Hey all!
I'm making my first stacked cake. It will be 8" on bottom, 6" on top.

I have some plastic dowels to use, but I was wondering if I should get wooden dowels, so I can put one down the middle from the top. The plastic dowels are thicker, and I couldn't think of a way to sharpen the end so I'd be able to do this.

Unless...you all have some insight...

TIA!

If it is only two tiers, I don't think that dowels are necessary...If my cake is three tiers or less, I don't put them unless I'm going to be moving it around a lot! Anyhow, it won't hurt anything if you do use dowels but the ones you have are likely just fine. No need to go out a purchase something new.

I've never used plastic dowels, but unless you're transporting this cake a long way, you might not need a dowel down the middle. I usually don't do that on smaller two tier cakes. But if you want to, could you shave the end off the plastic dowel with razor knife to sharpen?

Thanks to both of you!
I don't have to travel very far, and it probably would be fine without dowels at all...however, as this is my first time, I would like to get in the practice of putting in dowels.

I might try the shaving of the end with a razor knife...

You can use either plastic or wooden. The plastic dowels I use an exacto knife to cut all of them even. Some wooden dowels come with a pointed tip already and will go right through the cardboard. But I personally only put one long wooden dowel down the middle if i'm stacking three or more tiers. Hope this helps!

Thanks!

I think you would need a wooden dowel for the center.
But I really woudn't use one.

I prefer using a combination bubble tea straws and wooden dowels.

I like the wilton plastics dowels. Don't think you'll need a center dowel, but if you want the practice, why not.

Good luck!