I am making a stacked clown cake, a 9 inch layer cake, a 8 inch layer cake, and a ball cake. I need to travel with it assembled, so I need to try putting a dowel rod through the center of the cake. How thick should the rod be?? How do I sharpen the point?? Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!!

I would say atleast a 1/4 inch. You can use a sander to sharpen, a utility knive works too, or pre poke your wholes and you wont have to sharpen.

I use 1/4" dowels and sharpen the end with a pencil sharpener that hasn't been used for any pencils. The reason that you want it sharpened is that you want to hammer it down through the bottom board too.

I had this same question a couple of years ago and I couldn't believe how easy it is.

I bought a 1/2 dowel, sharpened with a cheap little kiddie pencil sharpener and then I hammered it through 4 layers of cake and 3 pieces of foam board. I was scared to death when I did it.........but it really works. I couldn't believe how sturdy the cake was and how easily it went through all the cake and foam.

I highly recommend this.