Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:43 AM (NEW!)
I baked, I designed, I labored, I decorated, and I messed it up by not using wooden dowels! Why I used straws for such a high cake, I'll never know. Arrghhh!
You can even see how it is leaning in my pic. How did I miss that??? lol
The cake self-imploded on the way. Only the top layer was salvageable.
I didn't cry in front of the hostess. It was due the next evening, so I drove back home, started baking like a fiend, woke up early the next morning (made my son miss his baseball game!) and finished.
Cake was a smaller version due to time constraint, but still served everyone and had plenty left over, so my first cake was probably too big.
Weird! I couldn't view the pics...I got a mssg. that said "the attatchment doesn't exist anymore"
I am SO SORRY this happened to you though....I can only imagine!! And then to have to do it all again....AAAGH! 
Ah well, chalk it up to learning, I guess. I'm sure both cakes were beautiful!
Okay, I see the pics this time. Gorgeous cakes!
Turned out really good- and it's also good that you had time to re-do and still get the task at hand completed!
I'm so sorry!! I've never had a problem with straw cakes. Did you assemble it on site or travel with it assembled? I just did this attached cake with straws and had no problems- but I assembled it on site and it was fondant- not sure if either of those would have made a difference.
But good work on working so hard to fix it! The finished product looks amazing! Beautiful scrollwork.
Straws (for Tomoore)- you use just regular drinking straws like you would wooden dowels. I like it because it's cheaper and so much easier and feels more sanitary then sticking wood in a cake.
Amber
Sorry the first cake was destroyed. Good save though!
Sorry this happened to you - but personally I like the second cake better. To be able to pull off such a beautiful cake after such a disaster is the sign of great decorator.
You did a fabulous job in recovering from such a disaster--congrats on providing a wonderful cake under such stress 
Now, I'm may get flamed for this, but here goes:
I know that Martha Stewart has said to use straws--and I think she's an IDIOT for having done so. She opened the door for people to cut the most important corner of stacked cake construction--SUPPORT. I've taken classes with her cake designer, Wendy Kromer, and believe you me, Wendy DOES NOT RECOMMEND USING STRAWS FOR STACKED CAKES!!!
There are too many types of straws out there that simply won't do the job. The large bore, bubble tea straws are probably fine because they don't bend very easily, but they're not readily available and many people don't know about them.
I use clean wooden dowels for some small cakes, but I really prefer to use the plastic dowels that Wilton makes. I can cut those with a serrated knife, an Xacto knife, scissors, etc. It's just not an issue. I have a dedicated pair of rose shears that I use for wooden dowels--no sweat.
With all of the work that we put into these cakes, it's just not worth saving a $1 or $2 
JMHO
Rae
Thank you all for the support and compliments!
I liked the second cake design too. The first cake was designed after a wedding cake older Wilton Yearbook, but their tiers were higher so the design didn't look as "busy". Being of Puerto Rican descent, I also struggle in keeping designs simple and really tell myself, "you need to stop". 
My second cake had wooden dowels in each tier and a center dowel. I did transport it assembled and it held up fine.
Like all things in life, you learn, your remember and put a dozen wooden dowels in all your cakes! lol
The cake came out beautiufl
The first time I heard of straws was on this site. At the time I thought I wouldn't want to try that. With my luck they wouldn't hold.
I guess it works for some but I'm still not ready to try them. I'll just stick to my wooden dowels.
what a fantastic save. your cakes were beautiful. thank God you had time to redo. I had mine start to collapse at the beginning of the reception. Luckily I was able to save the top three tiers instead of just the top one. Great job!
(I'm scared enough to use wooden dowels. Have heard the straw thing for a long time, but never felt it would be safe. I believe it is for people, but still don't feel I'd ever be ok trying it myself)
I use straws everytime. Striped drinking straws. If you stand a 4" straw straight up and down and press down with the palm of your hand, you can't bend the straw.
I too have use them (and only them) for cakes up to 4 tiers and everything was sturdy. Wooden dowels can slip just as easily as straws if not installed correctly.
Also, I didn't get it from Martha Stewart. Didn't know she used them, but good to know. 
I'm so sorry that happened but the redo turned out great at least
I have noticed people here have mentioned using straws before but IMO its not worth the chance to try them. I know my wooden dowels will do the job (may try the plastic though). Great save & cakes
Your cake turned out fabulous!
I have to agree that the straws are not the best idea in the world. They may seem strong, but you can't compare them to the strength of wooden or plastic dowels. I can't trust them for a stacked cake, and I wouldn't chance it.
Angie
Nice save! I'm all for wooden dowels but obviously it is just personal preference because everybody likes things different. I'm impressed that you were able to get it all done. Good thing it wasn't due until the next evening.
I'm all for support, so I switched to the logicpic support system, where the wooden dowels are actually inserted into a hexagon support frame under each layer. You get a level support and no way the legs can move.
Then again, I almost always transport in separate layers and stack at the venue.
The burger place SONIC has really strong thick straws.
That is SONIC straws.
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