Has anyone tried the kitchen aid pastry beater for creaming butter and sugar? I just don't like the results I get with the regular paddle.

you mean the whip? i've used both, mostly the paddle -- it's all good -- just depends on the type of icing -- but either one is fine -- you just don't want to add any air to american buttercream -- 

No it's called a pastry beater. Looks like the paddle but has 5 horizontal lines inside.  Supposed to be used for cutting butter into flour for pastry. I was curious if it could be used for creaming. 

This is the one, I have never seen one in my life.... but for creaming, real fluffy creaming, nothing like my old fashion hand mixer...

Oh I totally agree! But arthritis has gotten the best of me and just don't have the shoulder strength anymore to hand mix a cake batter.

Now Mamageese, looking at the design of the tool itself, with the eyes of a chemical engineer... I do not think it will be good for creaming. The design is too simple to produce the shear and stress needed for creating a stable emulsion. How about one of those hand mixers that come with a pedestal? something like this...

WOW I've never ever seen this paddle.  I'm sure that I'd have purchased one and tried it out if I had. I have so many silly big and little cake toys. Yes, I can see where it would be a fluffer and creamer.