this technique, I just really liked it, but did you get a foam roller and not a nap roller? That would be the first question. I also found that I tried to roll it in a few spots before it crusted, and it took off the icing, so i had to wait until it crusted and then go back and roll. Using a light steady pressure was also key - it took me a few tries on the cake before I got the hang of it . . . I got a 4" roller, and mine was a heavy density foam. It also had foam covering the end (it was a rounded end), so there were no lines from the end of the roller.
All I can say is perhaps don't give up yet, pookster, but if the hot water and hot knife work for you, then stick with it!
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