Hi,

I need some help. I've tried rolling gum paste, fondant, as well as a 50/50 mix through my Kitchen Aid Pasta Roller but I keep getting the same disastrous results. It tears every single time, especially on one side. I know part of my problem is that paste or fondant is sticky. When I add some cornstarch/cornflour or icing sugar or combination of and run it through it becomes dry and even looks like "elephant skin" (even though it's still sticky, weird?) before I even set it back down on my mat.

I've never used a pasta roller before and was really looking forward to using it. Any advice would be really grateful.

Thanks  

Hmmm…have you tried a different brand?  Or are you somewhere really warm where it could be getting moist/tacky? I've never used a paster maker (although would dearly love to get one to save my arms a lot of pain!) but have seen it done many times before...

I guess I should add that I have success with rolling out by hand. I just would like to figure this out. It's frustrating me.

Cheers!

My thoughts exactly. I've tried with Wilton gum paste and 2 different fondants.

I love the KA pasta roller when making flowers and such.  As the poster above said, you may not be rolling it thin enough before putting it through the pasta roller.  It does need to be rolled and then start on the largest setting (1) and increase it by 1 with additional passes.  I think once you get it you will find you really love it.  The only problem I have is that it is difficult on mine to really secure the pasta roller so it often comes loose in the process of rolling the fondant.  But I still love it.  Good luck.

AA super thin coat of vegetable fat to condition it may help, as well is rolling it thinner to start. I love mine, but sometimes have it turn weird.

Also, clean your rollers again from the bottom so you don't get anything caught in it and make sure the rollers are dry.   I condition my paste with crisco but before put it through the rollers I give it a little pat with my cornstarch duster - shake or wipe off any excess. 
Like the others said, you will have to roll it out first by hand.  I also cut the rough edges off before putting it through the rollers to help prevent any tearing.   Love the pasta roller for flowers and making fondant ribbons.

AOh yeah, if you get a rag caught in it, it will be useless. There is a break pin inside that breaks to protect the motor of the mixer. It is not a user serviceable part, so you would have to replace it.

Try cleaning the rollers well by taking a fairly damp rag and holding it UNDER the rollers as they spin [set the mixer on 1 or 2 to do this].  Move the rag slowly side to side in the process.  Next, take a dry rag and dry the rollers the same way.  Take some paste and run it through several times. 

I love my KA pasta maker for this purpose.  I always roll my paste out on a smear of Crisco and it comes out of the rollers perfectly.

OK, I know I'm going of track here but your name caught my eye, you're not THE Stevie G are you? The Liverpool midfielder and best player we & England have by any chance? (your profile doesn't say where you live) I know it's a far reach but are you starting something new? while we're doing so well???? Don't break mine and all the other red hearts. We can and will win the premiership this year, YNWA! 

Hoping I'm not jinxing everything but GO LIVERPOOL!!!

Sorry I'm not him. He is an absolutely amazing player though.

The instructions state not to use water on the rollers. I'm afraid. But they are red now and I do need to get the red off....

Stevie G, I use a damp rag on mine all the time. Don't immerse it water - hand clean only.   Once you have the rollers cleaned you want to turn it upside down and check the rubber guide underneath to see if it red on it- it will cause streaking the next time you go to use it. 

You are all brilliant! I'll give it try. 

DON'T CLEAN IT FROM THE TOP! ONLY FROM THE BOTTOM!!!

You get a rag caught in it, and it's a goner. It can get caught from the bottom, if it is loose, or thin so hold it tightly and keep it centered.

Odds are good that after cleaning, some of the plastic parts will still be pink and they'll stay that way--mine are--but the color no longer stains the paste.

You could try using some hydrogen peroxide or dissolved OxyClean to get rid of the pink stain, but I don't know if it will work.

Cleaning the rollers with a damp rag is fine.  As another poster said, you just can't submerse the rollers in water.