Dowels And Cardboard Vs. Separator Plates?!?!
Decorating By JenLen Updated 26 Sep 2007 , 1:11am by golfgirl1227
OK, I have never made a tiered cake before but would like to attempt one this week. I have read so much information about dowels and cardboard dividers between layers and also about using separator plates, but I was wondering when you use each. Is there a "protocal" for when you should one versus the other?? Do you use separator plates and those plastic dowels only for tiered cakes that have space between layers??? Do you use dowels and cardboard when no space is between layers??? Or is it really just a matter of preference??
Any help in clarifying this for me would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!
Thanks so much!
For me, it depends on what look I want. If I'm tiering, I use cardboard and dowels so that when I put my border down, the cardboard is completely hidden and looks like the top tier is sitting directly on the bottom tier. If I want space between tiers, I use separator plates and pillars. Don't know if that helps, just MHO.
AJsGirl - THANKS for the reply!!!! So if I understand what you are saying.....if you want a space between layers....go with the separator plates and pillars. If you want your top tier to be resting right on the lower tier.....you can just use dowels and cardboard? Is that right?
Thanks again!!!!
First, I never use plastic dowels. Unless you can guarantee your cakes will always be the same height.....? I use wooden ones that can be cut to the exact size I need.
For a stacked (cake-on-cake .... no space between pillars), I tend to use a plastic plate AND a cardboard. I've only recently ventured into just dowels and cardboard (boy, these CC'ers can really be an influence on you!) and that works ok, too. In general, I prefer the extra stability the plastic plate offers (or the feeling of reassurance I get because I THINK its providing extra stability! 
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It's personal preference and your comfort level.
Well, as most of you know by know, I only use SPS which is a plastic plate and pillar system. I haven't cut a dowel in years. And yes, I can guarantee that my tiers will all be close enough to the same height that I don't have to cut the plastic columns. If I want separatins between the tiers I use a 7" column. If I want a stacked cake, I use a 4" column. Easy, sturdy, cheap. Everything I'm looking for!
I use plastic plates and disposable push-in pillars. For stacked cakes, I cut them to the right height using a pvc cutter tool that works like scissors. My cakes are even, so I cut them all the same height, so that the plastic plate sits upon, but does not rest any of the weight upon, the cake below. A little parchment paper keeps the icing from sticking to the plate when it is removed for serving.
For tiered cakes, I cut the pillars to the height I need to create the space I want.
For stacked cakes, I drill a 1 1/2" hole in the center of the separator plate. After all the tiers are stacked, I dowel the entire cake with a 1/2" or so sharpened dowel. (The PVC cutter also cuts dowels.)
The bonus is that the plates and pillars are cheap, I use Coast plates and pillars, so I just add the cost to the cake and nobody has to worry about returning anything!
My cakes are decorated and iced on cardboards, then I just slide the cake onto the plastic plate to position. Tilting the angled spatula gives you a way to adjust the cake once it is on the plate. You can even remove it and reposition it if you are not happy with the position. Great for stacking onsite!
Personal preference plays the biggest role in which method to use, I believe.
One of the reasons I like SPS best is the peg in the center of the plate that grabs the cardboard above (which in turn is under the cake being stacked). If you get the plate and column assembly into the cake centered, then you don't have to worry about your cake above being centered, because it has to be centered--there's just no place else it can go. Also, there is absolutely, positively no need for a center dowel. You can stack and transport as much as you can lift.
Well, after my first and hopefully last caketastrophe, I decided I would be using plates and columns from now on, and decided to go with the SPS because of leahs and the other CCer users. I can't wait to try it!
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