I was taught to stack wedding cakes using dowels and cardboard cake rounds, and I have noticed a few other methods on this forum. I am just curious about how everyone out there is building their cakes.
SPS/ Coast system or dowels and boards?
I use my version of "dowels & boards": 3/16" foamcore boards coated with edible soy wax and bubble tea straws. Works well for me.
Rae
Thanks BlakesCakes. The bubble tea straws are interesting to me. I would like to find a sub for the dowels. Do you find that they are strong enough to use on pretty large cakes? I have experimented with downward force on regular cut straws, and they seem very strong. I just haven't had the nerve to use them in a cake yet!
Dowell and Board lady here...
I use the Wilton Lollypop Sticks...
Buying the 8 inch ones i can cut them to any height i may require.... as most of my cakes/tiers are 6 inches tall
http://bakingpleasures.com.au/p1448/wilton-cookie-treat-sticks-8-inches
Bluehue
Bluehue, do you use 3 inch pans to achieve 6 inch tiers? I prefer the look of a taller tier.
Bluehue, do you use 3 inch pans to achieve 6 inch tiers? I prefer the look of a taller tier.
Sure do....although i don't use the top of the cake - so i bake 3 cakes...tort each one into inch thickness's fill and stack.
Yes, i love the look of tall cakes also.
But you don't have to ude 3 inch pans - just bake - tort and fill until you get to your 6 inches.
Bluehue
Thanks BlakesCakes. The bubble tea straws are interesting to me. I would like to find a sub for the dowels. Do you find that they are strong enough to use on pretty large cakes? I have experimented with downward force on regular cut straws, and they seem very strong. I just haven't had the nerve to use them in a cake yet!
Absolutely strong enough. The hollow cylinder is one of the strongest architectural elements available--much safer than a solid cylinder like a wooden dowel or any other skinny stick.
Straws don't displace cake like solid cylinders do. The cake is actually compressed into the hollow and acts a bit like an anchor. They're much less likely to slide in the damp environment of a cake.
Straws are very easy to cut and get level. You only need to use 1/2 as many for support, too, so you can support a 10" cake with just 5 straws. They're sanitary, easy to see in the cake, they're not made of anything that can absorb grease or moisture, and they're cheap.
Along with the Agbay cake leveler, straws are me best "cake find" ever--thanks to CC.
Rae
Stopped by the Asian market on my way home today to get bubble tea straws! Thanks all for the help. And....oh how I miss the Agbay cake leveler that I used at my previous job!
I WILL have one again!
Rae,
I love using the foam core but usually wrap them in fancifoil. I'd love to know more about the edible soy wax. Where do you buy something like that?
I did some research and found that Golden Blends 415 was food grade, edible, Kosher soy wax. I purchased 10lbs. of it on Ebay--it should last me a lifetime! I melt it in the microwave in a small silicone cup and apply a thin coat with a paper towel.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130491955139?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
HTH
Rae
I use wooden dowels, and silver-covered cardboard rounds, or bubble teas and the same boards. It is difficult to push a bubble tea straw into cold mud cake, so sometimes I have to use the dowels!
I have never had a cake slip, collapse, or shift in a way it shouldn't 
I have never had any issued with dowels either, but I do like the fact that the bubble tea straws can be sanitized, and are not displacing any cake. I used them today on a fairly small stacked cake. Worked great! Thanks again!
There are some people here that use this other method and love it.
http://www.stressfreecakes.com/public/store.html
There are some people here that use this other method and love it.
http://www.stressfreecakes.com/public/store.html
Marvelous system, but it's pricey, requires a deposit by the client, needs to be returned or retrieved, needs replacement parts at times, etc.
I have a cake friend who swore by it until she had a run of clients not returning all of the pieces and one venue that THREW IT OUT.
I can't be bothered with all of that. But, it's a great option for those who don't mind dealing with such issues.
Lovinspoonfull--glad the bubble tea straws worked well for you.
Rae
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