I'm making a drum set cake. I am confident that I can pull it off, but this will be my first time building a custom stand. Is wood the best material for the base? How would I attach the pipes to the wood? Screws? Glue?

Any info/tips you can give me would be great! TIA!!

If you go to your local hardware store and ask about threaded pipe and they should also have a piece (mind is blank right now) that can be screwed into your round board to act as support. Some places will have it in PVC also, but not everywhere. I love going to my local True Value and Lowes and just wander around looking at things and what I can use them for. HTH

A flange right? I've just been doing some googling and that's what I've come up with too. Thanks!!

Also try Home Depot for PVC.

Screwing the hardware down to the plywood is the strongest.

But somebody with actual experience of using metal hardware on cakes should comment here...because I am not sure it's food safe.

You can't use normal metal (iron) pipes because they rust, brass and copper will cost you an arm and a leg, and galvanized may or may not be safe for food...look for PVC if at all possible.

I personally use all acrylic and superglue. You can buy acrylic screws too.

I buy acrylic sheets and rods and tubes from the Canadian wholesale. They have "Industrial Plastics" in their name.

You need to google your local supplier. The sheets come 48" x 96" and the rods/tubes come 96" long. If you can make a trip to the place, then you can see what they have in their scrap bin for a lower price.

Check out this demonstration by Cami5271 over on the Wilton forums for her pipe and flange system.

http://www.wilton.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=4&threadid=152210