I bought Fiskars pruners (for this use only) and Wilton dowel rods. I have only had to cut three times now, but I am having a hard time getting a even cut, mine is slightly slanted. I have only had to cut for a center dowel because the cakes were a simple layer cake and I did it for transportation purposes. I am afraid when I have to do this for a stacked cake (April 28th) that my cake will look tilted slightly.
Any tips on how to get a flat cut on top?
darkchocolate
I haven't used dowels yet, but have read on here that you have to sand it down level. One of the suggestions was to use a Dremel. Or use sandpaper and a bunch of "elbow grease" 
?
HTH
Edited to add... maybe you could search the forum on dowels, level, etc.?
I used a pvc pipe cutter and they cut perfectly.
I had to have my boyfriend cut all me dowels and have now given up on wooden dowels. I have switched to these plastic ones that I buy. They are like giant wide drinking staws and I can cut them even with regular scissors. They are about 3/4 inch wide and the lenght of regualr dowels. I am never going back to wooden dowels.
I had to have my boyfriend cut all me dowels and have now given up on wooden dowels. I have switched to these plastic ones that I buy. They are like giant wide drinking staws and I can cut them even with regular scissors. They are about 3/4 inch wide and the lenght of regualr dowels. I am never going back to wooden dowels.
Can you tell us where you buy them, please?
I had to have my boyfriend cut all me dowels and have now given up on wooden dowels. I have switched to these plastic ones that I buy. They are like giant wide drinking staws and I can cut them even with regular scissors. They are about 3/4 inch wide and the lenght of regualr dowels. I am never going back to wooden dowels.
Are those bubble tea straws?
When cutting the dowels with pruning shears you need to make sure you have a rachet pruner, rather than the regular one. They don't squeeze the stem or rod ( depending on what you are cutting ). These are what I use as I initially found they worked better for cutting flowers in my gardens. The cut result is a clean straight line. To see what the look like check the following link ( doesn't matter if you buy this brand, just look for the type of cutting tool ). http://www.yardlover.com/products.php?pid=1812
I do not know the name of them or where to get them. Once a month I go to a day of sharing held by the NJ Confectioners Guild. Before the event starts they have a few sales tables and I get them there. I will look next time I go and get better info for everyone interested.
khoudek,
Thank you so much for telling me about the rachet pruners. I will look for those when I go to Wal-Mart tomorrow.
crumbscakeartistry, I would also be interested in any information you can get, thanks!
darkchocolate
I was shown how to do this at a cake shop here in Houston. Get a sharp pocket knife, or even a good sharp kitchen knife (although I am sure this will dull it). Mark the cutting line on your dowel, put the dowel on a cutting board, and press the knife on your cut line. Using the knife, roll the dowel forward and backward (under the blade) until you have cut at least half way through or so. Then, just pick up the dowel and snap it off. It works great for me and not special tools are needed.
I use something a bit different, but works great for me=) Dog nail clippers, lol=) The have a handle to grab to close it, and it has a hole where the dog's nail would go. I just slip the dowel into the hole to the lenght I want and clip! Jen
I was shown how to do this at a cake shop here in Houston. Get a sharp pocket knife, or even a good sharp kitchen knife (although I am sure this will dull it). Mark the cutting line on your dowel, put the dowel on a cutting board, and press the knife on your cut line. Using the knife, roll the dowel forward and backward (under the blade) until you have cut at least half way through or so. Then, just pick up the dowel and snap it off. It works great for me and not special tools are needed.
What about splinters?
I had to have my boyfriend cut all me dowels and have now given up on wooden dowels. I have switched to these plastic ones that I buy. They are like giant wide drinking staws and I can cut them even with regular scissors. They are about 3/4 inch wide and the lenght of regualr dowels. I am never going back to wooden dowels.
Are those bubble tea straws?
That's what I use and ther are terrific!! I buy from a small store in our local Asian market place. We also go for Vietnamese food occasionally and they use them frequently, maybe they'll sell you some (inexpensive and sturdy because they are so wide) or tell you where you can find them in your city.
