I am going to try using the icer tip to frost a cake. Do I need to apply a crumb coat first? Thanks
I think it is personal preference. I know most of the people I know do apply crumb coats prior to icing.
When I use the icer tip I don't crumb coat, but like thecakeboutique said it is a personal preference. 
I think it's totally a personal preference... I still crumb coat. Why? I dunno, just from the old school I guess and got into the habit lol .. I feel it seals in all my crumbs and then you don't have to worry about any showing .. I always manage to scrap too far down if I don't put a crumb coat and pull crumbs up into my icing.. but it's really up to the individual doing the cake 
I don't crumb coat on my cakes--ever. I never had a problem with crumbs until I tried the icer tip. Arfter the first few failed attempts, I posted a question here and found that the icing I was using was too stiff. Even though it was the exact same icing I used for my "slap -n- spread" method. I thinned it out a bit and it works great.
Takes some getting used to, though. If I'm just doing a little cake--I use the old fashioned method.
Lisa
llj68, I love your term slap-n-spread, thats what I do slap it on. Thats truely made my day, cause it's been a rough day at work.
It seems to me the purpose of the cake icer tip is to eliminate having to crumb coat. It puts out a thick enough ribbon of icing that all you have to do is go over it with your spatula.
Personally if I use my spatula I Do a crumb coat. If using Tip #789, it seems almost pointless.
Hope this helps
Princess
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