So, I have stacking the cakes down pretty good as far as placing the dowels in the right place etc. But, here is my problem. I have yet been able to get the cake stacked without sticking my finger into the side of it and having to "patch" it up. How do I avoid this?

Also, what do you use to sharpen the long dowel to put through all the cakes? I haven't gone higher than two cakes because I'm not sure how to sharpen the long dowel. Thanks Guys!

You can sharpen the dowel with an electric pencil sharpener.

I pretty much do a quick drop and hope for the best! LOL

As for the sharp dowels, I bought a makeup pencil sharpener, works great.

Someone recently posted that she leaves the dowel rods extended about 1/2 inch or so; this gives more space and time to move your hand out of the way. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds good!

I just leave the dowels up about 1/2 an inch and the weight of the upper tier will push them down when I move my fingers out of the way.

My question though is how do you get the center dowel pushed down through the cakes and cardboards without denting or caving in the center section where you're pushing down? Do you pound in the dowel with a hammer?

Thanks!
KimAZ

Not really. You must make holes in the cardboard cake circles before you put the cake on them that way when you push the long dowel through it is a lot easier. Just remember to place the top layer on last and that way you won't have a hole in the middle of the top layer.

Hope this helps.

Kathy R

I sharpen my dowel really pointy (wash after sharpening) and then hammer it down right thru the cardboards...no problemo.

I also leave my dowels sticking out a little (not too much or you could run into balance issues and the top cake could tip as it's descending), place the cake on top and quickly remove my hands...PLOP!

I use a hammer, gently, (that's never been used for other purposes). When you get to where just a few inches are sticking out of the cake, I put a piece of cut dowel on top of the cake dowel and hammer the top cut dowel (which is stacked on the cake dowel).

another option I prefer to use:

get a plywood base (3/4") cut to shape you need (circle, square, etc.)

then find dead center.

drill hole into base that goes about 1/2 deep and is same diameter as dowel you will use.

then cut dowel to be just shorter by about 1 inch or so of total stacked height

now sharpen dowel

insert unsharpened end into plywood base (point it now stiking UP)

then take your cake boards and punch a hole in each -- or if using plastic seperator plates drill a hole (did this for a wedding) in them

put cake on board as usual and decorate.

to stack -- gently lower each tier over the dowel..and add supports between tiers as usual

this make for a very stable central dowel


to make even stronger, can glue dowel in (but then it's stuck at one height)

"to make even stronger, can glue dowel in (but then it's stuck at one height)"

How bout using royal icing as the glue?

royal icing is very "breakable" wouldn't hold wood to wood tight enough.

i usually under size the hole so have to pound the dowel in almost

a woodworker suggested getting the kit make screw threaded hole and dowel end so they screw together but that is $$$$$.

still looking for better way to get the dowel locked in beyond friction or glue.