So I had my final class for Wiltons Gumpaste and Fondant course. I made a 6" square WASC filled with strawberry filling... I made my buttercream and added what i thought was a lot of extra sugar to my bc to make a stiff dam, and i did a 2 layer dam, but the stupid filling still bulged out the side... grrrrr... Any suggestions or tips on filling would be greatly appreciated.

Just a suggestion-- Make sure your dam is not right on the edge of the cake, it should be set in some. also after I have dammed and filled and placed the top layer on I take my hand an gently push down all the way around. One of our members here said she places a book on top overnight. I also wait overnight to do the final icing/fondant. That way the cake has time to settle and if there is any bulging I take my spatula and clean it off.
When I edited I noticed that you did a 2 layer dam, just do 1 time around with a #12 tip.

Jibbies

I used to have a lot of trouble with this too.
I'm not sure if you mean that the you could see strawberry coming through the frosting or if it was just a bulge of something under the frosting but...it sounds like your dam was too high. You really only need about 1/2 inch or so. I use the plastic coupler without a tip on it to do my dam.
Also, gently push down the top layer when you first put it on so that you can see if there will be any bulging.
If your cakes are frozen or chilled when you stack them, give them time after crumb coating to settle fully.

Stop eating your cakes??

But seriously.. my method is similar to Jibbies.. I don't wait overnight, because some fillings require refrigeration and it would make the icing firm up and not really let the cake settle. But do press on your layers as you stack them.. and if you can let it sit out for a while to settle. Making sure your filling layers aren't too thick helps a lot too. I torte my cakes so there is 4 layers of cake and 3 layers of filling and my filling layers are a tinge over 1/8 inch thick. If you only do one layer of filling make sure it's no more than 1/4 inch thick.

Thanks. I do make sure my dam is in about 1/4 - 1/2 inch from the edge of the cake. It was a pretty thick layer of filling so that is probably my issue with this particular cake. My 2 layer dam was probably close to an inch tall. I also was in a huge rush so i torted, filled, crumb coated and covered with fondant in less than 20 minutes. Not a normal procedure, but it was for a class and i was in a hurry.

Stop eating the cake... but thats the best part

Thanks again for your tips... i just need to keep practising - this was only my 4th or 5th filled cake ever.

Jkalman - i am making my b-day cake this weeked and i am very excited to try your SMBC!

Here is a different way. It may or may not work for you.
Nothing against the dam, but, I stopped doing the "dam" thing, years ago ! That is one less step!

I make sure my layers are cut level.
I put less filling in the cake, about 1/2 inch from the edge. When I put the top layer on the filling, it spreads it out and the small edge area is filled with icing when I ice the cake. I used to always put too much filling in the cake. I taught myself to stop doing that!
I check with a level on top, cover with saran wrap and
let the cake rest over night or at least a few hours after filling. Use a good firm icing (like sugarshacks ) on your cake before you cover with fondant.

The best results I've had are after buying Sugarshack's buttercream DVD. There is a section on there about getting rid of the bulge and it's helped me out tremendously. Plus, her stiff icing recipe does the trick too!

The thick filling layer was your issue then..

Cindi.. I'd have a hard time thinking that would work for something like a fruit puree or a pastry cream.. but for flavored buttercreams I sometimes skip the dam too.

jkalman, Hello,

You are correct, it would not work with a runny filling.

I mainly use the "sleeve" commercial fillings and the "No dam" method works quite well for me.