ESSENTIALS: TUBE CUTTERS

Welcome to the Essentials series, where I share my go-to bits of cake kit.

In these posts, you’ll discover the unsung heroes and must-have items that make novelty cake making just that little bit easier.

When I first started out, I had no idea what to buy. So, in this series, I’m sharing the tools I couldn’t do without — from nifty cutters and moulds to simple gadgets that take the hassle out of clean-up. I’ve got you covered!

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ITEM: Tube Cutters (they don't seem to have a specific name)

EXPECT TO PAY: £6.00 +

MANUFACTURER / RETAILER: Various

I first picked up a set of these cutters from Amazon in 2020 for around £6 for a set of 40. A quick search shows they’re still priced similarly, which is impressive considering the current climate.

I also checked eBay, where I found some slightly cheaper listings. These cutters are available from various sellers, so it’s worth shopping around to find the best deal.

I originally bought them because I needed tiny circle cutters for a workshop I was putting together. For something so simple, I found it surprisingly difficult to find a suitable product. Piping tips could serve the purpose in some cases, but they don't offer such a straightforward (or economical) solution.

Although these cutters are marketed as polymer clay tools, they’ve proven to be incredibly useful for cake decorating. The set includes cutters ranging from 1cm to an impressively tiny 0.1cm, making them perfect for creating small but eye-catching details. While the larger sizes are fine for cutting circles, I mostly use the tiny ones for embossing patterns or textures directly onto cakes and models.

Here are a few examples of projects where these cutters came in handy:

Tube cutters used for texture on tiny snails bodies

Tube cutters used for door texture

Tube cutters used to create tiny polka dots on parasol topper

Tube cutters used to create rivets and screwheads

Having several of each size in the set is also handy—particularly for those of us prone to misplacing things! If one goes missing, it’s no big deal.

For those who have done, or are planning to do, classes with me, you’ll see these cutters pop up frequently.

Variants:

There are also a couple of all-metal versions of these cutters (without the little plastic handle). They cost more, and you only get one of each size. The metal they are made from is much thicker, so they didn't cut quite as cleanly. That said, the extra thickness makes them great for embossing, and the 12-piece set offers a wider range of sizes — so they might be worth considering depending on your project requirements.

What to search for: 

Polymer Clay Cutters 40 pieces; Circle shape cutters with storage case.

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PRO TIP: CLEANING TINY CUTTERS

Due to the extremely small size of some of these cutters, they can easily get clogged with paste, and some are even small enough to disappear down the plug hole. So, here’s my quick, zero-effort cleaning method for small cutters:

1. Fill a mug with hot, soapy water and tip in your cutters. Let them soak for an hour or so, until the water has completely dissolved any paste build-up.

2. Once done, tip the contents of the mug into a sieve and rinse the cutters thoroughly with clean hot water.

3. Spread them out on kitchen paper and leave to air dry.

Result: This method keeps your cutters sharp, sparkling, free from bacteria... and away from the plug hole!

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Have a cake problem?

Struggling with a certain technique?

Let me know in the comments.