I read everything people have written about using dowels for there stacked cakes but still havent gotten it. SO if you have a four layer cake you put like four dowels in the bottom layer than put the second layer on top of that to puch into the dowels, and repeat for all layers. Then since its four layers you have to pu one large dowel through the entire cake? Won't that leave a large whole on the top of the top layer? And How do people cut it with all those dowels in it?
Thanks everyone for awnsering my SO MANY QUESTIONS!!! 
There are two types of dowels. There are the large pillar ones, that you use to separate tiers, and then there are the small wooden dowels (about the width of a pencil) that you use to support the next tier. If you have four tiers, you will probably need more than four dowels in the bottom tier, and less as you go up. The last dowel does go down through the entire cake if it is stacked but the dowels really don't take up a lot of room. You do need to either have someone who knows how to dis-assemble the cake there, or at least has been instructed on how to remove each tier and the dowels. It's not as complicated as it seems - you'll get it.
There are different methods for different people.....here's what I do.
Assuming a 4 tier cake of 14-12-10-8.
Bottom tier, 14": I put 4 or 5 wooden dowels in the cake. The dowels are cut off even with the top of the cake.
Next tier, 12": I always put a separator plate under each tier, so the 12" plate will sit on top of the 14" cake. The dowels in the 14" cake will support the 12" cake. Insert 4 dowels into the 12" cake. The dowels are cut off even with the top of the cake.
Next tier, 10": Same as the 12".
Next tier, 8": set the 8" cake (that is on a plate) on top of the 10" cake. The 8" cake will be supported by the dowel rods.
I always assemble on site so I never use the one big rod that runs thru the entire cake. I know some decorators don't use separator plates between each tier, but use 2 cardboards, wrapped in foil or wax paper. Once it's assembled, I then add my borders and any add'l decorating or touch ups.
When the cake is ready to be cut, the top tiers are removed (I always cut the large, bottom tier first) and the dowel rods are pulled out prior to cutting.
There are some variations on the method(s) used, so as you receive other suggestions and methods, you'll have a few to choose from to select one that will work best for you.
Indydebi-
Do you also use this method for stacked cakes? Is there a different method for topsy turvy ones?
I just did my first stacked/doweled cake this weekend. Everything went perfect, but it did raise a question. I had stacked an 8 on top of a 10. I did use a center dowel. I had bought the longest dowels that they had in Michaels/Hobby Lobby, but I realized that had I had another layer to stack that my dowel would not have been long enough to stand up through all of the layers. I realize that is should be a bit shorter than the total of the stacked cake. What do you do when you have a cake that is taller? Not use a center dowel? Is there another trick out there?
when using a center dowel dont you create a hole on the top of the top layer? what if you have a design on the top layer wont that ruin it?
coolmom-
thats a good question too!! Anyone????
No one has answered yet on my tall cake question, so I guess I will just keep wondering 
But, I can answer the other two..
I used a hammer and tapped the center dowel right through the cake and the cardboard circle it was sitting on.
Yes, it does leave a pencil size hole in the very top layer, but you can just plug the little hole with a little bit of left over icing and no one will be able to tell
so, if i'm a newbie to doweling - like as in i only make tortes, not torted cakes - i'm making a chocolate cake with a standard 9" round pan. if i use two layers (two cakes basically) about 2" thick a piece, with about 1" of fruit in between the cake layers - Do i need to dowel?
so, if i'm a newbie to doweling - like as in i only make tortes, not torted cakes - i'm making a chocolate cake with a standard 9" round pan. if i use two layers (two cakes basically) about 2" thick a piece, with about 1" of fruit in between the cake layers - Do i need to dowel?
No, you don't dowel a tier of cake that is 2 of the same size. That's just a 2 layer 9" cake. That's a lot of fruit filling!
artery-please do not put an inch of fruit between cakes. You will have a slippery mess that slides all over your shower. The filling should only be a thin layer. You do not need to dowel a normal cake-two layers plus filling unless you are putting another cake of two layers and one filling on top.
I just did my first center dowled cake this last weekend and boy was I nervous pokin' that dowel through (fall leaves cake in my pics). I did the cake with a friend and I just stood there for a minute holding the dowel in one hand and the hammer in another. Finally my friends husband had to do it for me. Just too nervous, but it went like butter. I was so glad we decided to do it too b/c the cake slid a little in the car. The dowel was a little too short to get all the way to the bottom but he just took a second dowel on top of the first one and kept hammering until he hit bottom. It worked great. My last concern is this, I usually cover my boards in contact paper so will the dowel still go through that? I didn't do it on this cake since this was my first time using this method. Anyone ever do this with contact paper successfully? Sorry so long.
hhastings...as for the tall cake. Home Depot and Lowes have taller dowel rods that you can use for taller cakes. As for putting the dowel through the top tier. If you do not want a hole in the top of the cake that you have to repair, then before you put the top tier on, insert the dowel rod through the bottom tiers. Example...you have a four tier cake...cut the dowel rod that will fit all four tiers, (just make sure it's not so tall that it will poke through the top tier) then insert it into three bottom tiers and put the top tier onto the dowel rod that is sticking up. (make sure you punch a hole through the cake board before you place it onto the dowel rod) I hope this makes sense!! Let me know how this works for you.
Patrice
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%