Yes it does cut cleaner than an exacto knife... but you have to have a decently steady hand, so as not to have shakey edges. no more chunks of foam on the sides of the board!

I've been reading this thread about the foam boards and perhaps I missed this. Can I place the cake directly on the foam board or do I cover it? Thanks!

I cover my cake boards with freezer paper, shiny side up.

I am on my way to Hobby Lobby tomorrow to check out this foamcore!
Thank you!

I have found a wonderful alternative, and I vow to never use foam-core again!

Hobbylobby sells plastic cake rounds, the brand is 'baking essentials' and they come in every size. No cutting! I buy those and glue two together. The dowel goes through just fine

if anyone has a Dollar Tree Store near them, check for foamcore there. Mine carries it regularly in the school supplies section. a huge sheet for only a buck...very cost effective if you ask me I just bought a sheet of it to use for my daughter's cake this coming week. they only have one thickness, the half inch size, but i figure i can always double it up and glue it together for the base. on the covering note: i use tissue paper, since it's easier to fold than regular paper, you can get it in several colors (also at $ tree lol) and then i cover it with cling wrap. works really well and you dont have a bulky edge.

Speaking of dollar-tree. Mine had rolls and rolls of contact paper for 25 cents!! All kinds of different patterns too.

After watching Sharon's Successful Stacking DVD awhile back, I use foam core under all tiers & a Masonite cake drum as the base. Knock on wood. . . Hasn't failed me yet!

Speaking of dollar-tree. Mine had rolls and rolls of contact paper for 25 cents!! All kinds of different patterns too.

foam boards that i saw at craft store was a thick slab that was not covered with a smooth paper. it was thick but rough on both sides. how do you prep that for a cake? or is it the wrong type of board?

Wrap it in fancy-foil or freezer paper.

I melt edible soy wax or beeswax and coat the board surface with it. Easy & cheap.

Rae

AI am learning sooooo much from you!!!! You're awesome-all of you!

For those of you suggesting the dollar store and any other store where things are on a shelf being touched by who knows who with who knows what germs on their hands, in addition to the wonderful sanitizing suggestions above, I would also suggest buying them in bulk from a supplier. Chances are, only one person touched those before being shipped to you.

Absolutely foam core for ANY heavy cake!!! I use 1/2 " for the base, covered with cake foil, and don't have to worry about someone else picking it up and having it crack in the middle because the regular cake cardboard flexed!  It cuts easily with a utility knife. The only problem I've had is that it often makes the cake too big for the standard box.