I haven't tried the Wilton collasping leveler as I heard horrible things, but I do have the smaller, wire lever and to date I haven't had any problems with it. At a couple dollars its worked out great for me.

I have the small leveler from Wilton and use it with no major problems. The larger one with the blade is a mess. I called them and they replaced it but the replacement was not much better. The blade has too much flexability in it. I agree with all of you.

I am REALLY glad to see others have had problem with Wilton's leveler. It is HORRIBLE! I bought mine thinking it was going to save me time and give my cakes a professional look. I ended up with MANY cakes, in fact, ALL cakes with a topsy turvy slant. It was a horrible and EMBARRASSING experience. It should be removed from the market. Messing up people's work for paid customers!!!!

I have had the Delux two blade Agbay for quite a while and although it is initially a bit of $, the time and sanity it saves is more than worth what you pay for it.

Last week I got the single blade also. I use it to level a finished cake to cut off the top icing, leaving level edges and a flat top.

You can start out with the single blade and add a blade on later.

I am so glad I am not alone. I thought I was going to lose it last night when I used my Wilton Leveler. It has way too much flexibility in it. Why would they make a product like that?! I am so close to ordering an Agbay. Wish it wasn't so expensive. But I know I will be a much happier person if I had one.

I bought the Wilton leveler too and man, what a waste of money that was! I have found just using a long serrated bread knife and my trusty cake stand works far better than fighting with a wobbly hunk o plastic

agree agree agree...that leveler is a complete waste of currency.

I have found a way to help make the cake leveler work much better. Below is a link to what I found works for me. Hope it helps others.

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-724515.html

I tried the bread knife thing for several years after dumping my Wilton leveler...but I'm just retarded with a bread knife, cannot cut straight, even if I carefully go around the outside of the cake....nope.... I have ended up somehow with paper thin layers, lopsided layers...I'm terrible with a bread knife! I bought a new super long dangerous one with big teeth and I sliced my finger open on the first cake layer I tried slicing with it.

I just got my Agbay a couple weeks ago (after rolling my eyes at the price tag for a good three years), and then immediately upgraded to the second blade. Big business expense, but I think it will pay off in the end by saving time and hassle in a HUGE way. This year I feel like I've had to do a lot of business expenses...replacing pans (my old yucky Wilton ones with shiny new Fat Daddio ones) and the Agbay and I had to get another cake fridge (clean one off Craigslist) and such like stuff....but I figure it all goes into making my business smoother and easier.

If you are a hobby baker I probably wouldn't get the Agbay but if you do several tiered cakes per week for pay, I'd definitely consider it. The double bladed one.

I just came across this little thing and was wondering if anyone has ever used it. I might purchase it to give it a try.

http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_BP3411

You guys should look at the Agbay Jr. It's a bit smaller, but perfect for a hobby baker or even for a bakery that mostly does dessert cakes rather than ginormous wedding tiers. Smaller price too!

I'm just a hobby baker. I have Wilyon leveler with wire...not perfect cut but not bad, until I made a 12x12 cake. I realized, I had to use my bread knife..so, I tried what I watch in Youtube, Kathy from Sweetwise. She made torte the cake looked easy. Nop for me...definitely not easy, but I even never can cut bread level. So, the knife is good..my hand is the problem.
I watch Kathy demoing big Wilton Leveler. Looks nice, I almost buy in local store..almost $30. I decided to buy in Amazon...and my habit is read the bad reviews before buy.
Geez, so many bad reviews....I hold my plan, and found Agbay..buuuut..so expensive for me. Too expensive I thought.

Finally, I broke down after made my husband's birthday cake. I bought Agbay $195 + shipping = $200 something. So hurt when I clicked "check out".
My Agbay came a week a go...really nice and good. I can't wait to make a cake for my own birthday next week....will update after that.

HATE, HATE, HATE the Wilton one! biggest wast of money ever... oneday I will get an agbay... until then I will keep dreaming!

Shan

I pulled the sharp edge blade off the side of the freezer paper box and use that to shimmy across cake layer to level it.I shimmy it towards me so that I can hold my pan still with my stomach.LOL CAJUN ENGINEERING. It works for me.

I was also glad to see I am not the only one that has problems with the Wilton levelers, especially the larger one!! Thanks for many of your tips and ideas for leveling cakes! This is a great place to learn!!

I'm glad I bought Agbay.
Just did torte and level my cake, very easy. I torte 2 cakes (6") in one time..wow

siuingme,
amen to that, its one of the best things that i bough so far. after a year of decidingi finally got it. its totally worth it. the design is pure genious!

Hey, I just bought the new Wilton cake leveler....I have yet to cut a level layer. Horrible! I just watched a video on the agbay leveler. That thing looks amazing.

Gotta go check the budget


Lori

OMG! I bought the wilton leveler and i thought I wasnt using it right! It wasnt stright at all and had to free hand...Nice to know, it wasnt me!

I've been cursing my Wilton leveler more and more lately. I've had it for a couple years-at first it was great, but now that the blade seems a little bent it won't cut. I've tried bending it back, cause looking at it-it's hard to see its bent-but I can start off cutting a 3 in cake in half just to be at maybe a half in thick on the other side of the cake! Makes me so made, then I am recutting with a knife and then have to "piece" the cake bake together when I go to fill it. I need and agbay-but can't afford it either!

The Wilton leveler is a PAIN I have to sometimes start the cut with a serated knife to get the darn thing going and my cakes are moist, so what gives?? Kinda defeats the purpose of this Wilton leveler and that does not always get it right, but can't afford the other...

I thought the problem was me not knowing how to use the Wilton leveler. I wish I had seen this thread before a bought one last month. A lady at the shop tried to put me off buying it, but did I pay attention? No. Now I regret buying it. I have used it thrice and Like am2pm said, I could have chewed a straighter line.
I will pay more attention to advice from now on.

I bought one a few years ago but never quite learned how to use it well. I find my bread knife does the trick, although I must admit it took a bit of practice to master it.
I run it gently around the circumference of the cake to mark out a faint line around it. Then just start cutting along any edge and make sure your blade cuts along the marked line.

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deepdelights.com

Thank you so much for this thread. Was planning on buying the Wilton leveler. Don't know why because I just level the cake across the top of the pan and it works fine. Guess I just like gadgets that might make things work better. That's one gadget I won't be adding to my collection.

I, too, hate the (small) Wilton leveler. I ordered an Agbay last week, and it's to be delivered tomorrow. I put it off for a year, thinking that as a hobbyist, I didn't want to spend that much money. Well, I had to, as I struggled with each cake. I cannot wait to try this baby out!

No matter if you're a hobbyist or the largest bakery in town, you will love the Agbay. And now that the Agbay Jr. is a lower priced option - and the holidays are approaching, everyone should be able to find an Agbay under the tree!

You guys know that when I rave about a product, I have used it and it works! I'm not the least bit shy about saying when things don't work. The Agbay works! Every cake, every time.

I'm going to get the Jr., but what do I tell my son who bought me the Wilton Leveler (along with the board that turns and my spatulas....and those I can't live without.)