Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi there again. I seem to be running into more problems and questions than I thought I would have 🙂 Here goes: 1- I can’t find a dowel with the thickness that Paul suggests 13mm. The thickest that I can find is 6mm. Two possibilities came to mind. One would be to combine three 6mm dowels somehow joining them well or instead to use a threaded metal rod.
2- If I were to use the threaded metal rod, my thought would be to use MDF boards instead of the boards that Paul is using. Any thought about that or about the thickness of the boards?
3- I notice that Paul places his figure on top of the cake without any support for the figure that has I think something close to 300 gm of sugarpaste. I would be concerned about the figure falling in to the cake because of its weight. Any ideas? Normally I would put in straws and a small support board but I think that would compromise the structure of the “tire”.

Truly appreciate all of your help.
Francine

Hi Francine

Are you not able to find the dowels in a hardware store? or perhaps in a carpentry workshop? If not at all, I think I would prefer the threaded metal rod choice rather than trying to stick three 6mm dowels together. I’m not sure how well they would stay together. There are several tutorials on the site which show how to make stands using threaded metal rods and MDF boards. Perhaps take a peek at the balancing clown and the mad scientist for starters. There are ways around adapting most stands to work as a good fit. You’d need to make the metal rod food safe with either encasing it in a bubble tea straw or by wrapping it in a food safe covering like foil or cling wrap. As you know, this is also shown in several tutorials on the site

I’m not sure where you are based, if you’re in the UK, food grade dowels can be purchase here: https://www.hewnandhone.co.uk/product/ash-dowel/

If you are worried about the figure sitting on the tyre and want to use your normal method of attachment, there is no reason not to. You could also use a little royal icing, some tempered chocolate or some candy melts as glue. I find most times to go with what feels safest. 🙂

Thank you so much for your very quick reply, madeitwithlove. You must be the speediest replier on the net 🙂
I actually hadn’t thought to look for dowels at the hardware shop … although I did consider a broom stick!
Once again, many thanks for all of your suggestions.

A broomstick! that’s inventive 🙂 If you do use that, please don’t forget to make it food safe 🙂

As for being the speediest replier, well I saw you question at 4 am UK time but thought better of it not to answer quite so early! I hope you find a suitable dowel. Good luck. 🙂