This may have already been addressed in the forums, but there are so many topics, I can't seem to find any info.
When I stack cakes, I use cardboard cake boards in between the layers. However, when I put my dowels in the bottom layer and then put the next layer on (sitting on a cardboard cake circle) it sticks up past the cake.
When I watch shows on TV the layers sit flush...what am I doing wrong.
I cut the dowels a bit shorter than the cake so that they do not keep the next layer from sitting properly....but no luck!
Does everybody use cardboard circles or is there something thinner I could use. Please help!

If you're cutting the dowels a little shorter than the cake the tier on top should sit flush.

All the dowels are perfectly even with each other when you lay them side by side?

I'm not sure why that's happening for you...hopefully someone else will have some ideas.

Does some time pass between when you finish the bottom tier (not layer) and place the top tier? I think your cake is settling, in effect making your dowels too long.

Sometimes I trim my second layer board a little smaller than the layer itself, then use BC to caulk the line between the two levels. I dont know if that helps you any.