Makin's USA 35055 Makin's Professional Ultimate Clay Extruder

This set was bought to work with fondant and gumpaste. I was overjoyed at first. I knew this product was made for clay, so I didn't have to worry about rolling uneven strips by hand. I expected some difficulties based on that fact and the reviews I read ahead of time, so I'll just get right to the point.
Pro- Basically, it makes the job easier than it would be if you didn't use a tool.
Cons- There is no better way to describe it than cranking. Imagine being behind the wheel of a school bus with no power steering. If you have a lot of strips to do, consider forming a relay team or having carpal tunnel surgery right away. br>It is impossible to clean completely. In fact, the disks and cap are the only parts of the system that can be safely cleaned. If water gets into the shaft, it will stay there indefinitely. Sugar work isn't a good idea when there's a lot of water around. br>Leaves a black residue on whatever is being pushed through it. This black, greasy substance appears to regenerate on its own. You'd think it'd fade away after 30 or so uses. You'd be mistaken. You end up wasting a lot of fondant because you don't know what it is. br>Fondant bits harden inside the instrument as a result of your failure to properly clean it, eventually causing it to break down completely. It happened to me while I was baking a cake that resembled spaghetti and meatballs. I was making those "noodles" when the plunger completely disintegrated; I'd never seen metal parts crumble like an eggshell before. It was both inconvenient and fascinating at the same time. br>And with that, I'll conclude. I've never tried pushing clay through this extruder, but I can't imagine it being any more difficult than pushing soft fondant through it. Because I'm a fairly upbeat person, I'll point out the bright side. Over the course of ten months, I got about 40 mostly good uses out of it, and I thought the price was reasonable for the amount of use I got. Ummm. It has a pleasing shade of green. That is all I have to say on the subject. With a different brand, I'm hoping for better results.

Veronica Herman

| Oct 19, 2021

You can turn the handle on this one. When you turn the handle, it moves to the opposite side, making it easier to begin the next turn. What a brilliant concept! I purchased a drill adapter, which allows the drill to do the majority of the work. Of course, extruding (shaping) clay requires some muscle, so even when using the drill, you'll need some hand strength as the drill nears the end to keep the machine from spinning. My wish is for them to develop a fully electric extruder one day. There is no need to use your hands at all. But until that time comes, I'm sticking with this one. br>br>It comes with a white rubber ring that can be pushed through the barrel to remove all of the clay. It also includes 20 discs, allowing you to be as creative as you want. This product has exceeded my expectations, and I strongly advise you to purchase it if you require an extruder.

Jameson HUMPHRIES

| Mar 03, 2021

The extruder is broken after only a few months of use. I'm very disappointed, and I'm afraid I won't be able to return or exchange it because the return window has passed: / the green metallic paint peels off and smears your clay, and the thing that propels it forward isn't even centered and is tilted. Makin's has gotten a lot of good press, but I don't agree with any of it.

Atticus Simon

| Apr 25, 2021

I bought this extruder to use with fondant for cake decorating, but it only lasted about a dozen uses before breaking. First, the cap nut came loose from the cap, preventing me from "unwinding" the extruder and removing the plunger once I was finished. Then the screw holding the plunder tip in place stripped, and I couldn't get the plunger tip out of the tube. This is a product I would not purchase again - It's made in such a way that it won't withstand repeated use.

Danielle Chung

| Nov 03, 2021

It's only been broken twice since I bought it. The threaded shaft appeared to tilt ever so slightly and jammed completely. We attempted to rectify the situation, but it proved futile. It has lost its ability to rotate. Such a letdown. I wasn't putting any pressure on myself. It was turning out beautifully, and the clay was as smooth as silk. I was very pleased with it until it suddenly ceased to turn. It's not clogged, it's been kept clean, and it's practically brand new. Bummed :.

Aarav Simpson

| Aug 27, 2021

After a little more than a month, it broke. It was probably four times that I used it. The silicone part that keeps the inner plunger flush with the casing cracked, and clay was slipping down the sides. When I attempted to clean it, the silicone/rubber components simply disintegrated and shredded. This was not a good purchase.

Mercy Roberson

| Oct 24, 2021

I bought one of these four years ago, and it lasted a long time until the threading at the bottom finally gave out and completely busted apart; I ordered a replacement, and the middle section of the mechanism was completely broken. I was unable to remove it from the barrel, and when I did, the round disc was bent. I ordered a replacement for my replacement, and I received a reconditioned DIRTY tool that was even more broken than the previous two! I was completely unaware that it would not come in its original packaging. Furthermore, the top bolt had completely separated and was unable to be repaired. I was dissatisfied with the product and even more so with the replacement I received.

Jabari Hooper

| Aug 18, 2021

Cleaning is a bit of a challenge. It appeared that it needed to be oiled or graphite dusted on the first day of use. (I haven't done this yet because I'm not sure how to do it without entering the clau chamber. ) ) The grinding of the turning rod began. When it comes to pushing out clay shapes, this method is fantastic. I'm not sure how well this will hold up in the long run.

Kori Hale

| May 06, 2021