I only have regular pillars, but do not want to use the plate on the bottom tier. Can I just push the pillars through the bottom tier and put the plate on top of them? I never used pillars before and I am all confused. I hope someone can help. Thanks.

Yeeah, I think you can. I'm certain I saw something like that on Wilton's website.

I looked on the Wilton site, but I only saw the push-in pillars without the plate on the bottom. However, I saw cakes on CC which had fondant bottom tiers, pillars and no plate on the bottom. I am trying to figure it out...Confusing...

Anyone? PLEASE!!!

What pillars do you have? If you have the standard wilton grecian ones that are round but have square ends then yes, i suppose it would work but you are gonna displace a lot of extra cake with that square part. If you have some other brand that is more straight up and down (like bakery craft) then it is no problem at all.

My pillars are Wilton with the square ends, but the bottom end detaches and it can be taken off or pulled to the other one, so it would fit on top of the bottom tier after the pillar is inserted.

Could you put dowels into the bottom cake exactly where the pillars will hit so they actually rest on them? I wouldn't set it up ahead tho ~ only once you are at the final cake table.

That would not work since the pillars are hollow.

If you have the Wilton pillars where the bottom square pulls off, those are meant to be used as push in pillars. If yours do not remove, I do not suggest using them as they will leave gaping holes in the surface of your cake! Not to mention that you would have to dig out the cake you had pushed down, or it wouldn't be stable... the pillar would be teetering on a pile of smooshed cake in the hole.

Melvira - so, in fact, if I understood correctly what you said, I had the push in pillars all this time!?! Boy, do I have a lot to learn...

Well, I knew I would get the answer here. Thank you, everyone, for prompt and meaningful help. Exactly what I needed.

Just noticed you're originally from Croatia... I will always love Croatia for one dark, lovely reason... Goran Visnjic!! I'd love to visit there though.

At the moment, I feel like I can start a forum called: My dumbest moments - and I could fill it with my "smart" questions about cake decorating. I was told once that HR professionals are people without imagination and since I took interest in cake decoration I tend to agree with it. I want to have imagination and know things that were not written about in the management books!!! Please, keep up with me! I'll be good! No more questions for now from me.

Oh puh-leeeese! You think that is the dumbest question anyone has asked? Then you're fooling yourself! And seriously, until you learn everything, you're going to have questions! That's why we all hang out here together. Even when you think you know everything, someone else that knows more comes along and teaches you something new! You'll never 'know it all' because new stuff keeps coming along!!

There are more when Goran came from He is originally from the coastal town called Split and most men overthere are sooooo handsome - tall, well built, etc. I hope my DH will not be too nosey around this forum topic

Needless to say, the men in the other parts of Croatia do not fall behind the ones from the coast, just different type...You need to visit, but beware, girls on the coast do not look bad either - leave your DH or significant other in the States while visiting.

As far as Croatia, if you decide to visit, I can send you couple of links to some NICE places there. It is truly a beautiful country. We go to the islands whenever we can.

Yah, my husband is NOT ALLOWED to go there. He totally loves the dark hair, dark eyes, look, and I am blonde & blue eyed! (Hey... he married me!) hahahaha! Anyway, I've heard it's a beautiful place and would love to see it!! Even if it's NOT filled with Goran looking men!! (But if it is, that's not going to hurt my feelings one bit! Hehehe)

Well, Melvira, if you decide to visit and do not want to get in marrital trouble - do not forget your VERY DARK sunglasses - you know, the ones you can't see anything through Lots of temptations there... But, you can resist - bottom line - I married an American!

My mama always told us "the only stupid question is the one you don't ask."

HAHAHA!! Dark sunglasses! I might need to tape my eyeballs in too! That would be my luck! They'd knock the glasses right off my face, and man, would that be obvious! Hehehe!

Well, we can go together. My language skills may come in handy once our eyeballs pop out I got to go now, but I hope to get back to this subject soon. Thanks again for your help.

Good luck!

Well, this is what I meant. The picture of the butterfly life stages has the plate on the bottom tier, while the other one is using the push in pillars. You can see the plate through the leaves on the butterfly cake.

Aha, I see what you mean!!

Actually, I'm having that problem. I'm not using the push-in pillars (wanted to, but couldnt find any around me, and didnt have time to order from the internet) and I dont want the cake to look "plain" because of the separator plates being visible.

Maybe you can decorate over the plate, like in the picture? See, I thought that my pillars were not the push in kind and then Melvira helped me see the light!!!! They were, in fact, the push in pillars. If the bottom square of the pillar can be removed, than it is a push in pillar. This is the cake I made after being enlightened.

I'm just totally confused about this whole push in pillar thing. Actually I think I am confused about the whole pillar thing. I've always seen them but never knew how to use them. I just use bamboo skewers for dowels. I would like to learn about the push in pillars though if anyone is willing to teach the weak minded... LOL

Lazy_Susan

From what I gathered, there are two kinds of push in pillars. Ones that look pointed, and the other ones that look like regular pillars, but the bottom square can be detached, so they can be used for both - plate construction and push in. The pillars in the picture are push in pillars. They are very handy, since there are no dowels needed for construction!!!

You got it! That is exactly what they are for (I hope)! Also, when you use the push in pillars, use the legs on the plate to mark the bottom tier for the spots where to push the pillars in.