Do Many Of You Use Hidden Pillars?
Decorating By butternut Updated 31 Jul 2006 , 1:03am by cakesbyjess
Alrighty, I think that I want to try to tackle a stacked cake next. I love the idea of using a separator plate between the cakes instead of just using cardboard. I've read a little bit about the hidden pillars but I've never seen them. I understand that by using these pillars, you will have a space in between your cakes to place flowers, etc. However, I don't want a large space in between the different cakes. I just want to do a border on each cake and have it sit on top or very close to the cake below. Is there any way that I can cut the pillars at the bottom so that the pillars are fitting close to the top of the cake and then place the separator plate on them? I hope that I'm making some sense here. Actually, I think I'm starting to confuse myself 
Anyway, if anyone can understand what I'm trying to ask, I'd really appreciate any advice that you may have. Thanks so much.
Hidden pillars are the only kind of stacking system that I use ... I stopped using dowels years ago. They are extremely stable and can hold lots of weight. Yes, you can absolutely cut the hidden pillars so they don't stick up out of the cake. Here's what I do:
Hold a hidden pillar up to the side of the cake and use a marker to make a mark on the pillar just slightly below the top of the cake. Then, press the pillar down flat with the palm of your hand, so it's easier to cut. Use sharp scissors or a sharp serrated knife (saw back and forth) and cut the pillar straight across where you made the mark.
~I forgot to mention that you should lightly place the separator plate into the top of the cake to mark where the pillars should go~
Put the cut pillar down into the cake (make sure you push it straight down in ... it has the tendency to go in at somewhat of an angle) at one of the 4 spots you marked with the separator plate. I find that it works best if the top of the pillar sits a little below the top of the cake, not flush with the top of the cake. Then, pull the pillar back out (I find that clean needlenosed pliers work well for doing this) and cut the other three pillars so they are the exact same length as the first pillar.
After all 4 pillars are in the cake, just set the separator plate on the cake (with each little leg in a hidden pillar), and it should sit flush with the cake. If it sticks up at all, take the pillars out and trim them some. I often put one or two pieces of rolled up masking tape on top of the separator plate, to ensure that the cake being set on top of it won't move around at all (maybe a little overkill, but it gives me piece of mind 
)
Most importantly, make sure all 4 pillars are the exact same height. Otherwise, you defeat the purpose of the pillars and the tier sitting on top of them will not be completely level.
I hope this helps. I'm not very good at giving good instructions. 
Please ask if you need any clarification on any of the steps.
Sorry about all of the edits ... I kept thinking of things to add and/or clarify.
petitesweet - Thank you so much for the bump. I so appreciate that!
cakesbyjess - I really can't thank you enough for all the wonderful information. You explained it perfectly and I am extremely grateful to you. The only other question that I have is, do you use a board the exact size as your cake or is it larger? And lastly, how much larger is your separator plate than your cake? Alrighty, I do think that's it. Again, I just can't thank you enough. You have been a tremendous help!!!
Margie
butternut, I am so glad to help!! I have learned so much invaluable information on this website, and anytime I can help someone else, it makes me happy. 
I'm so glad to hear that my explanation made sense. I use a board and separator plate that are the same size as the cake (i.e., 8" cake = 8" board = 8" separator plate). That way, the board and separator plate are completely hidden. I just pipe a border at the bottom of each tier once the cake is put together. Sometimes, I even use a separator plate that is smaller than the cake. For example, if I have a 7" cake, I use a 6" separator plate. Also, I only own round separator plates. Wilton makes other shapes (squares, hexagons, hearts, etc.), but I never felt the need to buy them. The purpose of the separator plate is just to have something sturdy between the tiers, so it doesn't have the be the exact same size as the cake that's sitting on it.
Hope that helps! Any other questions, ask away!
butternut:
You can get plates the same size as your cake. I recently made a tiered cake, and made 6, 8 and 10 in layers. I put the 6 and 8 in tiers on 6 and 8 in plates, and you could barely see the edges. Your cake will always be about 1/4" smaller than the diameter of the pan you baked it in. But the frosting should fill in the gap. For example: I make a cake in a 6in pan. The cake will be only about 5 3/4 inches in diameter. So I add 1/4" frosting on the cake, and voila! A 6 in diameter cake.
I recently bought the stress free cake system, and I recommend it. The lady I bought it from is extremely friendly and helpful. See earlenescakes.com for details, or search the net under "stress free cake system" Very stable and worth every penny.
cakesbyjess - Alrighty, everything you said makes perfect sense. Your directions were perfect and very precise. Sometimes it's difficult to understand exactly how to do things if you've never seen anyone do it but with your instructions, I have no doubt that I can do this. My cake still won't look as professional as most of the pictures on this site but at least I know that it will be stable Hey, one thing at a time, right???? Again, THANK YOU sooooooo very much.
Karateka - Thank you also for your help. I bet you will love that stress free system. It looks like it would be wonderful.
The explanations given are very good and I agree with them 100%. Just thought I'd add that I don't use a board and a separator plate for each tier. I only use the seperator plate. I spread icing in the middle of the plate and then place the cake on top. That way you don't have to mess with cake circles at all. The cakes don't slide or crack...and you can still reuse the separator plates using this method, just wash them with soap and water and they'll be fine for the next cake.
fronklowes ... great idea! I don't know why I do that extra cake board step. I think it's because I transport my wedding cakes tier by tier, not all stacked. So, I tape the bottom of each each tier's cake board on a larger cake board that I can masking tape down to the floor in the back of my SUV. If I just used the separator plates, I guess I'd have to put each tier in a box. Something to think about, though. Do you transport your cakes in all one piece?
If the cake is just two tiers, sometimes I will transport that in one piece. I transport most of my cakes (not that I've done a ton) in separated tiers. I just pull out the back seat in my minivan and place the cakes on the carpeted floor of the van. I haven't had any problems with sliding. I even did a five-tier cake for a church a couple of weeks ago and transported it in three pieces down a really large hill and didn't have any problems. If you're scared of it sliding, just get some of that non-stick shelf liner that kind of looks like webbed thin foam and put it on the floorboard of your car first. That should keep it from sliding around. BTW--that stuff is also good for putting on your turntable to keep things from sliding around.
I should add that the reason I don't usually transport more than two tiers stacked at once isn't due to instability. The cakes are extremely stable with the hidden pillars. It's just that I'm not really strong and so when I stack three large tiers and try to carry them, I'm afraid I will drop them.
I remember reading, though, that someone on here takes a rolling cart and her husband with her and transports all of her cakes in one piece, entirely stacked and finished. They just roll the cake into the venue, lift it onto the table and leave.
I love the hidden pillars and also have used nothing else for years. After cutting the pillars to the height you need, if you let them stick up about 1/8" from the top of the cake when you put the tier on top the weight will push them in and this way you don't mess the frosting on the bottom cake up.
Does this make sense? Good luck with the hidden pillars & let us kow how you like them. I don't think you will ever go back to dowels again! 
butternut ... You're very welcome! Good luck and let us know how it goes!
fronklowes ... thanks for the info. I think I may try to deliver a wedding cake put together one of these times. It is so stressful to get to the reception site and have to put it together there. It would be so great to just drop it off all set up.
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