I have one of those terrible extruder that you need to push, and I find that the best way is to put your fondant in the microwave for a few seconds until it is very soft and then insert into the extruder and you will find it works this way.
I saw a lady using one that was great in a video in "Yummy arts" it sort of has a level that you pump up once and the fondant comes out easily and you don't have to be twisting. I would like to get one of those but I don't have a subscription to this cake site, so I can't find out. has anyone ever seem that one?
Please let me know if you know what I am talking about.
Lomikesa
I've got the small silver extruder from Micheals, yep its hard to use I had to add a lot of extra glycerin to the fondant and use crisco in the barrell good luck can't wait to get the green one
: ) I probably heard that "rumor" from YOU on a thread here!
That's pretty unfortunate. Maybe someone selling on ebay would be willing to parcel theirs out in parts?
Right about the twisting v. squeezing thing. Makin's green one has a super-easy vice-type twisting end.
Just wondering...when you're making a LONG rope (like, to wrap around the base of a 10" round) how do you position the extruder as you crank it out? Parallel to the table, and just move it around the work surface to avoid sticking? I was having some sticking issues when I used the 3-hole disc and the strands were falling onto eachother.
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I just bought another one. They're inexpensive when you use a coupon at Hobby Lobby, and if I ever need to get two of them cranking at once, I can. Hubby is good at using the extruder! 
If your strands are sticking to each other, they are probably too soft/moist. I use a 50/50 blend of Nick Lodge GP and Wilton fondant, and don't have sticking issues. I just twist the whole amount out and then get to work. As it sits, it dries a bit, which is perfect for working with it without it tearing/sticking/etc. You can dust your area with some cornstarch if you need to separate out strands that are sticky. 
lomikesa,
I think the one you are talking about you can find here sugaredproduction.com and go into her fondant dvd and then go under tools. It is the cheapest there and hers is $45.00 I think.
HTH
Thanks Srodts,
I am going to look it up at Sugaredproductions.com to order.
Lomikesa
on the green one just watch out cause the green paint comes off. i got a green metal splinter from it from around the threads.
sorry to butt in but how do you get the fondant to come out smooth? I use the green makin extruder and when I make rope, hair or anything, the fondant always comes out with furry ragged sides. How can I get it to be smooth? I've tried adding shortening, glycerin and even using a 50-50 mix of fondant and gumpaste but no luck. Still furry.
sorry to butt in but how do you get the fondant to come out smooth? I use the green makin extruder and when I make rope, hair or anything, the fondant always comes out with furry ragged sides. How can I get it to be smooth? I've tried adding shortening, glycerin and even using a 50-50 mix of fondant and gumpaste but no luck. Still furry.
I have the same problem so I'll look forward to hearing a solution too!
Here's the link to big clay gun that jennifermi has and I can't wait to get it. I have the one like sugarshack uses but it's way too much work for such little results. www.bigceramicstore.com/Supplies/ClayGuns.htm With this one you can make ropes big enough to go all the way around your cake. Jennifer did say to soften your fondant a little in the microwave before putting into the gun. You can also use the little discs inside this one of top of the disc with big hole to get different designs.
Edited to add: I just checked it out and it's on sale right now for $39 (20% off) which is cheaper then the sugar craft gun.
I have the Makins also and love it. Just add crisco to your fondant and it goes through great.
sorry to butt in but how do you get the fondant to come out smooth? I use the green makin extruder and when I make rope, hair or anything, the fondant always comes out with furry ragged sides. How can I get it to be smooth? I've tried adding shortening, glycerin and even using a 50-50 mix of fondant and gumpaste but no luck. Still furry.
Likewise. I just bought the green Makin at the Maryland Show after hearing so many people rave about it. I was so excited to play with it when I got home. It was so hard to turn the lever and it left marks on my hand. I had to nuke the fondant til it was super soft for it to even come out. By the time I got to the next hunk, it had cooled a bit and I had to re-nuke it. I was really bummed! I will try rubbing a bit of crisco on it, and any other suggestions are appreciated!!
Kelly
After reading some of the responses about clay guns, I finally found the Makin's Professional Ultimate Clay extruder. I purchased it at Hobby Lobby and it came with 20 discs. It was $25.00.
I sure hope I purchased the right one!! Anyone got any suggestions??
Thanks
Rhonda
Here's the link to big clay gun that jennifermi has and I can't wait to get it. I have the one like sugarshack uses but it's way too much work for such little results. www.bigceramicstore.com/Supplies/ClayGuns.htm With this one you can make ropes big enough to go all the way around your cake. Jennifer did say to soften your fondant a little in the microwave before putting into the gun. You can also use the little discs inside this one of top of the disc with big hole to get different designs.
Edited to add: I just checked it out and it's on sale right now for $39 (20% off) which is cheaper then the gun.
Thanks Tiggy!
I just ordered it the extruder, can wait to get it.
Lomikesa
You will LUV that big bazooka!!!! It's the bomb!!!
Jen
I just bought the Makin at Hobby Lobby.They have a set of extra or replacement discs for anyone that is interested.
I cant wait to use it!!!!!
The 2nd set of discs is entirely different from the discs that come with the Makin's Ultimate extruder.
Makin's does not sell the discs that come with the extruder in a separate set or package.
I contacted the company directly to inquire about this after I lost two of my discs, and they gave me that information. I had to buy a 2nd extruder to replace the 2 lost discs.
So take care of your discs, people!
This is great information, thank you to all!
I have a question though...does anyone knows if using the Makins' clay extruder you can do a single rope to go around your cake (let's say 10' size) without the rope breaking??
I have a clay gun (paid too much through Ebay) and it only takes small pieces of fondant at a time...so, when I tried to do a rope around my cake it came in pieces ....how do you go around your cake withouth breaking??
Ok, thank you again!!
This is great information, thank you to all!
I have a question though...does anyone knows if using the Makins' clay extruder you can do a single rope to go around your cake (let's say 10' size) without the rope breaking??
I have a clay gun (paid too much through Ebay) and it only takes small pieces of fondant at a time...so, when I tried to do a rope around my cake it came in pieces
....how do you go around your cake withouth breaking??Ok, thank you again!!
No, it will only make small pieces of rope, that's why I ordered the large one Jennifer recommended. With that big guy you can make one big enough to go around any cake. 
This is great information, thank you to all!
I have a question though...does anyone knows if using the Makins' clay extruder you can do a single rope to go around your cake (let's say 10' size) without the rope breaking??
I have a clay gun (paid too much through Ebay) and it only takes small pieces of fondant at a time...so, when I tried to do a rope around my cake it came in pieces
....how do you go around your cake withouth breaking??Ok, thank you again!!
Whether a single rope will go around your 10" cake or not depends on the size of the rope you are extruding. If you use the third-smallest hole disc that comes with the Makin's extruder, then yes, it will. You can get some amazingly long pieces of rope! If you do several ropes and twist it together, it makes a beautiful rope border. I have never needed to add any shortening to my fondant when I use the Makin's extruder, but others recommend doing so if your fondant is dry.
I have the medium size clay gun that I ordered from Clay King a year or more ago and truthfully, I do not like it. You may find that you love it, though!
We have the green one and while it does a fine job, it is a pain to load and turn steadily to get the fondant out. We are now looking for a larger one with a trigger mechanism.
I have the green Makin and I do like it but I did order the "Big Bazooka" that Jennifer likes. I got it this week and it truly is a whooper but it looks like it will be easy to use and I will get the long ropes like I want. It is just sitting there staring at me begging to be used!
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