I'm doing my first large scale cake and I'm not sure what I'm suppose to be using as a base to support it.

It is a 5 tier cake with the bottom tier being 14x4"

Do I just use 2 or 3 cardboard cake boards? Or do I need to go buy a large cake stand (which is pricey and I really can't afford right now).

Thanks o' wise ones!!!

I don't think cardbord is going to work for 5 tiers. You can get the plastic bases at Michaels, theya re much stronger...I've never made a cake that big, but you need something very sturdy on the bottom.

I definately would not trust cardboard. That cake is gonna be HEAVY!!

Holy cow that is a huge cake and it is gonna weight a ton!! You could alway use plywood for the base covered nice and pretty. Don't forget to post a photo I want to see that one!!!

I vote for the plywood as well. You won't have to worry about it giving way under the weight of your large and very heave cake!

You definitely need a plywood base if you don't have any other metal or heavy duty stands. I would suggest 3/4 inch plywood. I wrap mine in waxpaper first and then cover in fancy foil. Just make sure you sand the plywood--and make your bride sign something saying the base will be returned! Even if you never have a cake that big again, the base can always be cut down to use in the future.

Whatever you do, DO NOT use cardboard for a cake that size! Do not, do not, do not! You'll be sorry if you do.

Can't wait to see it! Good luck!!

Ok now I'm nervous! I'll get plywood for the base of the cake, but are the cake boards enough for inbetween the layers? I have the Wilton cardboards ones and was going to double up on them for the bottom couple of layers.
I have a 6,8,10,12,and 14" tiers.

Thanks for all your advice!

I use masonite boards from home depot of lowes (wrapped in contact paper). They will cut them for you to any size you need. If it's a round cake you can get masonite rounds from several places my favorite is countrykitchensa.com. Are you doing a square or round cake? If round, lowes has rounds already cut for small table tops. They have lots of sizes and they're really cheap, plus they are thick and look really nice.

It's a round cake. I'll have to explore all of these options. The wedding isn't until June so I've got lots of time to practice and play around with different materials.

Thanks for all of your advice!

Wasn't trying to scare you. I just hate to see anyone put all that time and energy into a cake that big (or any cake for that matter) just to have it fall right through the base.

As for in between the layers, cardboard circles by themselves are fine. I wrap those in waxpaper too just to be sure I don't get any slivers of cardboard in the icing. I've never doubled-up on those, but that isn't a bad idea. It would give more support and make it easier to move the cakes into position. Just be sure to use plenty of dowels within the cakes. That's gonna be a heavy cake!

Use the silver cake drums, they are about 3/4 " thick, wilton makes them, we use them all the time at the bakery for the base of wedding cakes.

sweetcakes: I would LOVE to use one of those but they're like $80 and I'm just a poor college student!

I believe the silver cake drums she's referring to are the foam covered boards and are actually not real expensive .. the ones I buy are about $4 to $7 each; depending on the size .. they are extremely sturdy. I use them at the base of all my wedding cakes .. in between my cakes, I buy the disposable cake plates which are fairly inexpensive too .. they range in cost from about $1.50 up to about $5 or $6 a plate. I use these betwen all the layers with the cylinder type dowels that I cut to the size I need .. I've never had any problems with my cakes leaning or sliding ... The wedding cake that has the rose cascade in my photos was tiered with the roses on it and transported approximately 35 miles using the cake drum on the bottom and the plastic cake plates dowel with the Wilton white cylinder type dowels between the layers...

When I price my cakes, I include these in the cost .. by using these, I don't have to worry about getting cake plates back or the board back, which is always a hassle ..

look here,
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E31A373-475A-BAC0-5894BDEBFE84A837&fid=3E32F5A5-475A-BAC0-574560F21E2992F5

these are the silver boards we're referring to.

Be sure to do a couple of practice cakes of close to this size well before the date! Lots of great advice here on Cake central! Definately plywood base and plastic separators between. You aren't planning on transporting a five tier cake assembled are you? That would be quite a feat, especially for your first one. Travel with it unassembled and bring everything you need to finish it. Make sure the reception site agrees to a time to let you in with it.

No I wasn't planning on traveling with it assembled. The reception site is about 70miles away from me. Luckily as far as the decoration goes the bride wants it very simple. No piping or anything. She just wants a buttercream icing, ribbon on the base, and real roses places sparatically around the cake. So I'll get all the layers finished with the ribbon, take it to the site, stack them, and add some roses.
That's my game plan so far!

I plan on making a practice cake about the same size (maybe minus the 6 and maybe even 8" layers). I just need to find an occasion to make such a large cake!! I don't want all that to go to waste. I guess the next party I go to everyone will be walking out with a box of cake!

If you are stacking them, you may have to add the ribbon when it's assembled. Unless you have a way to stack decorated cakes without getting your fingers in them! Then, if you do, please let me know because I have never had luck doing that!

In addition, you never need an excuse to make a big cake! Pass it out to your neighbors or bring it into work. I send mine in with my hubby and they love it (construction workers can get rid of cake in a hurry)!

I would definately use something very sturdy like wood, which can be covered and will look very pretty. I just don't think any amount of cardboard is going to be strong enough for this big of a cake!