In my family we have a relatively even mix of the "frosting" people and the "middle of the cake" people, so everyone would be happy somehow. I would simply cut the cake into three pieces straight across, then cut the two outside edges into 6 and the middle into 8 or 10, so you'd have a few extra pieces in case someone wanted seconds or dropped a piece, etc. Elery, of course, got out the calculator and is figuring that the pieces should be approximately 2.55 inches thick, we're working on length, LOL. If you cut wedges, you would need each wedge to be 1.559 inches wide on the outside edge. (grin) dlbk, I've found that the easiest filling to cut is good old buttercream, the gloppier fruit or custard fillings are a bit messier and prone to falling apart after cutting. Be sure you have a sharp knife, nothing is going to hack up a cake more than a dull knife. I like serrated but others like a straight blade (which I think crushes the layers if they are delicate). Annie This post was edited by annie1992 on Sat, Jun 8, 13 at 19:35

Got an update on the cake. The birthday girl loved it, thank goodness! She ended up taking it up to Chili's where they met some people for dinner. Apparently, the servers even got some as they were impressed with the layers. Carolyn said they came back and asked for a second piece to share with the other kitchen staff! And to top it off, one of Carolyn's friends wants to place and order with me for another cake. Thanks again guys for all the encouragement. Oh, and Joe, I'm still LOL at your compliments on my glasses and old pink apron. You made my day! Here's a pic Carolyn took of the cake after it was cut.

Remember that chocolate sheetcake with the buttermilk and cinnamon from the 1970's that was going around? THAT ONE is really good. Here's another that I make it with, when I need portion controlled cakes. (Cupcakes often work best for me!) The recipe comes from the Martha Stewart website; it's a one-bowl chocolate cake, and super easy. Chocolate Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Ingredients for Chocolate cupcakes: Makes 18 cupcakes Cupcake liners 3/4 C. unsweetened cocoa powder 1-1/2 C. all-purpose flour 1-1/2 C. sugar 1-1/2 t. baking soda 3/4 t. baking powder 3/4 t. salt 2 large eggs 3/4 C. buttermilk 3/4 C. warm water 3 T. light olive oil or safflower oil 1 t. vanilla extract Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put cupcake liners into muffin pans. Sift the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt onto a sheet of wax paper. Put the electric mixer on low, stirring the eggs, 1-1/2 cups warm water, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla together; slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Divide the batter among prepared pans. Bake until tester inserted in center comes out clean, 20 minutes. Let cakes cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely, right side up on rack. Frost generously with Cinnamon Buttercream.

There are all kinds of variables here. Is this above a crawlspace? A basement? Can you get under there to work from below? What kind of flooring are you putting back down? Is your current subfloor in good enough shape that it doesn't need any structural help from whatever you are putting over it? At the very LEAST I'd cut the copper right below those shutoff valves and put new modern shutoff valves and supply lines to the sink and dishwasher. I'd never recommend enclosing a "push-to-connect" coupling in a wall even though you technically can now by code(I just don't trust them that much), but you wouldn't have much trouble just pushing a couple Sharkbite valves on the cutoff copper that are already threaded for your supply lines. You'll have to get a "T" and shutoff for your dishwasher hookup I see there as well. Also I see you have a big old copper drain line there which tells me almost certainly you don't have proper venting based purely on the age of the home. If you don't want to tear open walls and do attic work to vent to the roof, you can put a loop vent in like they do on a kitchen island(assuming you have at least one location in the house to tie to) Don't miss this opportunity while you have everything apart. You want your kitchen sink vented for sure. Plumbing isn't super hard but it is super hard to get all the details right. If this all sounds complicated I'd maybe get a plumber in to rough everything in for you.