Stacking fondant cakes

[Pootchi]

Originally Posted by 2sdae

here ya go!
4 Inch Cake Jacks
and here's one with pics of them too
CakeArt Party Store : Categories > Cake Stands, Pillars, and Plates > Dowels/Cake Supports

Thanks! You do learn something new everyday! I didn't know about these, but I'm glad I know now! That's something I'll add to my cake stuff shopping list, which grows and grows.....

[jeri]

I've never used the cake jacks. Seen them but haven't invested in them. I hate to have the bride worry about returning anything after the wedding so I just cut my dowels on the scroll saw. The cake jacks are a great idea too but you'd want to get them returned as they could get spendy. I buy my dowels at Michaels or Walmart whichever I can find them... I don't get the ones in the cake section though I get the ones in the wood craft section. They are cheaper and They are packaged and clean and I wash them prior to using them after I have cut them. I like a little thicker dowel on my base cakes so I use a couple of different sizes depending on which tier it is.

[Pootchi]

Returns wouldn't be an issue for me, since I use cake plates, and charge for them, give their money back on those when I get the return. So I'd do the same. Since I have to order my cake boards (it's gets expensive) so I use cake plates.
I use dowels also, I buy them at the hardware store, in 4', So it costs me 0.67$ for 4' and I dowel the entire cake with it. My problem with stacking cakes is that I think it's level but it isn't so I'll invest in a good level and a good long knife. If I comme across the cake jacks one day, when in another town, I might buy some just to secure myself! But that's a great thing I think. Like a plan B.

[jeri]

I cut my dowels on a scroll saw and it is easy to get them all the same size. We were using a hack saw and they were never the same size so my cakes would not be level. I quit purchasing my dowels at the hardware store when I saw a man with dirty greasy hands picking them up and putting them back... kind of grossed me out! So I went to the packaged ones. It costs me about $2 for all the dowels for a 4 tier cake so that is not too bad!

[Pootchi]

That's why I clean them well and I always take the ones in the back of the box, less chances of dirty hands touching them! Here There's no craft store, or big store with a craft department The only two stores with craft department are discount stores, so not much for variety! That's the only thing I hate about live in a small town, far away from a big town (4 hours away), lack of good stores!

[jeri]

Originally Posted by Pootchi

That's why I clean them well and I always take the ones in the back of the box, less chances of dirty hands touching them! Here There's no craft store, or big store with a craft department The only two stores with craft department are discount stores, so not much for variety! That's the only thing I hate about live in a small town, far away from a big town (4 hours away), lack of good stores!

I know where you are coming from there. We live an hour away from the closest Michael's so I stock up when I am over that way. My doctors are all over there so I make a day of it when I go. The internet is my best friend when it comes to shopping for cake stuff!!!

[2sdae]

we have very limited places that sell anything other than older wilton stuff...just michaels and 2 local cake shops. But if in those shops if the head buyer isnt familiar with it then they dont even bother trying to find out about it or stock it.
So internet and me have gotten to be close buds on the cake stuff....maybe too close.

[Pootchi]

God bless internet!!!!!

I don't know what I'd do without it, 75% of what I buy for my cake business comes from the internet. Only the classic ingredients comes from the local store, or a company that delivers at my dad's business. Every other cake decorating stuff comes from internet. There's one local store that sells Wilton stuff but at the price she sells, and sometimes she needs to order the stuff for (and takes 2 weeks to come in) It's cheaper and quicker to order from the USA! Can you imagine that? Even with shipping and exchange rate it's cheaper for me.... crazy

[jeri]

What did we all do before the internet? I used to call a store in Portland and spend time picking their brains about what they had in stock. I'd look through my cake books... generally Wilton since that's about all I had access to... and make my list and call to see what they had. The world is ours now! I am an internet junkie!!!

[Gottalovecake]

Originally Posted by 2sdae

I use regular foam core board, under each tier. Then center dowel, that should be enough support.
They tiers dont need anything to make them stick together. They sit atop each other on their boards.

I've read that foam core board is available at Michaels. Is it available in the "cake decorating section" or someplace else? I've not noticed it in the cake section, but I wasn't looking for it either. I'll await responses. Thank you.