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Gingoodies
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 910
Location: New Jersey
Birthday: Nov 28
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 Posted:
Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:37 pm |
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indydebi
Forum Matriarch
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 22134
Location: Indianapolis IN
Birthday: Jan 19
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Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:19 pm |
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I'm high-fivin' ya, sista, 'coz I've been saying the very same thing.
I've actually cut those cakes that had enough dowels to hold up the Starship Enterprise, and I can tell you from experience, it makes the cake a total MESS to cut. Swiss cheese does ok with all of those holes in it because swiss cheese is pretty dense and stiff. But cakes aren't that stiff and when you punch a bunch (ooooo! a rhyme!) of holes it in, it damages the structural integrity of the cake.
It's also a very good reason that I encourage everyone to cut 2 or 3 of their wedding cakes a year, so they can see first hand how their assembly affects the cake cutting.
I use four dowels in every cake tier no matter how big the tier. If it's a 5 tier cake, I MIGHT put 5 or 6 dowels in the bottom tier, but that's the only exception, and it all depends on if I'm assembling ahead of time or not.
Again ..... I cut most of my cakes, so I see firsthand that 4 dowels is PLENTY of support for 3 and 4 tier cakes. |
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Unlimited
Regular Member
Joined: Sep 06, 2008
Posts: 179
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Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:48 pm |
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I know someone who would peg the hell out of their wedding cakes, and then wonder why the bottom cake tier would fall over onto the base board leaving a perfect circle EXACTLY where each dowel was inserted at 1" intervals! Yes, you can over peg a cake... if you use too many dowels, it's just like slicing it with a knife to be served! |
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BlakesCakes
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 01, 2005
Posts: 2601
Location: Cleveland, OH
Birthday: May 14
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Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:03 pm |
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I was taught to use 1 wooden dowel per inch of the tier to be supported, so if the tier above the dowels is an 8 inch, then the cake below it gets 8 dowels.
Now, I generally use Wilton plastic pillars and use half the number that I would if using wooden dowels, so 4 for an 8 inch.
Hollow tubes and fewer holes make for better support. 
Rae |
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__Jamie__
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 16, 2008
Posts: 5021
Location: The less seriously you take me, the better off we'll all be!
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Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:00 pm |
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Thank you! Hollow tubes make such a difference. Be it SPS or tea straws. Dowels displace cake, in other words, squish it out in all directions from the hole it is making. Cakes gotta come out somewhere, when you have overdone it with the pegs. Hollow supports slip into the cake, displacing a negligible amount of cake. And great support. |
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redpanda
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Aug 19, 2006
Posts: 1216
Location: Southern California
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Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:06 am |
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BlakesCakes, I learned a similar rule, except that it was one dowel for every two inches of cake width, so an 8" cake would be supported by 4 dowels, with the caveat that you never go lower than four dowels.
These days, I use the hollow pillars and always use four per tier. I can't see any reason to go to more, since it's so stable that way. I've driven steep, curvy roads with stacked cakes and had no problems. |
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peg818
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 19, 2005
Posts: 2332
Location: upstate NY
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Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:00 am |
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I was taught one dowel for every two inches. And havent had a problem with that, so that is what i stick with. I can't imagine so many dowels in a cake that it falls apart. |
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jclvs2
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 03, 2009
Posts: 58
Location: Webster, NY
Birthday: Jan 12
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Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:35 am |
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I have a shower cake coming up in a few weeks and it is a 2 maybe a 3 tier. So thanks for your comments it has confirmed my decision on dowels. I will be using the plastic dowels and stick with the 4 for the 10, 8 in. Thanks for chating. |
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jclvs2
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 03, 2009
Posts: 58
Location: Webster, NY
Birthday: Jan 12
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Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:35 am |
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I have a shower cake coming up in a few weeks and it is a 2 maybe a 3 tier. So thanks for your comments it has confirmed my decision on dowels. I will be using the plastic dowels and stick with the 4 for the 10, 8 in. Thanks for chating. |
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tcturtleshell
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jan 29, 2005
Posts: 4546
Location: South Bossier, Louisiana
Birthday: Aug 09
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Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:51 pm |
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I use the hollow white Wilton dowels. Is that what ya'll are talking about when you say hollow? I used to use the woodel ones till last Oct. When I cut the bottom cake of a 3 tier wedding cake the dowels were sideways, everyone of them!! Thank goodness my cake didn't fall! I could've had a major disaster. So no more wooden dowels for me.  |
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indydebi
Forum Matriarch
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 22134
Location: Indianapolis IN
Birthday: Jan 19
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Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:44 am |
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tc, I've just started to use the hollow white dowel things recently ... like in the past few months .... to put in the larger tiers. But I've used wooden dowels for 30 years with no problems.
Pssst! Welcome to the Gramma Club! When can we officially induct you? |
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jclvs2
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 03, 2009
Posts: 58
Location: Webster, NY
Birthday: Jan 12
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Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:47 am |
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Congradulations on being a Grandma! Yes I was talking about using the plastic ones from Wilton. They seem like they would be sturdier then the wooden. Thanks for your sharing your experience with the wooden. When I hear things like that it helps me make a decision even better. I am new here so this is a blessing for me hearing everyones experiences. Thanks everyone at CC  |
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poohsmomma
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 25, 2008
Posts: 421
Location: beautiful central Kentucky
Birthday: Oct 03
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Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:38 am |
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I usually use straws to support my cakes, but I seldom make anything over two tiers (I'm just a hobby baker). I am relying on a bit of past knowledge that a three legged stool never rocks, while a four legged stool is hard to get level or even. I space three straws in a triangle pattern in the bottom tier to hold my upper tier. I never have problems with uneven "legs" shifting the support of the cake to another "leg". Haven't had any disasters yet. |
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Gingoodies
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 910
Location: New Jersey
Birthday: Nov 28
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Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:11 am |
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I really like to use the wilton plastic dowels. I think they are cleaner and that little plug of cake in the bottom helps to keep stability (I think anyway  ) I have successfully used the wilton hidden pillars and plastic plates for several cakes and have never had a problem. Not sure about the bubble tea straws, since I have not used them. I am definately going to be purchasing SPS for my next big cake though. This old lady learned things long ago.. its changed so much now. But 1 support for every 1 inch of cake is just overkill. |
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indydebi
Forum Matriarch
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 22134
Location: Indianapolis IN
Birthday: Jan 19
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Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:34 am |
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| poohsmomma wrote: | | I am relying on a bit of past knowledge that a three legged stool never rocks, while a four legged stool is hard to get level or even. |
I read this to hubby, who is a woodworker and he confirms it. Wow, very interesting and logical! |
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I have never put that many dowels in a cake. And yes, (before leahs jumps in) I would totally suggest SPS or at the very least hidden pillars and plastic plates for a stacked cake. But over doweling your cake will totally destroy the structure of the cake. 
. OK, I have had my say. Thanks for letting me rant. Happy caking!
