I just had to vent about the Wilton Turn Table. I was too exhausted last night to post to complain...Even though it's in the locked position to stand up straight it still tilts whenever it wants and off slides the cake. It's like it's possessed. I was putting the finishing touches on an engagement cake yesterday and the next thing I know $#@! thing tilted and the cake is hanging off the stand with one side squashed on the kitchen table. The cuss words that came out of my mouth! By the way, it was a crusting cream cheese frosting that refused to crust so I had to keep taking it in and out of the refrigerator. There was no way to redecorate the one side so I had to scrape off all the frosting, start all over again AND I had to run out for more supplies. This fiasco started at 7:30AM and didn't end until 5:30PM. Put the cake in the fridge overnight and looked at it this morning. Apparently the fall from the stand affected the integrity of the structure of the cake because one side is drooping and the top of the cake had several cracks. I don't mean hairline cracks either. It looked pitiful. No time to bake and decorate another one for today so I grabbed some royal icing flowers, some tulle and ribbon, shoved them in the side that was sagging and added tulle on top to minimize the appearance of the cracks. It was truly a cake day from hell that spilled over into this morning. If I get my sense of humor back, I'll post a picture of it. Hope the lovebirds like it......

I to have that same turn table and I'm Not very happy with it I always go back to my old one that does nothing but turn. I have to be very careful with mine because it easly comes off the stand the lock on it never worked

Molly

You poor people, it sounds like a totla nightmare - there's nothing worse than something going horribly wrong that isn't your fault - particularly when the turntable is expensive and you bought it probably thinking the money would be well worth it. I feel indignant for you. I've read so many posts on CC complaining about these turntables - has anyone contacted Wilton to complain?

Emmascakes,

I haven't complained yet to Wilton but I think I shall. I should do it while I'm still in a mood and send them a picture of this debacle of a cake.

I've never used the tilting one but I recently replaced my cheap plastic Wilton turntable with a nice cast iron/metal Ateco one for $50. Worth every penny.

I'm sorry you had so many troubles with your cake.

I plan to get a metal one someday but right now I'm going to stick with my little cheap plastic one as for me complaning I haven't I had the tilted one for a while I brought it and had it put away then one day I decide to use it and it was a real disappointment.

Molly

Well I am glad I read this post, I've been eyeing the tilting one for awhile. Guess I'll stick to my plastic turntable and just raise the table up on blocks (or kneel on floor)so it will be easier to deco' the sides of cakes.

Go for it girl - you complain! there must be enough of you here to make a difference. It really irritates me that this 'big name' gets so many people upset with inferior products. I like in the UK and Wilton isn't available much here but I read so much about them on CC that I can say I'd never choose to buy anything from them.

Hi, I am a Wilton Instructor. I won the Tilting Turntable at an instructor meeting for having the best color flow display, back when the turntable first came out. I have only used it a few times, but had no problems with it. I have only tilted it to the first notch. The second one is scary. Gravity, ya know. I don't like the fact that it is plastic. For the price, it ought to be metal, but at least I did not have to buy it. I am sorry you don't like it. Feel free to let Wilton know. They rely on the customers and instructors for feedback on product so they know when they should improve it.

I wanted to get one when Hobby Lobby had there 50% coupon but was glad to see the posts by people that didn't like them. I saved myself some money that I didn't have to spend. Our instructor is talking about it and that it has a size or weight requirement but she likes it. But to me I don't want to lose an important cake on it. I feel for you and I hope you didn't lose money because of this disaster.

I have this turntable and only use the tilt function on the first notch. I do take the cake off first before engaging the tilting feature b/c the turntable feels so flimsy. Even a 9" (2 layer) cake feels shakey on the turntable. I've done a sheet cake on the turntable, but I take alot of care when tilting or turning the turntable b/c the weight of the cake makes it feels really unstable. I bought this thing b/c my Wilton instructor said that I'd really need it for class; esp Course 3.

If anyone has a better, sturdier turntable out there, please let us know the make/model.

The Ateco one is awesome, very heavy duty. Its a cast iron base with aluminum turntable top. This weekend I put a 40-50 pound wedding cake on it and it spun with extreme ease and stayed completely level and steady.

http://mowd.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=612&Category_Code=TURN&Product_Count=1

Shop around though, I got mine wholesale for like $55 locally at a cake supply place. You'll never go back to a cheap plastic Wilton one again!