If I use plastic (depends on weight / amount of tiers) I have my hubby cut them with the saw and lightly sand them to rid the rough edges.
If I had the money I would love to try these:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/newringsupportset.htm
Does anyone use these, and if yes ... are they good? They look great, but I would like to know they're good before I buy something at this price!
I know people that use those supports and can't say enough good about them! They are expensive though and if you do several tiered cakes at a time, you'd need several sets - too $$$ for me! Then there's the fear of not getting them back...
I'll just stick to straws and the occasional center dowel all the way through, it's worked so far. I even saw on Ace of Cakes a couple weeks ago where Geof was cutting staws level in a bottom tier with scissors. If they can do it, so can I! 
That's my fear exactly, not getting them back and at that price! Or getting them back bent and damaged somehow - even with deposits stuff happens. 
I wish they would go on sale 
- then I would probably get the starter kit and end up not being able to live without them.
etigg82: I haven't had a problem with that - just right in the middle there is a bit of jagged wood, but it is so small and slight that it doesn't seem to make a difference. You just have to be sure to keep rolling the dowel until it is mostly cut through. Hope that helps!!
I buy the regular drinking straws at Costco in bulk. They are held in place by the cake and so no, they don't bend or give. A cylinder quite a load bearing shape unless it has been comprimised. When I was a kid my dad used to show us this... you can stand on an empty pop can (get up there gently) and it will hold you until someone dents the side then *smash*!
KoryAK and Steady2Hands: When you use the straws, do you also use a center dowel, or do you just stack the cakes on site? I would like to try this, but I will need to move the cake from my house to the party and I don't want it to topple or shift.
trombonekaren ~ I have stacked cakes 3 tiers high and have never used a center dowel. My MIL use to work for a wedding shop and she said they always used straws. The ones I use are the same size that McDonald's uses. The only time I assemble cakes on site is if they are on pillars. But if they are stacked (up to 3 tiers) I always transport them fully decorated. I keep non-skid shelving liner in my van to transport cakes on so they won't slide.
If you do transport them pre-assembled, be sure you're able to carry the weight of the whole cake. One that I made over the weekend was at least 60 lbs. Thankfully I had my DH here to carry it.
I had to have my boyfriend cut all me dowels and have now given up on wooden dowels. I have switched to these plastic ones that I buy. They are like giant wide drinking staws and I can cut them even with regular scissors. They are about 3/4 inch wide and the lenght of regualr dowels. I am never going back to wooden dowels.
Can you tell us where you buy them, please?
You can buy them on e-bay. Here's a link
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-Bag-Fat-Jumbo-Bubble-Boba-Pearl-Tea-Straws-Straw_W0QQitemZ4397073439QQihZ001QQcategoryZ38180QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
I have never used a center dowel and I will stack up to 4 layers prior to delivery. I just make sure its nice and cold before I go - and of course there is a blob of BC of RI under each cake to stick it to the next.
As for the number of straws, I usually do the diameter of the cake above plus 2-4 (ex. I would put 12-14 straws into a 12" cake that is getting a 10" stacked on top). Sometimes less or more if the cakes are particularly light or heavy.
shipleyc ~ I use the same number as Wilton recommends for their dowels.
KoryAK: You can really drive a stacked cake with no center dowel? Just a blob of buttercream? Have you ever had any slipping or sliding? I guess it is really the same as the blob of buttercream that holds the bottom cake to the cake plate, isn't it? I am going to give that a shot! Thanks!!
Yep, I do. Out of 172 wedding cakes I have only had 2 near disasters... the first one I had to slam on my brakes on the highway and the top tier (buttercream) slid off. I was able to repair it, but yes that one would have been saved if I had had a center dowel. The second was one was another brake slam and the entire cake (fondant) slid off of the plateau and landed leaning up against my back seat (station wagon). Even with all that the tiers did not slide off of each other.
One cake that it would have made a difference in out of 172 isn't worth the PIA to me 
(plus no center dowel makes it easier to serve)
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