I am going to be purchasing a turntable tomorrow and need to know what one to choose the Wilton Professional or the tilting turntable. Or are there any other suggestions??

I have heard the tilting one sometimes doesn't lock into place....I have a large rectangular one stainless steel..I just love it!!

I got the tilting turntable as a gift and it doesn't stay in locked position. If you pull up on the plate, it comes off of the base. I've never even used the tilt position for this reason. I feel bad for my son for spending the money on this, although he DID use a 40% off coupon. LOL I've heard the cheaper ones are better.

If it were me, I'd get the tilting turntable. I have the standard inexpensive Wilton turntable. However, I often wish I had the tilting turntable because I think it would make it easier to create designs on the side of the cake.

I didn't realize that the plate didn't stay in place. That's disappointing! Wilton should reconsider the design.

Does anybody have one that turns on its own? I've been thinking that it would be soooo much easier to smooth the sides if the darn think would just twirl under my spatula. Yes? No?

daranaco...isn't that a horrible flaw in design? I was going to return mine, but I read on this site (I believe) that this is how they are! For 60 bucks, total rip-off. And the actual turn is not very smooth at all. I've been using my kitchen lazy susan sitting atop a glass cake stand, glides like a dream.

Oh yes, crimsicle...wouldn't a battery operated turntable be the coolest? LOL

crimsicle-

I've been looking at one of the automatic-turning turntables (by kopykake, I think). I would love to hear from someone who's used it how it is. My local cake store will NOT accpet returns, and won't open one of the boxes for me to even see if it's level when it turns, so I haven't bought it. It's expensive, so I'd like to hear a "review" before I spend the money on it.

Does anyone have one?

I have the tilting turntable and have mixed feelings about it. I haven't had problems with the tilt on it yet. Has always locked and been fine. It is a bit weird that the top comes off, but I don't carry a cake on the stand so that doesn't bother me as much. I think its fine but not worth full price. If you have a coupon, buy it and try it.

Thank you all so much for the help. I've been looking at the tilting one for some time now but I'm not sure anymore if it will be worth it. I have a coupon so that is why I was going to purchase one I guess I'll have to see what they offer tomorrow before I really decide.

Kiddiekakes - do you know where I can get one of the stainless steel ones?

That is good to know, I've been wanting the tilting turntable for a while now but I'm not getting it anymore! I have the regular wilton turntable and it works great, it turns smoothly and I use it as a stand sometimes too if my cakes won't fit in my nice glass stand. (It has that little glass wall that holds the glass cover in place (very annoying).

You all are all too high tech for me - just a coffee can and my hand for the time being, however you all got me thinking that I might have to pull out my potters wheel....LOL.

LOL tiptop...too funny! I would have never spent the money on the tilting turntable, but as a gift, I was more than willing to accept it.)

I have a ball bearing turntable works awesome! A carpenter friend made it for me using two 14" round pieces of smooth wood makes it very sturdy. Total cost was about $30.00. I also had him make me square ones. They work great and you can use them to hold your wedding cakes!

The other day, I bought a revolving spice rack, thinking that would be the (cheap) answer. It wasn't. It doesn't revolve very smoothly, and whenever I have to stop it to move my hand, the thing BACKS UP and I get a really major line of demarcation in the side of the cake. That's what got me to thinking about a motorized one. I know they're out there, but wondered if they're just mainly to twirl the finished cake around....or if they're tough enough to really be useful.

My favorite turntable is a wooden Lazy Susan from Ikea. It has ball bearings, rubber non-skid under base, and it was only about $8!!!

I have an old Ateco with a stainless top and one of the cheap plastic elevated ones from Wilton. I prefer the Ateco because it's smoother, but the plastic one from Wilton did well, too...not quite as smooth but still ok. I'd love an automatic one!!! I'd imagine it would make smoothing the sides a breeze! Hope someone who has used one or has one posts here.

Is there any way you can rig an old record player to work as an automatic revolving cake stand?

Of course, I haven't seen a record player in years so the real challenge might be trying to find one!!

Look what I found!

http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp?pn=CD0999

Heres the one from Ultimate baker.com.I believe it is a Ateco

http://cooksdream.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=614&Category_Code=TURN

As badly as I would like to have an automatic one, I just can't see paying $180 for one! Unless it comes with a guarantee that you'll have perfectly smooth cakes every single time you ice a cake!! lol I really like that square Ateco model....may have to get one of those. The one I have is round with a stainless steel top and a white heavy ceramic or enamel coated cast iron base....not too sure which it is.