Excuse if I'm repeating some suggestions above, some great ideas...., but this has obviously inspired lots of people. It's a fantastic project!! I think what you have done already is a pretty good start. I am sure that what you have in mind to produce, is way beyond what the sister in law would be delighted with. You will easily do it!! so don't panic!
Once you start, ideas will develop. when you get stuck, come back here and you will get lots of great suggestions.
For wood, you could head to the sea where stuff is washed ashore, there is normally a variety of bleached wood available. If that's not suitable, contact a local firewood supplier, see if they might get what you need. I would secretly find out what colour/material the dress will be, or the cake colours....and find matching ribbon/material to put on your creation. I would get my wife to do the material selection! that can hide problem areas.
PLEASE don't be offended, but ( I did run the CAD drawing through a high-end physics algorithm and it agrees that it should be structurally sound so long as it is sponge-based cake. ) is overthinking it a bit. Out of interest 'as long as it was sponge based cake' suggests that another type of cake might be too much for your structure???
Try things, build it, over engineer it, test it for load and balance, heavy handed cutting. I would have it so securely fitted to a table with castors, even if I had to make the table myself. Generous use of coach bolts to hold it down. Get the cake sizes so the different bases are large enough. Do a final test assuming all the cakes get mixed up. I would have it engineered to survive kids pulling on the wood as they might lol. Watch out for protruding parts getting nudged or caught on things, Make sure you can transport it, you can get it to where it needs to be in the building.
If I was joining bits together, I would be drilling tight and fitting steel threaded rod and glue or dowel and glue, then perhaps a nice ribbon to hide the join.
I would also consider having some very subtle LED lighting to give it a 'sparkle'. There shouldn't be many bugs if the wood is fresh. Bugs like damp dark places, so take it somewhere dry and warm, but that would accelerate the main problem you will have as the wood dries out. It will start cracking. You are starting very early, so the wood will change over the next year. places where you dowel, may crack open. In order to mitigate the risk of all the drying problems, you could 'kiln dry' the wood by putting it in a small sealed space with a de-humidifier, making sure the draught form the dehumidifier can circulate around the wood and turn it every day. You could also build a frame and cover in plastic and insulation and do the same. Perhaps a small tube heater would speed up the process a bit. Othes will have more experience of this. Keep your sister in law in the loop she may have an image of what she wants, it's very important to meet her expectations, or adjust her expectations to what is possible. The main thing is it must not tip over, collapse and be able to survive cutting.
I might have a big concrete block hidden under the table
If I was doing this, what would I think??? Easy---piece of cake!!!! (NOT, lol)
Once you start, ideas will develop. when you get stuck, come back here and you will get lots of great suggestions.
For wood, you could head to the sea where stuff is washed ashore, there is normally a variety of bleached wood available. If that's not suitable, contact a local firewood supplier, see if they might get what you need. I would secretly find out what colour/material the dress will be, or the cake colours....and find matching ribbon/material to put on your creation. I would get my wife to do the material selection! that can hide problem areas.
PLEASE don't be offended, but ( I did run the CAD drawing through a high-end physics algorithm and it agrees that it should be structurally sound so long as it is sponge-based cake. ) is overthinking it a bit. Out of interest 'as long as it was sponge based cake' suggests that another type of cake might be too much for your structure???
Try things, build it, over engineer it, test it for load and balance, heavy handed cutting. I would have it so securely fitted to a table with castors, even if I had to make the table myself. Generous use of coach bolts to hold it down. Get the cake sizes so the different bases are large enough. Do a final test assuming all the cakes get mixed up. I would have it engineered to survive kids pulling on the wood as they might lol. Watch out for protruding parts getting nudged or caught on things, Make sure you can transport it, you can get it to where it needs to be in the building.
If I was joining bits together, I would be drilling tight and fitting steel threaded rod and glue or dowel and glue, then perhaps a nice ribbon to hide the join.
I would also consider having some very subtle LED lighting to give it a 'sparkle'. There shouldn't be many bugs if the wood is fresh. Bugs like damp dark places, so take it somewhere dry and warm, but that would accelerate the main problem you will have as the wood dries out. It will start cracking. You are starting very early, so the wood will change over the next year. places where you dowel, may crack open. In order to mitigate the risk of all the drying problems, you could 'kiln dry' the wood by putting it in a small sealed space with a de-humidifier, making sure the draught form the dehumidifier can circulate around the wood and turn it every day. You could also build a frame and cover in plastic and insulation and do the same. Perhaps a small tube heater would speed up the process a bit. Othes will have more experience of this. Keep your sister in law in the loop she may have an image of what she wants, it's very important to meet her expectations, or adjust her expectations to what is possible. The main thing is it must not tip over, collapse and be able to survive cutting.
I might have a big concrete block hidden under the table
If I was doing this, what would I think??? Easy---piece of cake!!!! (NOT, lol
)
