• January Turning Challenge: Thin-Stemmed Something! (click here for details)
  • Conversations are now Direct Messages (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to John Lucas for "Lost and Found" being selected as Turning of the Week for January 13, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Forum

Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Messages
3,058
Likes
905
Location
Cleveland, Tennessee
Won't it be nice when the forum gets back to talking about turning so we newbies can learn something?
 
Your request is my command.

I'm turning some more cupcake boxes and need to find a better alternative to the icing formula that I used on my last boxes. The others were OK but I'm looking for something that looks more like real icing, takes a good edge so I can use the cake decorator tools, and is tough enough to take the abuse of being on the lid of a screw lid box.
Here are some photos of my latest test (you can also see 2 of the cupcakes in the background)
One of the problems I have is the color of the fillers for epoxy. The tan ones change the color of the paint I'm using. All of these samples used the same color paint. The top left sample looks the best as far as texture but it changes the color a lot. I don't believe you could make a pastel color and white icing is definitely out. The bottom left looks like a good possibility. It doesn't change the color and is good and strong. It doesn't quite have the texture I want but most people wouldn't be that picky. I'll try another test later in the wood and use the cake decorator tips to make sure the stuff holds a good edge.
 

Attachments

  • icing-test.jpg
    icing-test.jpg
    75.1 KB · Views: 77
Change of tone

It will be nice when the tone of posts in the Main Forum returns to helpful from the current snide. I joined the AAW because of the helpful nature of those that participated online and in person. My local club was the same thing. I was really put off by the comment of a member while visiting the first time and didn't return for 2 years. When I came back for the next visit this same person was very friendly and had a lot of influence in getting me involved with the local club. No idea why, don't care.

I agree it will be nice when we get back to helpful and I think members and visitors should feel welcome here always. :cool2:
 
Puff Paint

What about that puff paint they sell in craft stores like Michael's?

Or for that matter arcylic paint with glass beads to make it more like icing. Painters call it "impasto".....I think

A
 
Icing for John Lucas

Not much working time for mixing in the color (e.g. food coloring - hint, hint), but how about spackling compound? I've used it un-colored to simulate cream cheese on a turned bagel. I definitely would NOT use it in a cake decorator, though, unless it was expendable.

IIRC, you work at a university. If there's a chemistry department, they might be able to suggest a retarder for the spackling compound, so it could be used in a cake decorator.

FWIW, Will Vinton (Claymation, California Raisins, etc.) used to mix his own colored modelling clay from raw white plasticine, to get custom colors.
 
You had mentioned on Woodcentral about not using plaster. There is another plaster I use called FGR95. It is standard plaster with fiber glass filler. It would work for this, but it has a 95 minute setup. Super strong, used for architectural reproduction. You could dye it with paints or probably even food coloring.

I can send you some if you want to try it.
 
Angelo I've tried puff paint for texturing but It won't even start do do the icing. I think I have about 8 different colors of puff paint. Fun stuff.
I'm already using some of the micro spheres. That mixed in with West Systems Epoxy is probably going to turn out to be what works. I'll be running more tests either tonight or tomorrow.
Steve I'll look up the plaster. That sounds like a good possibility. Regular plaster looks like icing and if it's thick enough it holds a good edge, it was just too fragile. This stuff sound interesting.
 
Back
Top