Plastic Dowels Again!

Baking By nicksmom Updated 5 Sep 2007 , 1:09am by armywife1

nicksmom Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
nicksmom Posted 4 Sep 2007 , 5:21pm
post #1 of 7

are plastic dowels easy to cut with pruning shears?will I get a smooth straight edge,because I dont with the wooden dowels and I use the shears.is there an easier cutting tool for this? I want to use plastic dowels for the first time and want to snip them at the top of the cake with out taking them out.I have seen this with the straws on a video here.

6 replies
KoryAK Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
KoryAK Posted 4 Sep 2007 , 5:57pm
post #2 of 7

I think the plastic dowels are going to be too thick to snip off like straws... besides thats not the greatest idea anyway. They need to be level with each other, not each different part of the cake. The Ace of Cakes guys do it, but I know they also use a level on each layer. Even with that, I don't trust it tho. My fave tool for cutting those dowels is the hot wire tool that you get from Michaels for cutting styrofoam.

armywife1 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
armywife1 Posted 4 Sep 2007 , 6:08pm
post #3 of 7

i just used some bubble tea straws as dowels for my 3 tiered cake. they worked like a charm for me. cakes came out even and the straws are pretty wide and sturdy. the best part is they are easy to cut. i'll have to check out the hot wire tool, though. that will come in handy for cutting the long wooden dowel that has to run down the middle of all the tiers.

KimAZ Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
KimAZ Posted 4 Sep 2007 , 6:14pm
post #4 of 7

Hi,
I just used the plastic dowels for the first time on a 4 tier wedding cake and used a serrated knife to cut them. However, I will tell you that it wasn't a "clean" cut. The edges were pretty jagged and I was worried that it would matter. Luckily enough, it didn't and the cake was nice and level. But I don't think I'll use that kind of knife again.

I was thinking large pruning shear would work better on plastic than on wooden dowels. Maybe you can see how it works on a small piece you won't be using.

KimAZ

KimAZ Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
KimAZ Posted 4 Sep 2007 , 6:15pm
post #5 of 7

Hi,
I just used the plastic dowels for the first time on a 4 tier wedding cake and used a serrated knife to cut them. However, I will tell you that it wasn't a "clean" cut. The edges were pretty jagged and I was worried that it would matter. Luckily enough, it didn't and the cake was nice and level. But I don't think I'll use that kind of knife again.

I was thinking large pruning shear would work better on plastic than on wooden dowels. Maybe you can see how it works on a small piece you won't be using.

KimAZ

KoryAK Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
KoryAK Posted 4 Sep 2007 , 10:11pm
post #6 of 7

I don't think the hot tool will work on wooden dowels.

armywife1 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
armywife1 Posted 5 Sep 2007 , 1:09am
post #7 of 7

You're right KoryAK...DUHHHHHH!!! I completely misread that one!!! Of course it wouldn't work! Wood doesn't melt!!!! icon_rolleyes.gificon_lol.gif

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%