Sorry if this has been asked before. I just really want to get this order right.

What set of pillars do I buy if my tiers are more than 4 inches high?

I do not want any spaces between tiers.


Thanks, Jen

Happy, SPS pillars come pre-cut in 4", 5", 7" and 9" lengths. If you need something in between, you'd buy the 9" ones and cut them.

alra, ou are correct, the largest SPS plate is 18". The round plates will work under the hex. I have used a plate 2" smaller than the cake with success ina pinch. I've never tried it with a cake 4" bigger than the plate, but I think I would do it. l'd suggest a foamcore boards, though, for extra support for those really big tiers.

BTW, how many thousands of servings is that cake?

Yes . . . The first link is to the 8" SPS plate. Of course the plates come in a variety of sizes.

The second link is to the original column which I don't like at all. I much prefer the CG-4S but the company in those links doesn't seem to carry them. Oasis does. The 4" legs are GC-4S.

But yes, that's SPS!!

[quote="leah_s"]Yes . . . The first link is to the 8" SPS plate. Of course the plates come in a variety of sizes.

The second link is to the original column which I don't like at all. I much prefer the CG-4S but the company in those links doesn't seem to carry them. Oasis does. The 4" legs are GC-4S.

Thank you very much

I have a 4 tier birthday cake to do for the end of this month, and after reading the rave reviews here of SPS I have decided to try it (especially having never done 4 tiers before!).

My question is this: The top tier for this is only going to be 4" wide. How does SPS play with other support systems? Should I use SPS for the bottom two tiers and then dowel the rest?

Any advice would be appreciated!

I usually use dowels, but gonna give this a go next weekend SAVE

Lulu, SPS doesn't have an option for a 4" diameter tier. And that's why I never design a cake with that size tier. You'd have to dowel under that one.

Wow--This is how new I am to the whole cake making biz. I had no idea that such a system even existed!!

So here's my problem: I already made and placed all my cakes for a 4 tier cake on their cakeboards and they are sitting in my fridge. Cake is going to be delivered this Friday. I was just on here researching how to deliver a fully assembled 4 tier cake without catastrophic results ( I was definitely planning to dowel) and came across this VERY informative thread. Leah---you are so helpful and I was hoping you could help me now too!! Not sure if this was already asked or not, and I apologize if it was, but--How do I properly center these cakes now without having pre-made the holes in the cakeboards as you advise in the tutorial? Any tips? Is it hopeless?

Oh--and GSA sells these under the Bakery Craft name--this is the system you recommend right? Is this the same system that is also sold on the Oasis sight? Does Oasis have a reputation for speedy delivery?

Thanks SO MUCh in advance for all your help!!

Can't wait...just ordered the SPS. But $10 shipping...ouch. My order was only $9.25?? Geesh.

You shouldda order more parts. Generally the shipping doesn't go up much. Was that GSA or Oasis Supply?

I ordered from Oasis supply. I guess if I like it, next time I'll be sure to order more or at least look around on the site a little bit more than I did. And, my receipt actually said, "estimated shipping cost".....so who knows...maybe it will come out a little less in the end. I'm weird about S&H.....I guess I'm cheap but I hate paying it

ok, so I'm a total newbie here, and I'm also a total newbie to the cake decorating world. I have a question that I'll probably regret asking after it's answered.....but why do we poke a hole in the cardboards? I don't understand where the peg it's supposed to be sliding onto comes from?

Did you read thru the sticky and look at the pictures?

Oasis carries a frosted crystal plate and the solid white - is there a difference?
Thanks,
Sandy

The only difference is the color.

THANKS!!

Sorry but I have another question....I have to do a tiered hexagon cake - what would you use with these?
Thanks,
Sandy

Hi there

Apologies if this has already been answered - read through the thread and couldn't find it, but it is a long thread, so could have missed it!

Does anyone know where this can be bought in the UK - I am just starting out, so can't afford the minimum international order value from the US suppliers.

Thanks!

Sandy, use the rounds.

Thanks again!!

This is great! I am doing my 1st 4 tier cake this summer & had a few questions regarding SPS.

1. The cardboard: I'm assuming this is plain old cake boards you pick up anywhere? Also, should the cake boards be covered with wax paper?
2. Should a 4 tier w/ SPS be assembled prior to delivery or on sight? Is a 4 tier typically too heavy to carry?
3. Earlier, ther was a post saying they had to use too much icing to get to the edge of the plasic plate. Is this a typical problem? I'm putting a ribbon on the bottom of each tier, but will the cake meet the edge of the plate with a normal amount of icing?

Thank you, thank you!!!!

[quote="splymale"]This is great! I am doing my 1st 4 tier cake this summer & had a few questions regarding SPS.

1. The cardboard: I'm assuming this is plain old cake boards you pick up anywhere?
yes

Also, should the cake boards be covered with wax paper?
Absolutely no need

2. Should a 4 tier w/ SPS be assembled prior to delivery or on sight?
(site) I can't lift a four tier. I generally take 2-3 tiers assembled depending on the tier size.

Is a 4 tier typically too heavy to carry?
It is for me.

3. Earlier, ther was a post saying they had to use too much icing to get to the edge of the plasic plate. Is this a typical problem?
Not in my experience

I'm putting a ribbon on the bottom of each tier, but will the cake meet the edge of the plate with a normal amount of icing?
Always does for me.

Thank you, thank you!!!![/quote]

hi, two rookie questions:
-my supplier only has round SPS, but my 1st wedding cake is all squares. can i use the round sps?
-sometimes they dont have the legs and i found some dowels that fit exactly into the holes. i use it sometimes, but do u think that is as stable?

I tried sps for the first time on a 14" 12" 10" 8" wedding cake. The dowels were not the right height so we cut them. After the wedding I looked at the dowels and they were cracked on the ends we cut . They weren't cracked when I put them in the cake. We probably cut them wrong what should we have cut them with?

Miter box and saw, or chop saw. The best idea of all is not to cut them, but that does require that you make your cakes to the height of the precut legs. (4", 5" or 7")

I'm finally doing my 5 tier hexagon cake....you said to do round SPS under these tiers - do I put the cake on a hex shaped board?
Thanks

Hello,

I am hoping someone can answer this question for a cake we are doing today. Trying the SPS system for the first time and I grabbed the wrong thing at the cake store! The bag has grecian looking columns with extensions. Does anyone know if the grecian pillars be pushed down into the cake just the same as the other pillars? The ends of the pillars look thicker around the edge, not at all like the plastic Wilton rods that I have been using. Will I destroy the cake if I push them in? Thank you!

Sandys - yes to the hex shaped boards.

4 bug - sorry I didn't see your post on Friday. I'm always here on Friday night with the FNCC. The answer is yes, of course. SPS columns, no matter which of the three styles you buy are meant to be pushed down into the cake. What you bought is the multi-piece set. It comes with a base leg that's 5" plus two, 2" extensions. This set is primarily used to created cakes with separations, or the 5" leg can be used with taller cakes.

When purchasing SPS, you do need to pay attention to what you're buying.

GC4S is the standard 4" leg that you'll probably use most of the time.
The multi-piece leg set is described above.
There is also a 9" leg that can be cut to whatever dimension you need.

All come in bags of 12. I keep all three types of legs on hand at all times, 'cause you might need one or the other.