Sugar Sculpting

[Guest]

I've been reading a lot on the subject and want to get started in this artform.  I tried my first batch last night using a recipe I found.  Working with the material I found that it took hours to harden completely so the flowers I made wilted and didn't look very happen lol.  What might be the cause of this? I also made a bow and the curved portions ended up deformed after an hour.  So I am thinking something is wrong.

thanks in advance!

 

[foodpump]

What temp. are you cooking your sugar to?  How high is the humidity in the area you work in?

 

[Guest]

The recipe said to boil to 310 F and then take off heat.  I am in Kansas and our humidity is usually around 80 % in the mornings and 60% in the evenings.

 

[chefedb]

Should be higher temp for pulled sugar, plus it has to be worked on a slab of pref. marble

 

[chefedb]

Should be higher temp for pulled sugar, plus it has to be worked on a slab of pref. marble

 

[chefedb]

Try this   5 cups refined sugar   1 cup+2 tsp water  1 tsp white vinegar

Bil using CANDY therm. to 320 stirring slowly   pour onto marble slab or silicone mats work back and forth with rubber gloved hands and pull till shiny. If wanted to sculpt, a heat lamp can be used.

Vinegar keeps it from getting to hard while working.

 

[Guest]

thanks everyone.  I did talk to someone locally that suggested switching my cream of tartar to citric acid and instead of gell colors using powder.  Fixed the problem right quick.  My flowers made last night held up.  I did have another question tho. What do you do for storing bigger pieces or a sculpture in process?  Since some projects I could see would take a lot of time to make, how do your store a sculpture you are working on?  

thanks again,

 

[Guest]

thanks everyone.  I did talk to someone locally that suggested switching my cream of tartar to citric acid and instead of gell colors using powder.  Fixed the problem right quick.  My flowers made last night held up.  I did have another question tho. What do you do for storing bigger pieces or a sculpture in process?  Since some projects I could see would take a lot of time to make, how do your store a sculpture you are working on?  

thanks again,