I see a lot of cakes with bent or curled wires with balls or stars on top of cakes. What kind of wire is used and why don't they tear the cake with their weight? Thanks for any help you can give me!

This kind the wire you can buy in the store for cake, like Michael or other store for cake supplies.
You cam make this wire too. I hope help you.

I used floral wire when I put the stars on one of my cakes. I dipped the ends in chocolate and let it harden before I put it into the cake. It didn't rip at all. My stars weren't very heavy though. Geez, I wasn't very helpful....lol. I hope someone else has a better answer for you (=

I have used my own curved wires as well as purchasing the pre cut wires, sorry, don't remember the guage on the wire I made, I just used what I had on hand for crafts
As far as the support : I put a straw in the top tier and I insert a bit of fondant rolled to a "snake" and then I put my wires in the straw. With the fondant in the straw so they don't move around and don't fall from their weight. The top of the straw is covered with decorations. Hope this helps !

Thank you for the information provided, it is very helpful to me

Thanks to everyone for all the great info! The straw with fondant in it sounds like a great idea! You were all a lot of help!

Like hodges, I put my wires in a straw, but I fill the straw with melted chocolate or candy melts and stick the wires in that. When the chocolate cools, the wires are very stable.

you can find those wires at Michaels... i use them all the time and they just add a little cuteness/classy look to the cakes.. I usually put a little necklace pendant ( cakes for females) on one of them and my customers absolutely appreciate and love the little extra touch on the cakes!

Thanks everyone! So nice of you all to respond. I think there will be wires in my future cakes!!