Center Dowel Rod Needed?

Decorating By Carson Updated 14 Jun 2007 , 2:51am by Carson

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Carson Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 7:58pm
post #1 of 23

I am making a 6" round cake that is 5" high (2 2" and 1 1" layer) with daisies attached to wires stuck in the middle. This cake was ordered for the weekend. My question is do I have to put a dowel rod in the middle? I was reading about the cake and it said to put one in. I'm not sure if it is necessary. If it is necessary, I was hoping you guys could tell me why, is it because of the 3 layers or the flowers?

22 replies
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notjustcake Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:08pm
post #2 of 23

I believe u only need it for multiple tiered cakes

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Carson Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:11pm
post #3 of 23

THanks, this is what I thought. The instructions said this and I wasn't sure of the reason. I don't want to ignore something that is important!

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cruizze Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:15pm
post #4 of 23

I think it's for the flowers. The wire would just tear the cake, especially if you weigh it down with things dangling from the wire.

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yh9080 Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:17pm
post #5 of 23

When in doubt, I always dowel. Since your cake is 5" high, I would go ahead and dowel, since you will have the added weight of the flowers and since I assume that the customer will be picking up. You never know how they will drive/handle the cake.

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yh9080 Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:17pm
post #6 of 23

When in doubt, I always dowel. Since your cake is 5" high, I would go ahead and dowel, since you will have the added weight of the flowers and since I assume that the customer will be picking up. You never know how they will drive/handle the cake.

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2508s42 Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 9:27pm
post #7 of 23

I agree with yh9080

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Carson Posted 5 Jun 2007 , 3:50am
post #8 of 23

I was thinking that Cruizze. So what is the trick to this? How would a dowel rod prevent the wires from cutting through the cake?

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Tartacadabra Posted 5 Jun 2007 , 8:12am
post #9 of 23

Hi, the center dowel in the middle is meant for the cake to stay stable, so that it won´t slide. I don´t think it has anything to do with the flowers on wires, I always put these wires in a straw, so that they won´t move inside the cake or carve it.
For such a high cake I would also seperate the tiers in different layers and use dowels in between them.

Goodluck with your cake, sounds really nice the design!!

Pd. sorry for my bad english, I am Dutch icon_smile.gif

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Carson Posted 5 Jun 2007 , 2:44pm
post #10 of 23

Ok guys, so what if I used a straw through the middle? Would that not "stabilize" the layers and give me something to put the wire into so they don't cut the cake up? A lot of people use straws instead of dowels (however, I have never) so I am! Thanks for all your help, I love CC!!

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Carson Posted 5 Jun 2007 , 2:52pm
post #11 of 23

Just giving myself a bump! I will obsess until I know! icon_lol.gif

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MandyE Posted 5 Jun 2007 , 2:55pm
post #12 of 23

Yes, a straw through the middle would be perfect for what you are trying to do. Would love to see a pic when you finish. I've been wanting to do a simple, elegant 'tall' cake lately for some reason. icon_smile.gif

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Carson Posted 5 Jun 2007 , 3:00pm
post #13 of 23

I will post a picture! I encouraged this cake to the client because I wanted to try it! LOL. He was going to get one that I've done before, but I really wanted something different!

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Carson Posted 11 Jun 2007 , 4:18pm
post #14 of 23

Thanks for all your help! Here is a pic of the finished cake as promised! I think it turned out good, but most important the customer thought it was great! thumbs_up.gif
LL
LL

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lanesmom Posted 11 Jun 2007 , 7:48pm
post #15 of 23

Very cute!

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2508s42 Posted 12 Jun 2007 , 2:38am
post #16 of 23

love it!! Great job.

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gabbenmom Posted 12 Jun 2007 , 5:24am
post #17 of 23

That is so cute! I love your use of colors!

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NewbeeBaker Posted 12 Jun 2007 , 1:00pm
post #18 of 23

I love it! Your daisies are so pretty...no wonder you wanted to do that cake=) Jen

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MandyE Posted 12 Jun 2007 , 5:20pm
post #19 of 23

Adorable! And great name! icon_biggrin.gif

Hmmm, maybe hubby will have to get a flower cake for his birthday. icon_wink.gif hee-hee!

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Carson Posted 12 Jun 2007 , 6:26pm
post #20 of 23

Thanks everyone and sorry I attached the picture twice, don't know what happened! The cake itself really didn't look like much and then I attached the daisies, and wow, what a difference! I was so scared the daisies would fall off the wire though, but they made it! thumbs_up.gif

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texasseegirl Posted 13 Jun 2007 , 4:42pm
post #21 of 23

What a fun cake - I love it!

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iluvcakes5 Posted 13 Jun 2007 , 6:50pm
post #22 of 23

Your cake looks so cute!!!! So what did you end up doing???? Did you dowel rod it? Or did you use straw? If straw - what kind? Also, what type of wire did you use?
CUTE CUTE CAKE!!!

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Carson Posted 14 Jun 2007 , 2:51am
post #23 of 23

I just ended up stealing a couple drinking straws from my kids stash, one wasn't wide enough to get all the wires in, so I put two side by side. I used floral wire, 22 gage. I twisted two lengths together b/c I was worried one wasn't strong enough.

The straws worked great, no problems! I put the daisies in Sat morning, dropped the cake off and the customer gave it to his girlfriend Sun night, no flowers fell off or anything! icon_biggrin.gif - Can you tell I worry a lot about cakes holding up? I have never had a diaster but am waiting for mine!

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