I agree with Walkelin, Digsmithd and others. Ceramic works best in my system.
The Mapleshade dowel/tripods were inexpensive but impractical for larger or heavier speaker cables. Others have used them effectively; I have to admit they were not easily setup here with my Shunyata powersnakes and AQ Volcano wire (could be user error...)
I'm using ceramic elevators from Precision Audio;
http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=AELEVI
at $20/each, they are reasonable, look great and give a noticeable difference in sound buy getting my power and speaker cables off a rather nasty large dielectric (carpet)