Tappits! I Hate Them!

Decorating By dawnybird Updated 2 Aug 2014 , 2:12am by MBalaska

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dawnybird Posted 13 Sep 2012 , 10:12pm
post #1 of 35

I loathe writing on cakes. Even my regular handwriting is bad, but on cakes, Yikes! So I've done things like: make a little plaque and print on it with edible markers, stamp into gumpaste with little clay stampers, etc. Finally I bought a set of Tappits, the upper case script letters. I watched the tutorial on how to get the best results. I made my gum paste very stiff, rolled it very thin, let it dry a bit, dusted the cutter with corn starch,, Everything they said to do! And those aggravating letters would stick in the cutter and I had to dig them out gently with a toothpick which made them go all wonky! I tried tapping them hard to get the letters out. That didn't even come close to working! I despise the hateful little things and wonder why anyone would ever buy them? Please tell me your experience with them. I'm so frustrated!

34 replies
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Diana81 Posted 13 Sep 2012 , 10:16pm
post #2 of 35

Lol! Sorry about your experience with writing. Have u tried stencils u place on the cake and smear buttercream over it then lift the stencil and voila? I want to try that.

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CTamiLynn Posted 13 Sep 2012 , 10:21pm
post #3 of 35

How long are you letting your fondant dry? I use a lot of cornstarch and let it dry for at least 30 minutes, then flip it over to dry for another 10-15 minutes. Sometimes I dip the tappit in cornstarch also.

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Chellescakes Posted 13 Sep 2012 , 10:48pm
post #4 of 35

I just replaced all the Damn-its with clix stix , no more frustration

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dynee Posted 13 Sep 2012 , 10:51pm
post #5 of 35

diana81
I did this lettering with a stencil I hand cut, the first stencil I had ever done and it worked like a dream. But it is quite large and may not work for everything.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1674251/diet-cocoa-cola

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DeniseNH Posted 13 Sep 2012 , 10:51pm
post #6 of 35

First off fondant and tappits don't go together. Gumpaste rolled thinly then blessed with Crisco over the top before cutting out, Bingo. The rainbow comes out and the clouds disappear.

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Diana81 Posted 13 Sep 2012 , 11:01pm
post #7 of 35

Ok, gottcha!

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carmijok Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 12:07am
post #8 of 35

Gumpaste yes! But remember to let it dry a bit before the cutters! Another option is to put cling wrap over your rolled gum paste and press the tappits in...that way the letters won't stick to the cutters. I prefer doing the dryer gum paste method.

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tokazodo Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 12:32am
post #9 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chellescakes

I just replaced all the Damn-its with clix stix , no more frustration




I thought I was the only one who called them, "Damn-its"!

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dawnybird Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 12:51am
post #10 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeniseNH

First off fondant and tappits don't go together. Gumpaste rolled thinly then blessed with Crisco over the top before cutting out, Bingo. The rainbow comes out and the clouds disappear.




Denise,
I'm not using fondant. I'm using gum paste, thinly rolled and letting it dry first. I didn't try Crisco though because the makers of Tappits said to use cornstarch. I'll try that, though. Thanks! Interesting to see that others have had aggravations with them too. Misery loves company, right? icon_smile.gif

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dawnybird Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 12:55am
post #11 of 35

Chellescakes,
I'm not familiar with clix stix. Where did you buy them?

Dynee,
Your buttercream stencil is beautiful!

Carmijok,
The plastic wrap idea is interesting. Thanks to all of you for the input. I feel better!!

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Diana81 Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 1:43am
post #12 of 35

Oh my gosh Dynee, your coca cola lettering is cool!

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icer101 Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 1:44am
post #13 of 35

Hi, i use tappits with modeling chocolate also. I take a cake board(9x13) wrap it in white freezer paper(shiny side up) I don,t dust it , nor grease the board. I roll my medium thin. let it set up for 10 min. maybe. Then i cut strips of this medium length wise. Lay the numbers or letters i need and go from there. I transfer them onto another board wrapped in freezer paper. I do this with lots of things i cut out for deco of any kind of cutters. hth

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leah_s Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 1:53am
post #14 of 35

Huh. I have used Tappits for years without problem. And with fondant. Thin, thin, fondant, rolled to the 8 setting on the pasta machine. Let it dry for 10 minutes, press and whack them out.

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Tyler4250 Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 2:21am
post #15 of 35

I have no problem with fondant and tapits. They work great with Wilton fondant so you might want to try that. I also brush the tapit with cornstarch. Hope it helps!

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Godot Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 4:50am
post #16 of 35

It must be you and your GP. Lots of people (including me) use them with no problem. Been using them every day for many years without a problem.

