Best Alphabet Cutters For Gumpaste?? Not A Fan Of Tappits
Decorating By mommie917 Updated 15 Mar 2011 , 9:48pm by CakeswLove
What kind of cutters do you use for your letters on a cake? I have tappits but they can be a pain and I'm looking for different fonts and larger sizes. Which are the best?
Try Windsor Clickstix. They're ejector alphabet cutters which are VERY easy to use. There have been a few threads on them which should pop up if you do a search on here. Tappits are worth persevering with though - most people find them a pain until they get the hang of them.
Can you guys share the secret to making tappits easier? I have to agree with mommie917 - they are a pain! I can never get the letters out of the cutters in one piece and without being all stretched out or marked up by whatever I have to use to push them out. Thank you!
I learned by watching a tutorial Aine2 posted.
You have to make sure the gumpaste is rolled very thin. ( i found either gumpaste or 50/50 fondant mix works better then just fondant, or even MMF) After I press down, I turn the tappit over and score the outline of the letter. This not only makes a clean outline, but IMO makes it easier to come out. Make sure you dust the surface generously and then use the tappits exactly like it sounds....and tap it. Literally Bend it up in your hand and let it slam on the counter. Hopefully it will work the first time, if not just tap it again.
They really are a PITA in the beginning, so be patient and give it a few tries.
If you get too frustrated, invest in Clickstix ( sp?) I got them as a gift and not only is the font really cute and funky they're very easy to use. You start the same way as a tappit, but instead of tapping it, theres a little 'lever' on the back. When you push that, it pushes the whole letter out.
HTH
I bought some Clickstix and find them almost as much of a pain as my Tappits. I think I'm destined to not have any of these work well for me
But others are smaller than tappits. Are there any larger alternatives?
I learned tappits from Edna's tutorial on youtube. She teaches the exact opposite from the package directions and her way works perfectly.
I agree, I would love to find larger sizes in letters- without using cheesy plain cookie cutters.
I've "TAPPED" so hard, it no wonder the darn thing did't snap!
I know how you feel! last cake I made that I used the tapitts for I spent longer on the lettering of the birthday girls name than on the rest of the cake!
Thanks for posting Edna's link, she makes it look very easy! Usually when I do it, I have to use a soft bristled brush to push the letters out of the tappits. The tapping doesn't work for me at all, half the letter breaks off.
I guess what she does differently is rolls it thinner than I am capable of (I guess that depends on your gumpaste), and puts shortening on her surface to encourage it to stick. I will try that!
I bought some Clickstix and find them almost as much of a pain as my Tappits. I think I'm destined to not have any of these work well for me
That's strange!
You do need to roll your fondant/gumpaste thinly (otherwise the ejectors will mark your letters, and the letter could get jammed up in the cutter). If you do get marks in the letters from the ejectors roll thinner, and also make sure when you cut the letter out you are ONLY pressing on the outer edge of the cutter (ie don't press the ejector bit while you are cutting the letter). Make sure you have lifted the cutter off your work surface before pressing the ejector.
I have used Ateco and Makins for years and LOVE them! GSA has both of them. Good luck!
I talked with Nicholas Lodge in Austin (he uses alot of Tappits) as I was also frustrated with them. You don't dust your surface, you put a thin coating of shortening on it. And you only use gumpaste or a 50/50 mix. The more that I used them, the easier they came out...I think because the cutters got a little of the shortening on them.
The two things I've found with tappits that really help me are 1. make sure you roll the fondant REALLY REALLY thin and 2. After I roll the fondant out, I let it just sit and dry for about 5 minutes before using the tappit so it doesn't stick. Then they work fine for me. HTH!
Angie
I LOVE my tappits I also roll my fondant very thin and let it sit for about 10 minutes then its really easy to make them..... I also bought a while back a set of playdough alphabet letters at the Dollar Tree for only a $1 and they are AWESOME !! I found some at Michaels these are for clay by Creatology and they are also really great for kids cakes they are a little more kiddish instead of funky
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