I'm making a massive wedding cake for DH's best friend in 2 weeks and to err on the side of caution, I've decided to use SPS for support and stack on site but am not sure how to deal with the styrofoam separators:

The cake is square and has short (2"), reg (4"), and tall (8") tiers and is 6-8-6(styro)-10-8(styro)-12(tall tier)-10(styro)-14(short tier)-16

I also attached a drawing to help explain better. I know I need to use the sps under each styro, and one hidden in the middle of the tall tier, I just am not sure if I need to use SPS or maybe even just the wilton hollow dowels in the styrofoam separators since the cake is so tall & heavy?

Also, is it really hard to cut the sps columns to the height of the short tier?

Thanks!

I can try to explain but first, this saw it THE GREATEST for cutting SPS or wood dowels, just be cautious, it can cut off you finger too!

http://www.harborfreight.com/bench-top-cut-off-saw-42307.html

No columns in the styro are needed. You can cut holes in the styro and put the columns in the holes but I do it like I have described below.


Put the sps plate on to of the botton tier as usual. Separately, say your bottom styro is 10", attach a 10 inch cake cardboard to the top and the bottom of the styrofoam. I use 3 nails with heads because hot glue will just melt the stryo.
I then hot glue the cardboard covered stryo or carpet tape it, to the SPS plate. You can then hot glue another sps plate to the top of the stryo and assemble as if it were in real cake.
If you can't understand my explanation, I will gladly draw it out and email it to you.
When needing a short column, Use the 9" scored columns and it is easier to cut them.

I think I understand what you're saying... but does that mean I need to cut holes in the top cardboard first to accommodate the pegs on the SPS plate I would then hot glue on top?

yes, but shallow ones will work.
Hope to see the final product!

Oh geez, I explain an easier way in the SPS thread. Top of the cake decorating forum.

Thanks cakequeen for the advice..

Leah, I read your method in the SPS thread but I don't think that would work for my situation since I have to stack on site (cake won't fit in SUV stacked nor can I imagine having to lift all that weight at once) and I can't imagine doing all that additional set-up of skewering and then setting up the SPS plates at the reception with the added time constraint of participating in the ceremony (at a church 20 min away). I also wouldn't be able to skewer through the double barrel tier unless I did it before it was even stacked before the fondant, also, that would mean I'd have to travel with a double barrel tier on a smaller styro separator base making it top heavy for about 100 miles across some hilly highways and I am definitely not brave enough to try that!

This is why I asked this question, to try and get some helpful information, for this particular cake and situation.

However, if the situation was different (delivering stacked, shorter cake, shorter distance, have more time for set-up) I may try the skewer method in the future.