Will Make My First 3 Tier..(Small) Do I Have To Use Dowels?

Decorating By Virgiepblue Updated 24 Feb 2012 , 4:59am by sana-khalid

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Virgiepblue Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 4:43am
post #1 of 17

Is this a must?
I have made two tier with no supports and no problems...
Any advice?

Thank You...

16 replies
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mom2twogrlz Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 4:51am
post #2 of 17

YES! Especially if you will be doing any transporting. The weight of the cake will most likely crush the bottom tier without support. Unless your cake is super, and I mean super sturdy.

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CWR41 Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 5:04am
post #3 of 17

You've been incredibly lucky if you didn't use any support system previously on two tiered cakes. There should be supports for every 4" of cake height.

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Vista Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 5:30am
post #4 of 17

ABSOLUTELY!! I would NEVER attempt to do even a 2 tier cake for a customer without support, no way I could guarantee that it would hold up.

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KoryAK Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 6:29am
post #5 of 17

YES! Only the magical Sandra Lee can make cakes 12" high without it falling over.

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mclaren Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 8:14am
post #6 of 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by KoryAK

YES! Only the magical Sandra Lee can make cakes 12" high without it falling over.




LOL!! You beat me to this comment! All along I was thinking of Sandra Lee as I was reading.

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AnnieCahill Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 1:45pm
post #7 of 17

Well Sandra Lee says all I need is a cardboard to support the weight of the cake so that is what I do. I also regularly employ the use of Corn Nuts and sometimes I take a candle off the table and stab it into the cake to decorate.

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leah_s Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 2:01pm
post #8 of 17

As stated above, you need support for every 4" inches of cake. So far you have been incredibly lucky, but one day you won't be. Why temp fate?

Sandra Lee = FAIL

head -> desk

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mclaren Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 2:02pm
post #9 of 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by AnnieCahill

Well Sandra Lee says all I need is a cardboard to support the weight of the cake so that is what I do. I also regularly employ the use of Corn Nuts and sometimes I take a candle off the table and stab it into the cake to decorate.


ROFL!!

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BlueRose8302 Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 7:38pm
post #10 of 17

YES! You do not want your cake to sink into itself! It really isn't that hard to put some dowels in or a support system.

Good luck!

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Virgiepblue Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 8:50pm
post #11 of 17

But i wont push my luck on the 3 tier.
Can you please advise what support system I could use?

Thanks again...
Whewww, glad i asked.!!!

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subyu62 Posted 22 Feb 2012 , 11:47pm
post #12 of 17

I only use. SPS.....( Thanks Leah !)

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KoryAK Posted 23 Feb 2012 , 3:41am
post #13 of 17

Regular old (doubled) cardboards and drinking straws it what I use icon_smile.gif

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sana-khalid Posted 23 Feb 2012 , 12:03pm
post #14 of 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by KoryAK

Regular old (doubled) cardboards and drinking straws it what I use icon_smile.gif




I live in Pakistan where dowels are not available, straws is sigh of relief! Are the straws strong enough? Im doing a topsy turvy cake this Saturday and i was planning to buy some plastic tube sort of a thing to use as dowels.

Also, how strong the cardborad underneath the 2nd tier should be? I was wondering if its heavy, it may make the cake sink even with the straws?

Im sorry, my questions might sound stupid, but im new to this cake business and im liking it a lot!

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AnnieCahill Posted 23 Feb 2012 , 12:11pm
post #15 of 17

sana,

You can use regular thin cardboard rounds in between the tiers. You want to use something thicker for the base obviously.

Can you get bubble tea straws in Pakistan? They are fatter straws used for Asian bubble tea. I get the fatter straws from Panera Bread but the regular drinking straws will work fine. Just make sure they are in straight and you should be ok!

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KoryAK Posted 23 Feb 2012 , 6:00pm
post #16 of 17

AnnieCahill is correct. Straight is the key - I regularly do up to 4 tier cakes (even topsy turvy) with just regular drinking straws as supports. I do like to double (just glue them) my cardboards under each tier and I use at least three (more for larger cakes) wrapped together for the drum under the whole thing.

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sana-khalid Posted 24 Feb 2012 , 4:59am
post #17 of 17

Thanks a lot for the quick and helpful reply AnnieCahil and KoryAK!

Im really very grateful! icon_smile.gif

I hope my cake turns out well tomorrow!

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