I've come to the conclusion that Wilton markets their stuff to home/hobby bakers, not to people who bake on a regular basis or for customers. Wilton's products often seem very "disposable" and I suppose its because a mom who makes her kids birthday cakes only needs a plastic turntable. But for those who decorate alot, the one above is the way to go IMO.

Also, my suggestion is to just get used to sitting on a chair or something to do the sides. I have never used a tilting turntable to do sides and it seems like sort of a "bad habit" to get into. Its much easier just to learn how to decorate a vertical surface instead.

MG, I'm sorry about your misfortune with the turntable. However, I appreciate all your feedback as well as from the others as I was also thinking about purchasing the same turntable. Now I will be looking into something else!

I'm so glad you posted this! I had recently thought about buying this turn table and now I'm DEFINITELY not! I'm so sorry your cake got messed up, I know how heart breaking that is!

Kitagrl, you are right, Wilton's market is toward the home/ hobby baker/ decorator. I have been reading several posts about people who are unhappy with Wilton's products. They are not intended for commercial use, but I don't feel the quality is "cheap" on most things. There are some things I don't like about some of the products, but you have to remember who their target is. As far as the tilting turntable, I don't like that it is plastic for the price. I didn't pay for mine, but it should at least have a more solid, heavier base, especially for the price. I also have the Professional turntable. When I first got it, it was right before my sister's wedding and it wobbled horribly. I thought it was just mine, I never got around to sending it back, but I read on here that some others have the wobble problem, too. I am in a pickle with this one because I am an instructor and I am more comfortable using the metal table, but I can only use Wilton product in class. I cannot show up with the Ateco stand in class. I use those at work, and they are a lot smoother. I have learned to compenstae for the wobble, although annoying, my cakes still come out the way I want them.

ckdcr8r:
Wilton Makes a heavy metal cake professional trun table. I have it and have had no problems with it.

I agree as well... I have the same problem with the sudden tilting. It is not very fun and always makes me hold my breath.

We do have a store here in Atlanta (Cake Art -- www.cakeartpartystore.com) that makes some nice wooden turntables that the instructors there use.

There is a tilting turntable (but it also plastic) made by PME Sugar Craft England at http://www.pastrychef.com/Catalog/tilting_turntable_3152837.htm . Has anyone used that one??

bayougirl, that is the one I have. It wobbles. I'm glad to see that yours does not. It should turn smootly. I saw some others have wobble problems, too. Maybe it was just a certain production. I will check into it and see if there was some problem.

I Have started using CK products...
Has anyone else ever used them??
Country Kitchen SweetArt... http://www.countrykitchensa.com
They Seem to be Cheaper on some products then Wilton...

I just bought the wilton professional metal one...I was hoping it would be the answer....cant use it until my birthday though (as I bought it for someone to give me).....I guess I will have to see how it works, but i am taking it back if it wobbles.

I just bought a reversable formica turntable. I really like it. It is round on one side and rectangular on the other! It doesn't tilt though. but the spinning mechanics are really smooth and it is even, unlike my plastic wilton one.


Stephanie

I think that it is the one on the http://www.countrykitchensa.com/ site!

I'm going to go hug my Ateco turntable. Sturdiest, most dependable sucker you'll ever use. Way back when I started I bought a Wilton and tossed it the same day.

I've got the turntable (lazy susan) from Walmart. It holds very heavy weights and still turns with ease. It was found in the housewares dept for around $15 I think.

I HAD one of those Wilton turntables and it threw a competition cake onto the table! I was furious. Thankfully, the damage was minimal. I used electrical tape to hold it in the first position and I was using a no slide mat.

I sent it back and told them I expected much more from a turntable for the price I paid. I did get a refund and they also sent me a spring-form pan. I have plenty of those now! I'm really surprised that it's still available.

The only time I use one is to keep stringwork straight. Judges really rip me for a slight sag!

Good luck with your work.

M.

I did not like the tilting table, I have the metal one, which is my favorite. I have several of the new trim and turns and the cheapy plastic one which was my first one, I used it for years. If I am working on several cakes, I have them all sitting on the turntables so I can go back and forth when I need to. All of you that are having problems, I would contact Wilton. They are too expensive not to complain.

I have had the same problem. I won't put anything bigger than a 10-inch on in it for fear of tipping.