1. Questions about stacked cakes. I've read the article on this site about it. So just for clarification... The middle layer is on a cake board on top of dowel rods sitting on the bottom layer right? Then the first (top) layer is on a separator plate on top of dowel rods sitting on the middle layer. That's what I gathered from it.
2. What size dowel rods do you use? Does it depend on the size of the cake layers? If you use bigger sized dowels, can you use less rods in the cake? How do you get all your dowel rods exactly the same height?
3. Does the type of support (cake board, separator plate, etc.) and covering ( foil, freezer paper, etc.) have any effect on how the actual cake turns out?
Sorry so many ?'s. I'm just starting out here. 
1. Yes ~ you need support for each tier. That includes a separater plate and dowels for each tier. An exception for the top tier: if there will be a heavy object on the top tier it will also need to be doweled and the object supported to keep it from crushing the cake.
2. My preference is straws b/c they are easy to cut. They haven't failed me yet. Others prefer wooden dowels.
3. Yes ~ the cake could collapse without proper support. If you use cardboard be sure it is completely covered (top & bottom). If not covered, the cardboard will soak up moisture. Pressure from above tiers will push the uncovered cardboard through the dowels and will also cause the cake to collapse.
So you're just starting out? You've come to the right place! 
I have heard other people mention straws. You mean regular disposable plastic drinking straws? Do you use a lot of them to support the next cake? Those cakes get really heavy!
I hate trying to get the dowels exactly even. I think straws would be much easier, I like the concept!
I know there are alot of people who like to use straws (yes, they are talking about the regular disposable straws), but they didn't work for me. My cake didn't hold up....I don't know, maybe I didn't do it right, or use enough straws? I'll stick with the regular wooden dowels for now. I think the main thing is to find what works for you. 
I started with wooden dowels but they were a pain for me. My husband would cut them with a power saw. Most of the time though, I would need them in the late night hours 
and I wouldn't wake him to cut the dowels.
My MIL is a former cake decorator who worked for a wedding business/bakery. They always used straws. At first I was hesitant but after struggles with the wood I gave the straws a try. I've been using them ever since.
You mean regular disposable plastic drinking straws?
Yes
Do you use a lot of them to support the next cake?
I use the same amount as you see in the instructions for doweling.
I bought a bunch of packages on eBay. You can also get them on the following website. They are $1.99 a pkg.
http://www.bubbleteasupply.com/store/store.php3?item_id=2
You can also do a search on the internet for more places to purchase.
I always use wood. You can buy a tool at Lowe's for about $10 that looks like plyers...they cut right through the wood with about 5 squeezes of the handle. My best advice is to try the two methods and see which one you like the best...
How in the world do drinking straws not collapse? The drinking straws I buy are very flimsy. It doesn't seem logical that they could support a multi-layer cake.
It doesn't make sense to me either but I trusted my MIL's advice (she's a good MIL 
). It sure has saved me a lot of headaches.
So, if you use bubble straws to support the cake, what do you use to keep the layers from shifting? Do you still stick a dowel down the center?
I really like the hidden pillars, just because of the fact that I know that the cakes won't move and I can transport the cakes seperately. I don't like that it is harder to get them the same exact length.
You can buy the Wilton dowel rods that come in a package in the cake decorating section. Or if you prefer, you can buy longer ones in the craft section at Walmart and cut those down. You'll have to check the diameter on the wilton one's....I don't remember their size...to get something comparable.
Hi,
Recently I got Sylvia Weinstocks Sweet Celebrations and she uses drinking straws to stack cakes, if I was not sleepy when I read the book. And her cakes can be meterhigh.
I thought I would stick to my wooden dowels but try to insert them into a drinking straw so the cake would not touch the dowel whenever I will do a tiered cake.
Then she had a building cake picture and structure, there the dowels were wooden rods and the bases were plywood.
Even if I stack 3 tiers of a light sponge filled with mousse I do not want to rely on drinking straws if I am selling the cake.
Wish you all good luck. Niki
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