The only time one can get away without using supports is if the top tier is a 6” or smaller one because there is little weight to those small sizes I know not everyone agrees with me on that Some will insist that *every* cake that has more than one tier needs to be doweled Some say to use one support for each inch of the cake going on top ie: 6 dowels to support a 6” cake That is overkill There is little cake left it’s so full of holes LOL Three plastic drink straws placed in a triangle is more than enough to hold a small cake w/o a problem:) I suggest you do research on this on YiuTube There are many good videos to help you understand things like this
I am a "better safe than sorry" type of person so I would suggest you use supports in your lower tier to hold the weight of the upper tier. I do agree with kakeladi that 3 straws is enough to support the weight but me, personally, would be a panicky mess if I didn't use anything. Not sure about other 6" round cakes, but mine definitely have some weight to them where I feel like they would 100% cause issues if not supported properly.
The most important thing about your supports is that they all need to be the same length. So insert one support, make a mark on where to cut it and then mark the rest of the straws at the same point. This way you are guaranteed your top tier will be level. Also make sure when you insert them into the cake you are doing so straight up and down and not at an angle. Definitely check out youtube, there are loads of videos that can help you.
I am definitely one of those crazies to who kakeladi is referring! Like Freckles0829, my 6" cakes, which are almost always taller than they are wide, definitely have some heft to them. I am also in the camp of one support for each inch of tier being supported, i.e. six straws to support a 6" diameter tier. It would never enter my mind to stack without supports.
i’ve never heard of anyone being sorry that they put supports in — but the opposite is grieved deeply and often
From fellow posters said: ..........The most important thing about your supports is that they all need to be the same length............Also make sure when you insert them into the cake you are doing so straight up and down and not at an angle........i’ve never heard of anyone being sorry that they put supports in .........
All good advice that not previously mentioned. So true about supports all needing to be the same and inserted *straight*! When I was teaching I would have the students put the cake on a turntable; insert supports just about 1"-1 1/2" deep & turn the turntable *slowly* all the way around so they see that they were going in straight & if needed, varry the pressure of the push to straighten, then repeat and repeat untill all the way in. When you are just learning how to properly place suppots this help you 'feel' it & you soon learn how to insert w/o needing to 'slowly' do it :)
BTW Ash-Lee if you are a new member on this board you will not be able to reply to any post - including this one. If you wish to say something or ask other ?s just make a new post refering to this one. After about 30 days you will suddenly be able to reply. Don't be shy about making another post :)
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