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Smiller94
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2007
Posts: 40
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 Posted:
Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:04 pm |
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Hi guys,
I finally did my first wedding cake this weekend. It was a 6, 8, 10, 12” pillar cake. The cake looked totally gorgeous. Problem though, I set up the cake and right in the middle of the wedding ceremony the caterer comes and tells me the cake is leaning. I freaked out and my brother and I take off running. We discovered the 12” was collapsing. We take the cake apart and remove the 12” and everything was fine afterwards.
This being my first wedding cake, first pillar cake I am not sure what I did wrong. Not even sure I did something wrong but if I did I would like to fix it before the next cake. I am so worried this will happen again. I was in tears when the cake was leaning. I had to travel 350 miles and it took me 42 hours to do the cake away from home. The cake was a lot of work for something to go wrong. The bride and groom totally loved the cake and the guest kept complimenting me on how this was the best cake they have ever tasted. So at least some things went right!
Could it have been a dowel rod support problem? When supporting the cake. I put 6 dowels in the 12”, 6 dowels in the 10”, 5 dowels in the 8” and 4 dowels in the 6”. I put the dowels in the same way I did my tier cakes. Was that my problem or did I not put enough dowel rods in the cake?
Please any help!!!!!!!!! Open to comments  |
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| 2nd picture is the 12" tier after it starting collapsing |
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| Picture of cake , 4 tiers |
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k8memphis
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 21, 2005
Posts: 1011
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:14 pm |
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What kinda dowel? I would have used 6 of those 3/4" Wilton tube kinda dowel. If it was the standard 1/4" wooden dowel I would have used more than 6 in that bottom cake.
Leah needs to tell you about the sps.
Were all your dowel the same length?
Did you measure each cake individually?
And the same heighth as the cake to the top of the icing with not more or less than an 1/8th inch above or below the icing?
And where did you place them??
a.) Toward the edge of the plate above?
b.) Halfway between the edge and the midpoint of the cake?
correct answer b |
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k8memphis
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 21, 2005
Posts: 1011
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:22 pm |
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Did the bottom tier slide over on the board too? It looks that way in the picture. It looks like more board sticking out in the back than in the front. And by the way I forgot to add that it's a gorgeous cake too. |
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k8memphis
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 21, 2005
Posts: 1011
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:25 pm |
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Why did you dowel the 6"? |
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Smiller94
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2007
Posts: 40
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:27 pm |
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I used the Wilton wood dowels , the ones you can buy that come in the 12 in package. Hmm, wonder if that was my problem. Probably needed more than 6 for the 12". They were all the same size, I measured each one for each tier individually.
I would love to learn about SPS, i have read about them but with this cake I did not have enough time to order them online. I only had 2 weeks to get everything together for the cake. Short notice Freebie cake.
I placed the dowels hate to say this but like I would if I was stacking tier cakes. Probably another problem.
Learning lesson for me, I just wanted to cry but everyone was happy with the cake. |
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Smiller94
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2007
Posts: 40
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:32 pm |
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Bottom boards didnt slide, not that I noticed.
I dowel'd the 6" because I had no idea of the cake topper until I got the wedding. Wasnt sure how heavy it was so wanted to make sure I had dowels in there to hold the topper. Didn't realize it though, was that I had to go buy the topper at the last minute because the bride forget hers. |
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MillyCakes
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 06, 2006
Posts: 525
Location: NC
Birthday: Jan 13
Gallery Supporter Member
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:33 pm |
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Your cake is beautiful! Learn and order the SPS system and your fears will go away! I love it and will never use another wooden/straw dowel again!!!! Good luck with your next cake!!!! |
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k8memphis
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 21, 2005
Posts: 1011
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:36 pm |
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| Smiller94 wrote: |
They were all the same size, I measured each one for each tier individually.
I placed the dowels hate to say this but like I would if I was stacking tier cakes. Probably another problem.
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Now are you saying that you measured each dowel in eacth tier? By measure I mean stick the dowel in and mark it and pull it out and cut it. Not stick in every dowel and cut each one by it's own particular measure in the cake.
You measure one dowel and make all the dowel for that tier that same length. If the dowel are all different lengths, the cake can fall over. Most iced cakes are not the exact same heighth all over --they're a little bit different because it's hand made after all.
Maybe you didn't mean to say that but if that's what happened don't ever do that again.
There's no difference between placing dowel for stacked or for plated pillared cakes. It's just to keep them from caving in. |
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leahs
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 19, 2007
Posts: 2862
Location: Louisville, KY
Birthday: May 29
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:40 pm |
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 Global Sugar Art can get you SPS in a matter of days. Two weeks ordering time is no problem. Heck even Oasis ships that fast. It certainly would have held up your cake. Those really tall pillar do not add stability, though. Even with SPS I don't like to use the 9 inch pillars. When there is more air space than cake I get really, really nervous.
And if you need the SPS directions, PM me with your email. Don't forget the email. |
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pinklesley1
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 26, 2008
Posts: 333
Location: Miami Florida
Birthday: Aug 31
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:41 pm |
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i couldnt even tell it was leaning... it looks gorgeous... |
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brilandken
Frequent Member
Joined: Aug 28, 2006
Posts: 341
Location: NC
Birthday: Nov 04
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:44 pm |
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Your cake is beautiful! What is the SPS system? I have my first wedding cake in Aug. |
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mjnj
Newbie
Joined: Apr 11, 2008
Posts: 12
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:44 pm |
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crashdummy2
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 14, 2005
Posts: 239
Location: Sunny California
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:46 pm |
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 WOW! That cake looked gorgeous!!! Love the color theme too..
I'm so sorry to hear that your cake started to fall apart,, hey... it happens to us sooner or later...... Just have to dust off your shoes from the icing, learn and move forward...
Question,, could possibly it have been toooo warm where the reception was? Icing has a mind of its own in warm weather....
But lovely cake.... |
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leahs
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 19, 2007
Posts: 2862
Location: Louisville, KY
Birthday: May 29
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:57 pm |
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SPS = Single Plate Separator.
As always PM me WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS and I'll send instructions. |
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cakeconfections
Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 24, 2005
Posts: 533
Location: NW Suburb of Chicago, IL
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:15 pm |
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I would have def used more dowels in the 12". It looks like the cake was almost buckling from the close up. If all of your dowels were not the same size it could cause that to happen. Also with only 6 dowels being used, the placment of the dowels may had something to do with the cake issue. |
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