what do you all use to cut your dowels? i've been using a small hand saw and its a pain. 
i have read to use clippers but i'm not sure what kind of clippers and where to find them. would it be in the floral department of the craft store?
any suggestions are greatly appreciated. 
TIA
I used a hand saw to cut the dowels for my cinderella cake and almost cut off my thumb. I wasn't real bright I was in a hurry and laid them on a cooler lid in the garage (which was sideways on the cooler). Yeah I know dumb. Well the lid moved the dowel rolled and the only thing in the way was "my thumb". And dear husband just laughed. I think from now on I am going to use straws.
I also use pruners (the offset ones) and they work great. I bought a new pair that I use just for cakes and I get a nice clean cut. I didn't get the most expensive pair but I'd stay away from really cheap ones..........as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
I use thick jumbo straws from a fast food place, the kind used for milk shakes. They are stronger than any I have found in the stores. I just pick up a few extra every time I get a drink! If I could buy them I would, although I don't think I make enough tiered cakes to make it worthwhile!
Diane
I can never cut dowels the same length and would love to be brave enough to use straws instead - do they really work? What kind of straws?
I use a simple serrated knife like a steak knife or larger. I only have to score it in 3-4 places and then snap it into. Then quickly "file" it on a fingernail file's rough side and it's ready to go.
there'a a cute lil saw called a scroll saw....it's kinda set up like a sewing machine.
it has a floor and the blade goes up and down like the needle on a sewing machine....you push the wood thru.
it's a little expensive...but good for so many other things too....and not scarey.
I was fortunate to purchase a small band saw cheaply and I cut all thick my boards myself. The largest I can cut is a 16".I buy the thin ones. So I have something to cut my wooden dowels with this and insert them in the milkshake straws. Haven't tried straws by themselves and I'm afraid there wouldn't be much support as I do a lot of 3 tier stacked cakes.
I was going to post the same ? today because i about lost all fingers using a saw LOL. Anyhow, are plastic straws really strong enough to provide support? I hear alot of people on CC using them and just wonder if the really work.
I use the plastice dowels that you can purchase from any cake decorating supply store or at Michaels. You don't need any fancy tools to cut them! Just use your bread knife or any other serated knife. They are not hard to cut, and it's much easier.
I use both garden clippers and large dog clippers for my wooden dowels. I've never trusted the straws and confirmed that thought, when I got the opportunity to take over a wedding cake account at a function hall. One of the reasons this other bakery lost the account was that they used straws in their wedding cakes, and they were constantly having problems with the cakes leaning. Perhaps they didn't use enough??? Don't know, but I won't take the chance.
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