I am worrying about a giant cake I'm working on (18/16/14/12/9/6). I've never used SPS, but have all of the components and will be using it for a 6-tier BC wedding cake this weekend. The cake will be assembled on a silver cart which will then be wheeled out into a courtyard, not to mention that it has to travel over horrible country roads to get to the reception site in the first place!! The first (bottom) tier is 18" I can't make myself believe that my 16" tier will be stable and strong enough on a single cardboard on top of the SPS system and still be strong enough to support itself and the additional 4 tiers sitting on top of it........Has anyone done this and do I need a double or triple cardboard under the on top of the SPS? Please advise becase I'm going just a tiny bit crazy doubting everything!!!!
I used SPS on a large cake in August. It was 18, 16, 12, 9 and 6, and weighed 90 pounds. You can see it in my photos. You put the cardboards on plates. I only used 1, but I guess you could use more if you had a border to cover them!
I did assemble the cake on site.
Jodie
The plates have "legs" that support them, the legs go thru the cake and rest on that cake's cake board-that's not making sense, I know. You don't want to double the cardboard circles because the little peg that fits into the center of each layer's base circle isn't that long, and I think it would compromise the stability. You said you have all the components...jam the legs onto a plate and feel it...it's really sturdy.
I would pm leahs for COMPLETE information, but I'd bet the SPS will hold up. She says it will support a cake as large as you can carry!
I LOVE this system...and have transported a wedding cake- assembled in two pieces-16, 14, 10, and 8, 6, and I had to travel down a curvey gravel road.
HTH
No problem Mencked...if it weren't for CC, I'd still be ordering cakes from Publix 
!
Leepat,
Are they the scored legs? If so, I have used a serrated kitchen knife, it's a little difficult, but not too bad. If they aren't scored, I've used my husband's Dremel (sp?) Tool. leahs used a hack saw I think...BUT she really advocates just baking to the right height...so far that's not something that I've been able to master 
. HTH!
I didn't read all the posts but I would get the guys at the hardware store to cut me some 3/4 inch or 1 inch dowel, wood dowel to use in those bottom two tiers--I mean they stand on end on the counter by themselves--you virtually cannot tip them inside the cake--the plates would have to deconstruct for anything to fall.
They of course are not placed around the perimeter of the cake above but under the area where they will bear the weight of the cake above.
I would coat them in wax or wrap them in food safe foil to prevent any musty flavor to impart to cake that touches the dowel.
Your plate is very important too--masonite for those big tiers.
Is there anyway you can assemble it onsite? Something that large sounds terrifying to drive with-I would have a panic attack by the time I got to the venue! lol
My entire "worry" problem is that I'm using SPS for the first time. I've made large cakes before, always used masonite or double cardboard under my huge layers and a combination of dowels and those wilton plastic tubes for support. I just needed someone to reassure me that SPS is going to be able to withstand all of that pressure from the heavy layers above. Thanks again guys!!!
The SPS is FAR superior to dowels. The legs are tightly ATTACHED to the plate...there is NO chance of shifting. Believe me, this system has reduced my stress level when delivering STACKED cakes by at least 90%. I mean, I guess, if somebody rear-ended you, and the back of your vehicle was pushed into the cake there'd be a "cake-tastrophe", but this system really removes that "Oh, my gosh, am I going to make that light?", and "I sure hope I took that corner slowly enough" feeling.
Mencked, if you are still concerned, I again advise you to pm leahs, she is a wealth of information on this system. The first time I used it I probably pm's her 6 times...one of the messages went something like this; Me-"You're telling me that that tiny hole in the cardboard circle will sit on the peg in the plate, and this will keep my cake in place . leahs- "Yep, that's what I'm saying...trust me, it won't slide..." and I have not had one cake shift even a fraction.
Kathy
I thought I'd let everyone know how my monster wedding cake turned out. Thanks for all of your reassurances and help!
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1272309.html
Wow - I'd have sure doubted those teensy little leggies on that plateau too!!!
Beautiful work.
That would be good ol southern hospitality Oklahoma style 
. I purchased from oassis supply. They were really good to get the SPS here by the date I needed and I think their shipping was free for orders over a certain amount. I'll order from them again for sure!
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