sugar molding

[gsantiago]

First off, I love this forum, it has answered a lot of questions that I had when I decided that I wanted to do baking/pastry. But currently, I ran into a problem concerning sugar molding, I had ordered in some supplies so I would be able to work on this sugar display for a banquet that I am having this wednesday, but they are having a problem with the shipping, so it will not be here in time. So what other types of material am I able to use to to mold some sugar?
I went out the store to try to buy some plasticine, but they were completely sold out, and it would be in by Friday, so that will do no good. So I got this sculpting clay to see if I was able to use it to mold some sugar, due to that it is able to with stand high temperatures. I molded the shapes that I wanted last night, and woke up this morning at 5, and was starting to mold some of the stuff, and when I went to pour the sugar into the molds, it just disengrated infront of me, so I had sugar all over the place.
I saw on one of the forums that some people use playdough, and I was wondering, is it the little kiddie playdough that you are using, or is it homemade stuff, and if it is homemade, I would like to try to make some, and would love a recipe for it, and how to use it(like if you cook it, or just air dry it).
I would also love other suggestions for stuff that I can use, due to that I am really running short on time to get this completed.

[panini]

I don't think playdough will work.
What are you molding?
How much mold material do you need. Are you familiar with the blue and white? If so, I think I have a tub of each extra.
I can overnight it to you firstr thing in the AM. Let me know.
Pan

[cakerookie]

Playdough will work. You can use the metal strapping that comes off pallets but you have to solder and all that other stuff a pain in the butt. Plasticene is good too. You can use plaster of paris also. Imagination is what it takes.You can use cake pans, glass bowls greased of course. PVC pipe, if it will withstand the heat of the sugar you can use it. Or just make molding sugar out of regular granulated sugar and you will not have to go through all this headache. I have a recipe for molding sugar if you want it. If not then use your imagination you will be surprised where it will get you.

Best Regards Cakerookie...

Sorry Pan that disagreement was totally out of respect; you know you and CH are who taught me most of what I know and the student is allowed to disagree with the teacher every once in a while.

[foodpump]

Can't say I've ever used the "Playdoh" brand. I've raided my kid's toybox and used the el-cheapo bargain brand modeling clays with diasastorous results, it melts like wax. I've got a nice big hunk of plasticine and don't really feel like experimenting with anything else just yet.

[cakerookie]

Yeah I have a hard time finding plasticene so I have to make do with what I can find and I have found playdough works pretty good..And as with anything else in sugar work you have to cut expenses anyway you can because this stuff gets expensive...

Best Regards Cakerookie...

[gsantiago]

Thanks for all of the replies. About 3 hours later after I wrote that, I decided to see if I was able to come up with something else for the showpiece, and I actually came up with something better than what I had. So I ran out to Home Depo(I hate that store with a passion), and picked up a few things that I think would help me make the piece that I drew. Now the only thing I am stuck with is trying to make a sphere. I'm thinking of blowing one, or may just mold one with whatever I can find in the kitchen tomorrow.
I've only been working with sugar since November of last year. I am currently in a vocational school for a year.I took my NOCTI exam about 3 weeks back, and just applied to culinary school, CIA and J&W. My instructor who let me learn new things, has never worked with it, so I have been learning from reading these boards, watching the sugar movies from Ewald Notter, and going to the shows that I am able to go to learn more, and to learn from the pastry chefs that I talk to after the show competition is over.

[Blade55440]

When I had to do a display project for my classes, I actually found that good ole fashioned modeling clay (decent stuff) that you would use to throw pottery on a wheel works perfectly. It holds up well, sugar didn't stick to it at all, and was re-useable as long as you kept it wrapped up so it didn't dry out.

[gsantiago]

The banquet we very well. I finished off my sugar piece, even though it wasn't the way that I visioned it. I also recieved a $200.00 bond, $1,000 scholarship from a 5k scholarship dinner that we had a few weeks ago, got a plaque for culinary excellence for 2006, got my ACF certification certificate, and was also offered a job at a restaurant so I can use that also for my CIA work experience requirement along with my vocational school hours.

[cakerookie]

Sounds like you did real well congrats and good luck in the future.

Best Regards Cakerookie...aka Rook.