This is my first 3 tier cake. It is going to be 14 inches, 10 inches and 6 inches. Do I really need a center rod going through all the cakes if I am stacking on site and won't be moving the cake?

If I need a center rod? Where do I get one that is food safe?

Thanks!

no, you don't. The center dowel holds it steady during transport.

If you're stacking onsite, you don't need a center dowel. You can get them at a hardware/craft store. Just wash and dry it well before use.

I use a Wilton wooden dowel. I still put in a center rod, even though it is stacked on site. I sharpen it with a pencil sharpener and it easitly pokes through all of the cakes.

I just discovered the plastic "straws" that balloons come on. They are hollow and very stron/rigid but light weight.

I haven't tried the plastic dowel rods yet. Where do you get them? I have heard a lot of good things about them too. I hate cutting the wooden dowels.
It takes me a while, and then I have to file them to not have splinters.

Wilton makes the plastic dowel rods. Not sure if Michaels sells them - I generally get them from CountryKitchenSA