I am so excited! Just like everyone else I'm always looking on how to do things better and cheaper

Anyway, I'm not sure why I thought of it, but I found the perfect new cake board. I bought a foam posterboard (the heavy-duty/sturdy ones commonly used for school science fairs for $2) and it worked great! I just cut it fit and then wrapped it in the Wilton paper and it was perfect! And to make it even sturdier I was going to double the board, but it really wasn't necessary - so I have a board for next time

I would highly suggest everyone trying it!

I have seen this mentioned on here before but now I just have to remember that the next time I need to get more boards. Its crazy how expensive the cardboard cake boards cost.

Since most of my cakes have been for friends and family, I found cake boards that I can clean and re-use. Went to Home Depot and bought a couple different sized peices of plexi-glass. They're fairly cheap, durable, washable and you can put paper on them or use it as is.

The foam core is what Colette mentions in her party cake book. I have used it a couple of times, when I remembered to buy it...

So far I'm doing cakes for friends and family, so I just ask them to return the cake board I have - plus... I'm a "green" person and prefer to not use disposable things if not necessary. So, I buy from a local cake shop some MDF cut to size. For instance, I just bought a board that is to be used with an 11x15 cake.... I think the board was 13x17 and it cost $5 for the board. I can use it over and over again - just cover it with paper and it's SOOOOO much stronger than anything else.

If I ever get really busy with business, I will make it a $5 refundable deposit for the board, so if I don't get it back, I can replace it for cost.

melissa

I use foamcore for all my cakes. I wrap it with wrapping paper or fabric, then cover with cellophane and edge with ribbon. Strong and light weight.

Julie

what is foamcore boards and where do you get them? Also how much are they?

I buy a large sheet of MDF from the hardware store, and cut it myself. (or recruit DH to do it for me!!). It costs around $1 a board.

I buy the foam poster boards from Dollar Tree for a buck each. They don't always have them in stock, but I load up when they do.

I have used foamcore a few times but I don't like having to cut out perfect circles so usually I just buy the Wilton boards and tape 3 or so together. If I need a wooden board I just buy one, the costs get passed on anyway.

I have hot glued the corrugated boards together and that works swimmingly, but it can get a bit expensive for us poor folk. I have concidered MDF (a pressed wood product) but I want something that is light enough to use for tiers but still stable and strong like MDF. Is plexi glass good like that??

I purchased the masonite board from a cake supply store. It was only a few dollars for the one that I use on my 9x13 cake. I just wrap it each time and use it over and over.

to answer 2sdae's question, MDF is Medium Density Fibreboard. It's used alot in those pieces of furniture that you put together. You know like the entertainment centers and kitchen cabinets n stuff. Like the Sauder furniture. That's what those are made of. You can buy a 4'x8' sheet of it at the hardware store for like 20 bucks and then you could probably get ALOT of cake boards out of that one investment. (and I mean ALOT!!!) or you can check in their scrap pile and see what they have there. They'll usually have pieces of MDF or plywood and for a small fee you can even have them cut it to size if you want to. The pieces usually are only a buck to start with and they might cut it for maybe a dollar . So if you find a decent size piece that you can get 3-4 boards out of that'll only cost you like 2 dollars for the whole thing.
I also want to point out that MDF comes in varying thicknesses, from 1/4" all the way to 1" thickness. Just remember the thicker the more expensive it is.

My local Lowes sell 4x8 foot masonite and will cut it for free to any sizes I want! The stuff is super cheap and stronger than foamboard. Cover with fanci-foil ad your good to go. I always let people know that I'd like the board back and haven't had any trouble with that but I just deal with friends and family that I can track down easily if they "forget" to give it back!!

I have used the foam boards before but I have noticed that it is cheaper for me to just buy a case of cake boards from Sams club (for the sheet cake boards)
For rounds, I get them from GFS, I purchase the pizza circles. They come in all sizes! They are the same thing as cake boards that wilton sells and they are a whole lot cheaper!!!

I'm lucky, my dad owns a video rental club, and sells all kind of stuff, like sodas, juices, chips (everything you need for a movie night ) and he keeps all the cardboard cartons from the colas and such. It's heavyduty, and free for me. When I need a more sturdy one, I put more cardboard.

I love masonite, too. Cheap and super-sturdy.

I order the doublewall cardboards from countrykitchen and they are really cheap and strong. For an 11x15, I paid $6.80 for 12, or $18.20 for a box of 50. One board is usually strong enough, but if I want the look of a cake drum, I glue two together, cover it with foil paper and it looks just like one.

i have very heavy cake next weekend..

16/14/12/10

would foamcore be strong enough to support that?

Not for the bottom hun that is a heavy cake specially if you are doubling each layer. I would def get some kind of board. Double or triple your foamcore if that's what you already have but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

yeah a board cracking could be a nightmare...i didn't know, i've never used the stuff....

the last huge cake i made i cut a circle out of plywood and covered it....better safe than sorry!

carrielynnfields, I have mentioned this before on a few forums, I go to Home Depot and buy something called Ridgid Foam. It is 1" thick 4 X 8 sheets. It cost about $8 for a 4X8 sheet. It comes either pink or blue. It is very easy to cut with a knife in any shape or size. It is light and very sturdy. If you need a extremly sturdy board, then I would glue two together. Once again, they are light weight and sturdy. You can reuse them if you are able to get them back from customers, if not add the cost into your cake.

Hi Pootchi,

Aren't you worried about what the boxes have been sitting in before they come to the video store.

I know that you cover them, but is that enough? Safety wise?

Deedee44

aaaaahhhhhhh, how do you cut it? Is it difficult?

You are most welcome. I am a do it yourselfer and this is one thing I don't have to ask my husband to cut for me. LOL

Just as another cheap tip.....saw the big foam core boards at the dollar store!