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mcaulir Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 5:07am
post #17 of 35

I make a little pile of cornflour and dip the letter into the pile, tap it to get the cornflour off, then go for it. You can't let your fondant/GP dry for too long, or it's more likely to break.

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AnnieCahill Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 12:22pm
post #18 of 35

Yep I only use them with fondant. I roll it super thin, let it dry for 10-15 minutes, dip the Damn its in powdered sugar and then press them. I push mine down, kind of "scrub" it against the counter, then whack it out. Sometimes I get too excited with the tapping and my letters go flying all over the floor.

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Bonnell Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 12:50pm
post #19 of 35

I have used Tap-its for a couple of years but it took a while to find the "trick" to using them. As everyone else has said, let the GP or fondant air dry (I let mine dry anywhere from 10-30 mins), cut your paste into little squares a little bigger than the letter or number you are cutting, press down firmly and kind of "scrub" the cutter back and forth on your cutting surface. Then whack that sucker until the letter pops out. The thing I do differently than most people is I spray my cutter first with a little vegetable spray then tap it against a dish towel to remove the excess. Another alternative is to rub shortening into your cutting surface so the GP or fondant adheres to the shortening instead of the cutter. With that method you will need to let it sit until it is partially dry so the letter doesn't distort when you lift it with your palette knife.

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Diana81 Posted 14 Sep 2012 , 12:56pm
post #20 of 35

Thanks for the tip Bonnell.

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shebaben Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 10:51pm
post #21 of 35

Thanks so much for all the hints...I think I threw away a couple of sets of these stinkin' things because I just CANNOT make them work...all the stupid letters do is stick and rip. But now, I think I'll go back and see if I still have a set or two and try these new methods. I've really been angry because they weren't cheap but have so far been nothing but trouble!

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chocaholikk Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 11:12pm
post #22 of 35

AI usually just apply a tiny amount of trex on the tap its or the fondant /gum paste works fine and gives a nice shine to the letters once they're out of the tap its. Have to agree tho I hated them until I started to use the trex. Hth

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shebaben Posted 21 Jun 2013 , 10:23pm
post #23 of 35

Tried my funky letters again yesterday.  Yes, adding Tylose to the fondant really helped.  As did letting it dry for a while first. As did rolling it on Crisco so the letters stuck to the board instead of the cutters. As did freezing them before trying to remove them from the board.  The plastic wrap method didn't work as well, but I want to try it again. Thanks to all of you, I may not throw the rest of these away - I can now see the possibilities..
 

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AZCouture Posted 21 Jun 2013 , 10:40pm
post #24 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonnell 

 press down firmly and kind of "scrub" the cutter back and forth on your cutting surface. Then whack that sucker until the letter pops out. 

This. Their true name should be "Whackits"

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stephdover4 Posted 22 Jun 2013 , 4:47am
post #25 of 35

AI run my fondant/gumpaste thru my pasta machine, thin it to #2 and I never have to wait for it to dry; the pasta machine does the trick. I immediately cut my letters and they always come right out. I don't even have to use cornstarch or anything. HTH

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suzied Posted 23 Jun 2013 , 7:50am
post #26 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephdover4 

I run my fondant/gumpaste thru my pasta machine, thin it to #2 and I never have to wait for it to dry; the pasta machine does the trick. I immediately cut my letters and they always come right out. I don't even have to use cornstarch or anything. HTH

Great idea. must give it a try.

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melimel00 Posted 9 Jul 2013 , 8:56pm
post #27 of 35

This is what I do also! I spray my letters with vegetable spray, wipe off access, cut the letters, then tap them out. Works really well!
 

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Laetia Posted 14 Jul 2014 , 1:12am
post #28 of 35

AI'm so glad I found this thread! I bought those things on amazon a year ago. Never been able to use them properly. Always have a mess to deal with, lots of frustrations and having to find a plan B! I can't wait to try them again. Thanks to all of you. I'm learning so much

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JWinslow Posted 14 Jul 2014 , 1:17am
post #29 of 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laetia 

I'm so glad I found this thread!
I bought those things on amazon a year ago. Never been able to use them properly. Always have a mess to deal with, lots of frustrations and having to find a plan B! I can't wait to try them again.
Thanks to all of you. I'm learning so much

 

I just used mine yesterday without any problems.  I used Mexican Paste.  It is a bit dryer than gum paste or fondant and pops right out. 

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MBalaska Posted 14 Jul 2014 , 2:28am
post #30 of 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWinslow 
 

I just used mine yesterday without any problems.  I used Mexican Paste.  It is a bit dryer than gum paste or fondant and pops right out. 

 

Another vote for Mexican Paste.   And Saran Wrap, that helps sooooooooo much.

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