When do you add support to cakes...and what do you use...dowels or straws?
I made a 8 inch round cake and stacked a 6 inch cake on top..i didnt use supports on that one and it was fine...(spiderman cake in my pics)

But now I want to make a 10 inch square, and stack an 8, 6, 4 on top.
I want to make a pyramid ...Something like this...do you think it needs support?

Also...I dont think I can carve a 'stair step'..so I think I will bake another layer 1 -2 inch and just layer it on....

http://jumpinmonkies.livejournal.com/33479.html?view=166599#t166599

A cake always needs support if it's stacked. Every 4 inches you should have some support in it.
Edna

You were just lucky on that 8/6 stacked. You won't continue to be lucky.
Edna is correct as always. Every 4 vertical inches, cakes need support. You can go 5" for tall tiers, but that's about all.
I use SPS. I gave up dowels years ago, and never tried straws, since SPS works so well.

wow..thanks!!!
glad i was lucky!!!

I saw your youtube video Edna on stacking cakes!!!
Loved it!

Can either of you help me with this cake I have to make?
I have a 10 inch pan....and a 6 inch pan (both square)
I dont want to carve a stair step if I dont have to....Im so scared of carving and it crumbling etc. Even though it is all straight lines.

If I bake one layer of a 10 inch cake (2 inches high)..then another layer 8 inches cake...and then 6 and then 4...should i add support after every layer?

Leah_s..I will look at the SPS system now...thanks!!!
If I do use dowels is there a particular width i need?

Thanks a lot!!!

Also..just as a side note...this cake is for kids...and i always think that kids will prefer BC as opposed to MMF...what do you think? That is also my hesitation with this cake...

I dont know how other people do it, but when I have cakes each of them in different sizes, I usually support each cake. Usually the size I use for my support system is the size of a bubble straw. At least for smaller cakes.
Edna

Thanks Edna for your reply!!!
I appreciate it a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!