Since I'm new to all of this I was hoping the experts could let me know if there's a preferred brand of silcone rolling pins. Or maybe just some to stay away from?

I have never used one, so I'm not sure of the advantages over wooden ones. I've got a couple of different wood ones and a small plastic one.

I have a couple of wooden ones..the large Wilton fondant roller and a 26" PVC pipe that I love. The PVC pipe 'rolling pin' cost me about $3.00 and it's probably my favorite.

I forgot about my PVC buddy! Yes, those are great! I also bought a length of steel shiny pipe at a home center about 3/4" in diameter and 8 inches long--it's handy tool too!

I have a Sil-pin with handles and I love it. It's heavy, rolls smoothly, and nothing sticks to it. It's not just for cakes, it does great for tortillas and pie crusts too.

I also have both sizes of the Wilton white rolling pin. The small one is useful, the larger one not so much. When I try to roll fondant with the larger one, it makes my wrists hurt in a strange way.

Thanks ladies. I took a cookie decorating class and the instructor said that she prefers silicone/non-stick rolling pins over wooden ones because you don't have to flour them to prevent sticking...which adds quite a bit of flour over the course of rolling and re-rolling the dough.

I am in the process of having my kitchen certified as a domestic kitchen as a home business and you cannot use any wooden utensils because (according to the state) you cannot sufficiently clean them and they harbor nasties.

That's EXTREMELY helpful! I love hearing and reading tips!

I might stop using my wooden rolling pin but I'll keep it. It came to me from my grandma and to her from her grandma

The reason I use silicone is that it makes a smoother surface for fondant. I still flour my cookie dough, because I always have.

I have a sil-pin and sil-pin jr and I love both! They have handles. I can't manage the ones without handles.