Hey guys, I am doing a stacked cake that will be double layer 12", double layer 10", and double layer 8". I am looking for something that will hold up to the weight, be thick enough to wrap a ribbon around it, and as cheap as possible, but still work.
OK, let me hear all your great ideas....

Bump.

One thing I have read about doing for the base of a very large cake is to get a piece of plywood or masonite and cover in foil. Or, you can go to the hardware store and have them cut square pieces of glass. they polish the edges and then you can add round door stops for feet. you can also get round and square table tops of glass from hobby lobby, it is very thick, finished on the edge and looks great. also large mirrors would work, either way you will need 2 to 3 thicknesses of cake board underneath the cakes. Any way you look at it, the hardware store is a good place to start!!

I always use plywood, it works great, nice and sturdy! I cover it with shelving paper and it wipes right off.

i wonder if you could just hot glue 3 of the wilton thick cakeboards together and then cover it with fabric and ribbon??????

Do you actually set the cake on top of the fabric or do you glue or tape the cake board (small one that the cake is on) onto the big cakeboard?????...

I wouldn't think you would want to set the cake right on the fabric, the buttercream would leave an oily residue on the fabric.

It's a very heavy cake for cake boards - even 3 put together. If you do use the cake boards - when you turn the boards over you can see what I call "ribs" - it's the chambers of the carboard - well - when you place the boards together - make sure the "ribs" are running criss cross - don't have the lines running in the same direction for all your boards - spin one of the boards so that the lines run in the other direction (cross-ways)and make the 3rd one run so the lines are running in the same direction as the first one. I hope I wrote this so you can understand it. This technique provides extra support and makes the boards much more sturdy. Personally I use plywood. I work too hard to chance a mis-hap with cardboard but we all use what's available to us. Good luck.

glad you got some responses, one of my fears is having a cake slip or collapse. good luck!

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will go with the plywood.

Thanks Boonenati, I have seen those here, but did not know if they would be strong enough.

You could use masonite or you can buy the pre-covered cake drums that will hold alot of weight. In fact the last one I used held a double 14", double 10" and double 8". It was about $6 at the cake store. It's thick enough to wrap a ribbon around, where masonite isn't.

Hey thyterrell-- I was actually talking about a cake drum. I can get them at my local cake shop. You used them, and they are strong enough to hold the cake I am talking about? That would be great to use one of the drums.

I am not actually covering the entire board with fabric, just wrapping a ribbon around the sides.

Thanks again guys!!!

Here we would use the masonite or cake drums for the not too terribly big and heavy cakes and for the larger heavier ones, 1/2 inch plywood or a heavy duty cake base like the one Wilton makes. Masonite can only support so much weight before being susceptible to snapping, it is stronger than cake drums but not as strong as 1/2 inch plywood.
Hugs Squirrelly

I usually use a cake drum that I make myself by using four or more cardboard cake circles (I let the width of my ribbon determine the number of circles I stack up), but I have also used a top to the cheapie three-legged tables that are made to have those round table cloths on top of. They are about $8, are nice and big for large layers, and if I don't get them back from the customer, it isn't the end of the world.

Deanna

What exactly is a cake drum? I have seen it mentioned several times, and I have either never seen one, or never noticed one!

I used a cake drum on a stacked 10-9-6 scratch cake (Mardi Gras in photos). Man that thing was heavy! Cake drum worked like a charm. Afterwards, I took it apart to see what a cake drum was (tee-hee) and it's just 4 cake circles glued together covered in foil!

I go to places like Lowe's or appliance stores and get large boxes that usually hold appliances, chairs, etc. The cardboard is usually a little thicker on those boxes. Depending on how much weight I want it to support, I'll go 4 or 5 layers thick, run the corrugated boards in opposite direction of the one it sits on and also put a little glue between each layer. I have yet to have a problem with this method. The boxes don't cost anything, so if I don't get the base back, it's no big deal.

For rather large cakes I have taken to using plywood or mdf as a base board then a cardboard board directly under the cake. If you are using Fondant then you can cover the board with fondant. You could also cover the board with wallpaper and there are many things you can use to cover boards. If I was using fabric to cover the board I would either put a cardboard board under it or a piece of grease proof paper/gladbake or similar under the cake to save any unwanted marks on the fabric.

There's another thread on this site somewhere that I got the idea of using floor tiles as a cake base. I had a wedding to do a few weeks ago and I used a 16 x 16" floor tile. It was great!! Nothing moved around and it looked really cool too!

Hi, Bulldog! Greetings from blakescakes in Cleveland!

Colette Peters uses 1/2 inch foamcore for heavy cakes and doubles it for very heavy cakes. She swears by it because it's sturdy, easily cut, and cheap enough so that if it isn't returned/returnable, it's no problem--good enough recommendation for me

Rae

Thanks everybody! I actually have the plywood cut with some feet on bottom so I can pick it up, but I will keep all ideas under my hat.

Hey, Blakescakes--Glad to hear from you. I have used so much I learned in Columbus. Take care

Hey Kitagrl....I've seen those tables at Dollar General stores for under 5 bucks!!!

Blakescakes, where do you get the foamcore? Sounds like it would work really well. Thanks

I get my foamcore at Michaels or JoAnnes. They have sales off and on that puts a 20x30 inch 3/16th inch board at 89-99 cents. For the thicker stuff, I use coupons to get it down to $2.50/board. You can also find it at larger WalMarts (sometimes) and at art supply stores online or brick & mortar shops.

I should also note that for very heavy or awkward cakes, it's a good idea to put a second board under the first that is an inch or so smaller in width so that you have an area where you can get your fingers under the board & cake to carry it and to set it down easily. This also makes the cake look like it's floating on the table and that's a neat effect for cheap

Rae